Insect Shield Technology In the News
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July 15, 2022
BuzzFeed News | Why Ticks Are The Worst And How To Get Rid Of Them
"The way to avoid getting sick from a tick is to avoid getting bit in the first place. Unfortunately, as much as everyone likes to use 'natural' products, they’re simply not as effective as the heavier-duty options to repel insects and arachnids (which ticks are)…The most effective active ingredient to repel ticks is an insecticide called permethrin…Once the insecticide has been applied properly and dried onto your clothing, you should be able to put everything through the wash and retain the protective effects. If you don’t trust yourself to do it properly, Mather suggested sending your clothes to a company called Insect Shield to treat them for you."
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September 17, 2021
Outside | Insect-Repellent Gear to Make Bug Season More Bearable
"Get your favorite outdoor apparel professionally bug-proofed by having it treated by Insect Shield. When you order an Easy Pack, the company will send you a packet that holds around 10 to 15 items. Fill it with your clothes (excluding underwear or dry-clean-only or waterproof items), then drop it off at any FedEx location (the return label is already affixed). In a few weeks, your garments will be returned to you ready to hit the trail. The treatment lasts up to 70 washes—about ten times longer than treating your clothes with permethrin at home. And rather than buying something that’s permethrin infused but might not match your style, you can mail in clothes you genuinely love. If you’re traveling to a bug-dense area or planning a multiday backpacking trip, treating your clothes beforehand is a great option."
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June 16, 2021
The New York Times | Gardeners, Take Heed: It’s a ‘Tick-y Year’
"Clothing can also be sent to Insect Shield for professional application, which is said to last five times longer. Ready-made pretreated clothing, from socks to whole outfits, is another option."
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June 11, 2021
The New York Times | Let’s Do a Tick Check
"Dr. Mather and Dr. Hinckley also recommended treating any clothing and shoes you wear in the woods with permethrin, a pesticide that is safe for humans when it is dry, and is effective at killing ticks on contact. You can treat clothes yourself, which should last four to six washes, Dr. Mather said; sprayed shoes will last about a month. Or you can get your clothes professionally treated, which will continue to protect you after dozens of washes. Some clothing brands, including...Insect Shield, also sell permethrin-treated clothing."
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June 7, 2021
The Martha's Vineyard Times | Prepare for ‘huge’ number of ticks
"May, June, and early July tend to be a particularly dangerous times because the nymphs are so hard to see. Because deer tick nymphs are down low, in the dead leaves and pine needles looking for a small mammal to feed on, permethrin-treated socks are very effective at this time of year. Both Basics and Brickman’s sell treated socks made by Insect Shield. You can also purchase them online directly from Insect Shield."
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June 7, 2021
The New York Times | Wirecutter | We Hate Ticks, Too. Here’s How to Protect Yourself, Prevent Bites, and Treat Disease.
"If you want to buy pretreated garments, you have a ton of options [including] Insect Shield… Insect Shield also sells clothes just for kids (and a few things for dogs). These treatments last through dozens of washes. Insect Shield can also treat clothes you already own. This is the same treatment the company applies to clothes it sells, under its own brand and others…Insect Shield charges per item of clothing but offers bulk discounts. Getting your treated clothes back takes about two weeks."
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May 29, 2021
Sierra Club | An Increasingly Ticky Situation
"McCulloch now swears by tick-repellent clothing. Insect Shield apparel is infused with permethrin, a CDC-recommended chemical that repels and kills ticks. Insect Shield also allows you to mail in your own outdoor clothing for treatment, which is guaranteed effective for 70 washes."
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May 18, 2021
The Conway Daily Sun | Jonna Carter: They're back
"The scarf proved so effective I went immediately to the Insect Shield website to see what all they might offer. Eureka! They have a full line of clothing for women, men and kids, workwear, gear and accessories. They even have pet gear. Fire up the shopping cart and add five bone and squirrel bandanas!"
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April 28, 2021
Forbes | No Vaccination: Lyme Disease Is Coming Back With A Vengeance
"The first EPA-registered insect repellant clothing was Insect Shield in 2003, and today the brand dominates the industry and remains the gold standard...While Insect Shield itself has a broad selection [of clothing and gear], especially notable are their lineup of socks…Most recently, for 2021, Insect Shield rolled out a line of treated dome camping tents, which is brilliant since pretty much anyone who camps out deals with insect issues…Insect Shield also offers a mail-in option where you can have your own existing favorite outdoor clothing treated with bonded permethrin for the same long lasting 70-wash life."
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Update published April 23, 2021
The New York Times | Wirecutter | How Permethrin Can Help Protect You From Ticks
"Sprays are a great everyday fix, but if you’re a dedicated outdoorsperson, looking into pretreated clothes might be worth your time…If you want to buy pretreated garments, you have a ton of options…[including] Insect Shield…These treatments last for about 70 washes…Insect Shield can also treat clothes you already own. This is the same treatment the company applies to clothes it sells…Pretreated is the way to go from a cost effectiveness standpoint, [Tick Expert Thomas] Mather told us. ‘Seventy washes probably gets closer to the life of the clothing for the most part. Four or five doesn’t.’ And it can be hard to remember to treat clothing yourself every month, he added. Buying it pretreated solves the upkeep problem."
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Update published April 12, 2021
New York Magazine | The Strategist | The Most Effective Tick Repellents for Humans (and Dogs), According to Science
"For day-to-day tick prevention, Mather counts on clothing that’s been treated with permethrin. 'Most of it comes from a company called Insect Shield in North Carolina, and it can go through the wash about 70 times and still be effective,' he says. Dr. Scott Williams, who works at the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station’s Department of Forestry & Horticulture, adds, 'The weave of the [Insect Shield Sport Crew] sock makes it difficult for the smaller ticks to navigate, which increases their time exposed to the permethrin, which kills more of them.'"
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April 6, 2021
The Martha's Vineyard Times | Ticks are already out and everywhere
"You can buy pretreated clothing from Insect Shield (insectshield.com) and many outdoor clothing stores. You can also send your clothing to Insect Shield and it will treat it for you, or buy permethrin spray and treat your clothes yourself..."
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October 6, 2020
Bustle | Your Dog Can Say Goodbye To Ticks, Thanks To These Super-Effective Repellents
"For a fun wearable option, consider this cute Insect Shield dog insect-repellent bandana. This 19-inch by 19-inch bandana’s fabric is infused with permethrin to ward off ticks and fleas. It’s available in two different colors, bright orange and green, with a dog bone pattern for a sporty look..."
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August 8, 2020
Forbes | Hiking With Your Dog—The Best Gear For Your Trip
"Like GoreTex, Insect Shield is a fabric licensed to lots of outdoor apparel companies, but they also make their own lineup, which include both Cooling Vests and neck gaiters specifically for dogs, in different sizes and colors. They are very light and can be soaked with water, retaining their tick prevention while doubling as portable air conditioning. Both my dogs have the vests and neck gaiters, and they also make bandanas, all light, easy to use, easy to clean and so inexpensive that you can’t afford to skip the added safety ($5-$15)..."
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July 28, 2020
Gear Junkie | The Best Kids’ Clothes: Durable Adventure Essentials
"Because mosquitos are mostly out when it’s cool, my favorite piece from the brand is the Insect Shield Zip Hoody. In addition to keeping all the bugs away, it’s comfortable and perfect to throw on in the mornings or evenings when we’re camping. It now lives in our “adventure clothes” bag..."
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July 25, 2020
Forbes | Hiking Is The Perfect Sport Right Now: Here’s What You Will Need
"If you are hiking where it’s buggy or there are ticks, bug protection is a big deal. Instead of smelly spray, consider using clothing made of InsectShield, which is impregnated with permethrin and very safe, but works well, especially for repelling ticks... I live in the heart of Lyme disease country, take my dogs into the woods almost daily, and have not had a tick problem since I started wearing Insect Shield. That’s a big deal."
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July 10, 2020
New York Magazine | The Strategist | How to Prevent (and Treat) Mosquito Bites, According to Experts
"Actress Catherine Zeta-Jones swears by this cotton shawl from Shoo for Good that’s handwoven in Ethiopia and is “enhanced with odorless, invisible, EPA-registered Insect Shield protection,” according to the product description. (Insect Shield also makes its own permethrin spray and a line of permethrin-treated clothing.) “I am somebody who gets bitten by mosquitoes all the time,” says Zeta-Jones. “It really, really repels. It also doesn’t have any kind of smell — unlike bug spray or even other pashminas, this is odorless.” Like other permethrin-impregnated clothing, this one can be washed up to 70 times before it loses its efficacy."
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Update Published June 11, 2020
Very Well Family | The 10 Best Bug Sprays for Kids in 2021
"Best Wearable: Insect Shield Tee - Skip the bug spray and try clothing treated with permethrin which has been proven to repel ticks and mosquitos. Just have your kid wear this shirt—or anything else treated with permethrin—when they go outside and insects like chiggers, flies, mosquitos, and ticks will be repelled.The efficacy of these products lasts for about 70 washings. You can also buy permethrin yourself and treat your own clothing with it, you just have to follow instructions very carefully to make sure it works correctly."
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June 3, 2020
Mass Live | What are the best bug sprays, candles and shields? Top picks mosquito, tick, insect repellants
"What are the best insect-repelling products? Insect Shield Sport Crew Sock - These socks were one of the top picks from Men’s Health on how to avoid bugs. The insect-repelling properties last 70 washes."
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May 28, 2020
Women's Health | 10 Best Tick Repellents To Avoid Tick Bites Altogether, According To Experts
"If you’re an avid hiker, consider snagging some pre-treated gear from a company like Insect Shield (as pre-treated clothes can last up to 70 washes, or about 10 times longer than the spray-on stuff)."
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May 2020
929 Nin | Keeps Bugs at Bay With Items That Are All Abuzz
"Some dogs are reactive to certain medicines and chemicals and some other dogs are gigantic which ups the cost of their flea and tick preventatives. Enter: Insect Shield. The most adorable long-lasting, effective and convenient insect protection for your pet. Insect Shield’s repellent is bonded to the fabric keeping it near your dog's skin rather than directly on it and there’s never any need for re-application."
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April 25, 2020
Men's Health | The Best Bug Sprays to Use This Summer
"Save yourself the trouble of soaking your socks in the tick repellent permethrin by purchasing ones that already have the compound in them. Insect Shield makes a whole line of clothes and accessories with this repellent baked in. You just don the clothes and go (and add any additional bug spray to exposed skin); you don't have to douse anything with the liquid repellent the day before. With the socks, the repellent lasts for 70 washings. "
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April 23, 2020
Gear Junkie | Best Neck Gaiters: Our favorite BUFF Gear, Neck Tubes, and Masks
"Finally, for anyone in buggy conditions — think on the lake, or in hot, humid environs — BUFF Insect Shield purports to repel gnats, mosquitos, and other pesky insects..."
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April 23, 2020
Forbes | The Best Dog Gear For Your New Puppy, Rescue Or Foster Dog
"Insect Shield also makes a variety of items especially for dogs...I especially like the cooling neck gaiter because you can wet it and keep your dog comfy and cooler on summer hikes while doing double duty of tick protection."
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April 4, 2020
Bustle | 7 Effective Mosquito Repellents That Are Safe For Your Dog
"For stylish and odor-free protection, this mosquito repellent bandana does the trick. The bandana features mosquito-fighting permethrin, which is tightly bound to the polyester and cotton fibers. It's machine-washable and will maintain effectiveness for up to 70 washes, so you don't have to worry if your pooch gets into a bit of mud or dirt. Measuring 19x19 inches, it's ideal for smaller dogs and can be trimmed to fit. Choose from orange and green color options."
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April 2, 2020
Forbes | Lyme Disease Is The Last Thing You Need Right Now
"But for wearing on a regular basis, like all of tick season, the easier way to use permethrin is by purchasing clothing that is already treated. The pioneer of this is Insect Shield, which makes impregnated fabrics, which are then used by outdoor clothing producers across several brands. Insect Shield also has its own full lineup of gear for men, women, children and pets..."
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