For the best tick repellent in most situations, we recommend OFF! Deep Woods VIII. During testing, we found the 25-percent DEET formula to be effective against insects and very easy to apply to exposed skin with a fast-absorbing, dry finish.
Our experts say the best topical repellents use either DEET or picaridin as their primary ingredient; when it comes to pesticides, they all recommended clothing treated with permethrin (the same chemical used in delousing shampoos like Nix), which acts as a “tick-killing agent,” according to Dr.
Garlic, sage, mint, lavender, beautyberry, rosemary and marigolds are some of the most familiar and effective tick-repelling plants, and they are great to use in landscaping borders around decks, walkways, pet runs, patios and other areas to keep ticks away.
Wear long sleeves and pants when possible. Treat clothes and shoes with permethrin that kills ticks. This remains protective through several washings.
Deet's protection is also fairly short-lived against ticks. By contrast, permethrin kills ticks on contact. Clothing-only repellents that contain permethrin are very effective and provide long-lasting protection.
Concentrations of DEET that might prevent tick attachment may not deter a tick from walking across the skin to unexposed and untreated areas. For blacklegged ticks, DEET concentrations around 20 to 30% applied to clothes are about 86-92% effective in preventing tick bites in earlier studies.
Comparing DEET vs Picaridin, Picaridin 20% has been proven to provide equal protection against mosquitoes and superior protection against ticks in similar concentrations without the same health concerns. The CDC recommends Picaridin as a safe and effective insect repellent for adults and children over 1-year.
Ticks hate the smell of lemon, orange, cinnamon, lavender, peppermint, and rose geranium so they'll avoid latching on to anything that smells of those items. Any of these or a combination can be used in DIY sprays or added to almond oil and rubbed on exposed skin.
What scents attract ticks? Ticks are primarily attracted to the smell of your body and breath. The stronger your scent, the easier it is for them to find you. Ticks aren't generally attracted to synthetic fragrances, sweet smells, colognes, laundry products, or deodorants.
So although wearing a dark color will make ticks harder to spot on you, deeper shades tend to attract fewer ticks. Whatever colors you choose to wear, it's good to consider tucking in your clothes when in a tick-prone area (shirt into pants, pants into socks—there's no shame in preventing tick bites!).
Summary of Scientific Evidence
One study found that light colored clothing attracted more ticks than dark colored clothing. The same study found that clothing color did not affect participant ability to find ticks crawling on clothing.
Showering within two hours of coming indoors has been shown to reduce your risk of getting Lyme disease and may be effective in reducing the risk of other tickborne diseases. Showering may help wash off unattached ticks and it is a good opportunity to do a tick check.
Ticks can be active year round
The time of day when ticks are most active can also vary from species to species, as some prefer to hunt during the cooler and more humid hours of the early morning and evenings, while others are more active at midday, when it is hotter and dryer.
Natrapel Picaridin Pump 3.4 oz.
This 20-percent Picaridin spray keeps ticks and other biting insects at bay. It lasts longer than our top DEET-based pick: A single coating will force ticks to steer clear of you for 12 hours, so you're good all day. Natrapel is also better for folks carrying lots of gear.
When checking for ticks, pay special attention to these areas: under the arms, in and around the ears, inside the belly button, back of the knees, in and around hair, between the legs, and around the waist. If you find a tick attached to your body, remove it as soon as possible.
Ticks are eaten by chickens, guinea fowl, and frogs. Animals such as chicken, guinea fowl, wild turkeys, ants, spiders, opossums, frogs, squirrels, lizards, ants, and fire ants eat ticks. As tiny as they are, ticks have a variety of natural predators who eat them.
Unfortunately, no similar products exist for humans—we don't have one-time use methods that can keep the bugs at bay for an extended time.
Diatomaceous earth
When ticks encounter DE, it will dehydrate them immediately, killing them within hours. To use DE as a tick-killer, sprinkle it anywhere you've noticed ticks in your yard. You can also use it to create a barrier between wooded and grassy areas. Re-apply the DE every few weeks, or after heavy rain.
Apple cider vinegar is an easy-to-use natural tick repellant. You can add a teaspoon of apple cider vinegar per quart of water to your dog's water bowl to keep ticks away from your dog. Apple cider vinegar can also be mixed with water to make a tick repellant spray.
But apple cider vinegar — recommended on a number of pet advice websites as a tick repellent for dogs — hasn't been proved to work at all, according to several vets.
DEET Alternative: Picaridin Bug Spray
Picaridin insect repellent protects against mosquitos, ticks, flies, and other biting insects, as well as the possible vector-borne diseases the insects may carry, including: Lyme disease, Zika virus, Pappataci Fever, and Chikungunya virus.
These studies suggest that, for blacklegged ticks, DEET concentrations around 30 to 40% may be necessary for adequate protection, although the effectiveness of higher (>50%) and lower (<20%) concentrations against I. scapularis needs to be examined more closely.