Best Tick Repellents

It is no secret that ticks pose a real threat to you and your family and you can quickly find yourself in a dangerous situation if you are caught out without the right protection. In addition to protecting yourself with the proper repellents, there are a few simple things you can do to ensure you do not become covered with ticks.

Dress Appropriately

If you are doing any deep woods hiking or camping, you want to wear long sleeves and pants whenever possible. If it is going to be excessively hot, try to wear long pants at least. Ticks are known for hiding in tall grass so if you feel grass brushing up against your legs you are leaving yourself open to a tick bite.

Wearing long pants does not guarantee you will not catch ticks though, because they can still latch onto your clothing and follow you home. The only way to ensure optimal protection is to pair the right outfit with the right repellent. Check out the Sawyer Product Clothing Repellent above for more information on how you can keep ticks off your clothing.

Check Yourself Often

This is something we highly recommend. The best way to guarantee you do not get bitten is to check yourself thoroughly and do so often. If you are traveling with children or pets, check them as often as possible as well. You do not want to have ticks on your for extended periods of time because the longer they are on you, the higher of a risk you have for Lyme Disease.

Keep Your Yard Well Manicured

If you are worried about ticks in your yard, a great way to keep them away is to make sure you do not have too much tall grass or overgrown greenery. If you keep everything nice and trimmed ticks will see your yard as too hot, and they will leave to find someplace cooler. Do not let shrubs become too overgrown because they like to stay inside the bushes where it is cool. Try to limit yourself from brushing up against thick greenery when maintaining it as well.

You could do everything right and take great care of your lawn, check yourself for ticks frequently, and wear the appropriate clothing-but if you are not using the right repellent for the job it does not matter what you do. The correct repellent is going to be your strong barrier of protection in situations where you will come in contact with a lot of ticks. We’re going to help you decide which repellent is right for you.

Lotion

You want to use lotion instead of a spray if you worry about inhaling aerosols and if you do not like the sometimes greasy residue that sprays leave on your skin. The lotions dry up rather quickly and once they are dry have a very little effect on the feel of your skin. Regarding effectiveness, there is no difference.

Spray

This method is the most typical and often the most effective. Spray repellents contain the highest concentrations of repellents and as a result are usually the best at keeping ticks away. With the comes associated risks though. Sprays tend the contain the highest levels of DEET which can be dangerous if you apply too much. Sprays also have a strong odor and leave a residue on your skin. If that does not bother you, sprays are the way to go.

All Natural

If the thought of covering yourself in chemicals to keep bugs away freaks you out, you want to go with an all natural repellent. These are typically 100% organic and made from essential oils like lemon and other citrus materials. They are often safe for use on children and pets as well so if you are worried about ticks on your children than an all natural organic spray is the right choice for you.