[TheForge] WAY off topic, but possibly important to some of you.

[Bruce .]

I just read that lone star ticks are becoming a real problem in areas, and
others, like the deer tick. have been a problem for some time.  The former
causes an allergic reaction -- if you like red meat, you don't want to get
bit.  The latter carries Lyme disease.  And there are lots more diseases
and reasons to avoid ticks and other biting critters.

I've been treating some of my clothing (my khakis - pants, shirts, socks)
with permethrin, 0.5% solution.  I dip or spray the clothing (with gloves
on hands, dust mask if spraying, allowing no skin contact with the
solution), hang them to dry (out of the sunshine, which degrades
permethrin), and then in an abundance of caution, wash it in cold water,
little detergent, and dry it on low heat.  Use your own judgement whether
this is overkill.

Anyway, I can report excellent results.  Mosquitoes hover over me and won't
land.  I haven't picked up a tick at all when wearing these treated
clothes.  The treatment is purported to last through 5-6 laundry cycles,
and I have had no reason to doubt that.

A friend of mine who's a hunter swears by permethrin & keeps his field
clothes treated.

Sooooo ... my reason for posting is that I walked into Tractor Supply today
and found Permethrin on close-out sale for half price.  Great deal -- $10
for a quart of 20% concentration.  Dilute one quart to ten gallons with
water and dip your clothes.  (Or make up less if you prefer, as you won't
need all 10 gallons anytime soon -- not for one person's clothes.)

Anyway, I bought 3 quarts of the stuff.  I'm told it will last indefinitely
if kept from freezing.  Thought I'd give you a heads up.  I don't know
whether other TS stores will have the same close-out deal, but it might be
worth checking.

Bruce
NJ