Permethrin is one of the oldest, most popular, and well-known insecticides in the world. Permethrin is formulated into creams, lotions, powders, and sprays.
Each formulation is different though. Some include a synergist (a family of chemicals that improve the killing efficiency of the main chemical) and some don’t.
Other additives can increase its sticking power or extend its effective life span.
- Superior residual control
- Works on porous surfaces without being absorbed
- Effective for over 50 pests
Because of these slight, yet important distinctions, it can become confusing trying to figure out which one is best which is why we've created this Permethrin spray review guide for you!
In this Pest Strategies product review you can expect to learn:
- What is permethrin?
- How does permethrin work?
- How do you find the best permethrin sprays?
- Are permethrin sprays effective?
- ...And our choice for the best permethrin spray!
If you're short on time, you can click here to jump straight to our overall #1 pick for the best permethrin spray on the market.
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Our Top Pick | Our Top Pick | PermaCap CS
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| View on Amazon |
 | Sawyer Products Premium Permethrin Clothing Insect Repellent – Pump
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| View on Amazon | |
 | JT Eaton Permethrin Clothing & Gear Insect Repellent Trigger Spray Gallon
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| View on Amazon | |
 | Duration Clothing Spray
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| View on Amazon | |
 | Coleman Gear and Clothing Permethrin Insect Repellent
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| View on Amazon |
Our Overall #1 Rated Pick
Updated as of July 18th, 2021
- Superior residual control
- Works on porous surfaces without being absorbed
- Effective for over 50 pests
Permacap is a long-lasting permethrin concentrate. It's suitable for use in hand-held sprayers or larger commercial delivery systems. It offers up to 60 days of residual protection against these pests:
- Roaches
- Ants
- Bees
- Scorpions
- Ticks
Rating: 97.50
Our #1 Ranked For: Termites,Bed Bugs, and Larger Infestations
Rating: 97.00
Our #1 Ranked For: Ants, Roaches, Spiders, and Rodents Issues
Rating: 95.70
Our #1 Ranked For: Mosquito Removal, Fleas, Ticks, Wasps, And Other Stinging Insects
Top 5 Best Permethrin Sprays
What is Permethrin?
There are over 400 different compounds listed and registered in the United States that can be used as insecticides. Permethrin is one of the most popular of them.
Permethrin is a synthetic version of pyrethrum, a dry powder made from the crushed petals of the chrysanthemum flower, which is mainly grown in Kenya. Botanical versions of pyrethrum are called pyrethrins.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) lists over 3,500 registered products that use pyrethrum (pyrethrins) or pyrethroids as the active ingredient. Along with permethrin are other related insecticides. Below is a partial list.
- Allethrins
- Bifenthrin
- Cyfluthrin and beta-cyfluthrin
- Cypermethrin
- Deltamethrin
- Lambda-cyhalothrin
Along with permethrin, these active ingredients, in various formulations, constitute the bulk of the insecticides used in the 3,500 products listed by the EPA.
Read More: Does Permethrin Kill Bed Bugs?
How Does Permethrin Work?
Permethrin attacks the central nervous system of insects, specifically, the sodium channels. This interferes with the functions of the neurons and causes muscle spasms, leading to paralysis and death.
It can enter the body through dermal contact with exposed skin or ingesting it by eating it. It also acts as a repellent.
Repellents interfere with an insect’s senses, including taste and smell. Their eyesight is so poor that cutting off their other senses effectively renders them blind. Then they tend to avoid areas where they can’t see, smell, or taste the world around them.Are Permethrin Sprays Effective?
Yes. Permethrin has a long track record of success in the United States and around the world. It’s what is called a broad-spectrum insecticide, meaning it kills many different insects.
How To Use A Permethrin Spray
Hold the spray nozzle at least six to 18 inches away from the surface or fabric you’re spraying. Use a smooth motion back and forth across the surface until it is damp to the touch, but not dripping wet.
Check out the video below for more information on how to properly apply permethrin spray:
Are Permethrin Sprays Safe Around My Pets And Children?
It depends on how old your children are.
Small children, and most pets, are physically smaller than adults. This means they have a greater skin surface to weight ratio. Insecticides can penetrate human skin, so the more skin per body weight, the greater the amount of pesticide that enters their body relative to their weight.
Infants and small children have higher respiratory rates than adults, resulting in them breathing in more insecticidal fumes than adults. Additionally, children eat and drink more relative to their body weight than adults.
Finally, infants and young children spend much of their time crawling around on the floor, which is where you’re most likely to spray with permethrin insecticides. The same thing goes for pets.
Warning
This product is not safe for pets and young children, as they are more susceptible to the toxic effects of pesticides.
Infants, small children, and pets are more susceptible to toxic effects from pesticides than adults so they should be kept out of treated areas for several hours after spraying.
The CDC recommends a variety of active ingredients as a mosquito repellent and/or tick repellent to protect you and your family from the Zika virus, rocky mountain spotted fever, Lyme disease, and scabies, among other diseases.
Read More: Top Mosquito Repellents for Kids
They recommend you use the following as your first line of defense:
- DEET
- Picaridin ( also known as KBR 3023 and icaridin)
- IR3535
- Oil of lemon eucalyptus (OLE)
- Para-menthane-diol (PMD)
Best Permethrin Sprays Reviewed
- Superior residual control
- Works on porous surfaces without being absorbed
- Effective for over 50 pests
Permacap is a long-lasting permethrin concentrate. It's suitable for use in hand-held sprayers or larger commercial delivery systems. It offers up to 60 days of residual protection against these pests:
- Roaches
- Ants
- Bees
- Scorpions
- Ticks
If you're looking for an excellent perimeter treatment for your home, look no further. Permacap CS does it all.
Pros
Cons
- Odorless
- Won’t stain clothes
- No greasy residue
This is the same product as above, but in a pump spray instead of an aerosol. It can be sprayed on your clothes, outdoor gear, sleeping bags, hammocks, and folding chairs. A single application will last up to six weeks or six washings.
Unlike citronella and other essential oils, it won’t stain your clothes or leave a greasy residue behind. It’s also odorless after it dries, making it ideal for hunting when you don’t want your scent to give you away.
This bug spray is an excellent insect repellent for disease control against mosquito and tick bites. The trigger spray might tire your hand from repetitive squeezing if you’re protecting a lot of clothing.
Pros
Cons
- Odorless
- Won’t stain clothes
- Doubles are regular pesticide
This permethrin clothing and gear treatment will protect you against chiggers, mosquitoes, and ticks as well as 100 percent DEET. It won’t stain or damage clothing, tents, backpacks, plastics, or other outdoor gear.
This one-gallon jug is a ready-to-use permethrin insect repellent with a trigger spray on it, along with a heavy-duty carrying handle. Once applied, it takes about two hours to dry. After that, it will last for about six weeks or six washings, whichever comes first.
It is also registered with the EPA for use as a regular pesticide, to treat cracks and crevices in your house, around windows and doors for a broad variety of insects, from ants to spiders to yellow jackets and everything in between.
Pros
Cons
- Long-lasting mosquito protection
- Safe to use on most fabrics
- 99% effective
Use Duration on clothing, tents, or netting material to keep biting pests away while enjoying the great outdoors. It's safe to use on either natural or synthetic materials. And the protection lasts up to six weeks or six complete wash cycles.
When Duration dries, it bonds to clothing fibers, killing 99% of the pests that come into contact with it. Use to prevent bites from:
- Mosquitoes
- Gnats
- Ticks
- Crawling insects
Duration is colorless and odorless when dry. It's easy to apply. And it comes in a convenient, eco-friendly spray bottle.
Pros
Cons
- Effective for mosquitos and ticks
- Lasts up to two weeks
- Safe for most fabrics
Coleman, a dependable name in the camping industry, offers a bug repellent you can spray directly onto clothing and gear. It contains permethrin which is one of the best agents for keeping ticks and mosquitos away.
Spray directly onto shirts, pants, jackets, backpacks, and hiking gear. Allow two to four hours to dry. However, it should not be applied directly to the skin.
Coleman Gear and Clothing Insect Repellent will last up to two weeks. And it won't have any effect on waterproofing.
This long-lasting EPA-approved insect repellent is ideal for hiking, camping, or long wilderness expeditions. The best thing is, there are no noxious odors.
Pros
Cons
Our Top Pick: PermaCap CS
Final Thoughts On Permethrin Sprays
Sawyer products are the quickest and easiest permethrin spray for the non-professional to use to protect your and your family from marauding insects. Permethrin is an excellent repellent and Sawyer has packaged it nicely for your use.
If you want a different kind of insect shield, there are several professional permethrin products to choose from.
Other Pesticide & Herbicide Guides
Curious about other pesticide and herbicide products? Check out our other detailed guides to help you deal with your pest problems.
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Because pest control products can be dangerous to your family if mishandled, we always recommend consulting with an exterminator even if just to ask for advice on how to apply pest control products yourself.
Our pest experts review each company for quality, cost, customer service, safety, and 100’s of other important factors and assess a rating out of 100. Below are our top 3 picks based on that review for pest removal. We’ve set up a direct line with each company so you can get fast free quotes right now.
Rating: 97.50
Our #1 Ranked For: Termites,Bed Bugs, and Larger Infestations
Rating: 97.00
Our #1 Ranked For: Ants, Roaches, Spiders, and Rodents Issues
Rating: 95.70
Our #1 Ranked For: Mosquito Removal, Fleas, Ticks, Wasps, And Other Stinging Insects