As the weather gets warmer, insects also begin to come out of their hibernation stages. Likewise, ticks become quite active during the summers and that’s why you need an insect repellent spray more than ever. To make the buying process easier for you, we have created this detailed buying guide that covers everything you need to know to buy an affordable but effective tick repellent spray for yourself
The two most commonly used active ingredients in repellents are DEET (N, N-diethyl-meta-toluamide) and Picardin. But some experts suggest going for Permethrin or natural repellents such as lemon eucalyptus oil because they are safer for the skin and environment.
Since you apply repellents directly onto your skin, safety should be one of your main concerns. To make sure that you don’t end up with an allergy or a serious skin disease, only buy products that are registered in the Environmental Protection Agency database. If a repellent is not registered in the EPA’s database, the formula might not be safe to use.
We don’t recommend buying something that is ridiculously overpriced nor do we recommend buying something available at an outlandishly low price. Go for something that falls in the middle because super-low prices and sky-high markups are both huge red flags that don’t guarantee quality.
You need to buy something that can retain its tick-defying powers for long hours since you cannot keep reapplying for the product after every few minutes. So, when you buy a tick repellent, make sure to check for its efficacy.
If the formula is skin-friendly, apply the tick repellent to the exposed parts of your skin or clothing. Bear in mind that not all repellent sprays are safe for skins and some of them are meant to spray on your clothes only.
Heavier doses can increase risks rather than protect you. So, only apply as much as you need and only for as long as required.
Never apply any kind of repellent over irritated skin, wounds, cuts, and allergic areas of the body.
Always spray your hands before you try something on your face. Always do a patch test of the repellent to see how your body reacts to it and avoid your mouth and eyes.
Never let your little one apply a repellent on their own. Put it on your hands first and then apply it to their skin.
Several manufacturers claim to use only natural ingredients but it’s better to look at the ingredients yourself. Organic active ingredients aren’t as effective as other ingredients used in repellents.
Not every product with high concentrations of an active ingredient is effective in repelling ticks. Instead of aiming for higher concentrations, go for moderate concentrations of 15-30% for reliable protection.
Don’t use sunscreen plus repellent mist or all-in-one products because they can over-expose you to the chemical and damage your skin.
Though insect repellents are effective, many concerned parents raise questions about their application to kids. You may be using tick repellents to keep ticks away, but you will be concerned about spraying chemicals on your loved ones. Luckily, this tick repellent by Ben has a unique family-friendly formula that’s safe to use for both kids and adults.
Boasting a highly effective and powerful formula, this tick repellent spray keeps you safe for up to 12 hours. You can spray this product on your clothes and gear without worrying about any stains or weird smells. And the best thing is that you can spray it continuously without releasing any harmful aerosols because it is eco-friendly, making it the best among the rest.
This tick repellent spray by Ranger Ready has Picaridin 20% and offers up to 12 hours of protection from mosquitoes and ticks. What’s even better is that it also protects you from fleas, chiggers, flies, and gnats for up to eight hours. Made for the full-body application, it can also be used on clothes because it doesn’t leave any stains behind.
We love the fact that it’s safe to use on children and pregnant women to keep them safe from tick-borne diseases. Apart from offering long-lasting protection from biting insects, it also makes sure not to damage any plastic, finished surfaces, or any of your outdoor gear as it is TSA-compliant. You can keep this handy bottle in your backpack for all your outdoor adventures.
If you follow an organic lifestyle, then this repellent by Tick Ban is perfect for you. This spray is made only from pure, certified organic, and non-GMO castor oil, and soybean oil to keep ticks and other biting insects away. As it also has natural oils of peppermint, geranium, thyme, rosemary, and lemongrass, you will smell great after spraying it on.
What’s more, the all-natural ingredients also make it non-toxic for skin, clothes, and outdoor gear – so you can spray it on anything without thinking twice. Offering an easy application mechanism, the spray bottle is recyclable and can be sprayed while upside down.
This all-natural repellent by Murphy’s Naturals effectively repels deer ticks for four hours and brown dog ticks for up to eight hours. It also effectively repels mosquitoes that may carry the Dengue virus, West Nile virus, and Zika virus. You can buy this repellent spray in a pack of one, two, or three in bottle sizes of two to four ounces according to your needs to get the best value.
Made from all-natural, plant-based ingredients, it is 100% DEET-free and contains no harsh chemicals, synthetic fragrances, or dyes. Bringing you the goodness of distilled water, corn ethanol, and lemon eucalyptus oil, this tick repellent spray will keep you protected from insects and smells good. All you have to do is spray a few pumps of it on your skin, clothes, or gear and enjoy six hours of protection when you go on your next camping trip.
If you’re looking for something that can repel ticks and also leave a nice scent behind, then this is made for you. Not only does it have an appealing vanilla spice scent, but it also effectively repels ticks for long hours – so you can enjoy your backyard picnic, camping, hiking, and all other outdoor adventures.
This spray has a water-based formula that is gentle on the skin and is perfect for people who hate sticky products. Another great feature is that it doesn’t leave any kind of residue behind which makes it perfect for both kids and adults. Plus, it is cruelty-free, vegan, soy-free, and made of non-GMO essential oils.
A: The CDC (Center for Disease Control and Prevention) says that DEET is the most effective ingredient for repelling ticks and other insects. The concentration of DEET should be between 20% and 30% according to the EPA.
A: Yes, you can spray a tick repellent around the house provided that it is non-toxic and safe for household use.
A: Eucalyptus oil is the best natural tick repellent and killer. You can prepare a repellent at home by mixing 4 ounces of purified water and 20 drops of eucalyptus essential oil. Spray this on your skin, clothes, and gear.
A: Ticks are capable of surviving multiple washes. To prevent them from biting you through your clothes, dry your clothes under the sun after washing them.