Alan L.
Elite Member
I hate the crying chiggers.
Where to get sulfur to keep chiggers off?
- Thread starter beppington
- Start date
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OP
beppington
Elite Member
Just bought a $6.50 4 lb. bag of "Hi-Yield" brand "Dusting Wettable Sulfur" ... & the warnings say:
First Aid: If on skin or clothing: Take off contaminated clothing; Rinse skin immediately with plenty of water for 15-20 minutes; Call a Poison Control Center, or doctor for further treatment advice.
What the??! Is this what you sulfur dusting guys have used? Am I gonna DIE if I use it??!! Should I just go for it anyway?? (Chiggers are bad; Death might be a welcome alternative)
First Aid: If on skin or clothing: Take off contaminated clothing; Rinse skin immediately with plenty of water for 15-20 minutes; Call a Poison Control Center, or doctor for further treatment advice.
What the??! Is this what you sulfur dusting guys have used? Am I gonna DIE if I use it??!! Should I just go for it anyway?? (Chiggers are bad; Death might be a welcome alternative)
dmccarty
Super Star Member
Did you spray your pants and socks? And tuck the pant legs into your socks?
This is what I do and it works with both Permethrin and DEET. You can still get an odd chigger or tick that gets on you and avoids the chemicals but it keeps the majority of the hordes off of you. If there is an opening around your ankles in they go.
In my area if you go into the grass or woods this time of year with out DEET or permethrin you are bug food.
I tried the sulpher and I was bug food. The problem with the sulpher that I had was keeping it sticking to your pant legs. You really need protection from the waist or thighs down. Spritzing a bit of sulpher on your socks does no good when the chiggers and ticks combat assault at your knees....
Later,
Dan
OP
beppington
Elite Member
Man there is really some conflicting info on how to avoid these things :confused2:
Some sweat by DEET & say sulfur doesn't work. Some swear by sulfur & say DEET doesn't work.
I imagine if you're truly covered with either, chiggers would be a lot less interested. Now ... to work on getting truly completely covered with it, at & below the waist anyway.
Some sweat by DEET & say sulfur doesn't work. Some swear by sulfur & say DEET doesn't work.
I imagine if you're truly covered with either, chiggers would be a lot less interested. Now ... to work on getting truly completely covered with it, at & below the waist anyway.
rekees4300
Elite Member
Source: G7398 Chiggers | University of Missouri Extension
Avoidance
The best defense against chiggers is to avoid them. Avoid wearing shorts, sleeveless shirts and sandals when going into chigger habitats. Tightly woven fabrics reduce the threat of chiggers penetrating through clothing. Tuck pant legs inside boots, and button cuffs and collars tightly to keep chiggers on the outside of clothing. This increases the time that chiggers are exposed to any repellents you have applied to your clothes. Remove clothing as soon as possible after exposure to chigger habitats and launder it before wearing it again. A warm shower with a vigorous skin massage, taken within an hour or two after exposure, greatly reduces the number of irritating bites. However, if itching has already started, it is probably too late for bathing to do much good.
Repellents
If you must enter chigger-infested areas, chemical repellents can be used with good results. Any insect repellent containing DEET (diethyl toluamide) or picaradin will be effective. Apply it to clothing from the feet up and reapply every two to three hours to maintain its effectiveness. Sulphur powder is also effective when applied to clothing but has a strong odor that makes it less desirable. Another repellent is Permanone (also sold as Coulstons Permethrin Tick Repellent). It contains the pyrethroid insecticide permethrin and should be sprayed on clothing and allowed to dry before the clothing is worn. These products are generally available at sporting goods stores and outdoor-clothing outlets.
Avoidance
The best defense against chiggers is to avoid them. Avoid wearing shorts, sleeveless shirts and sandals when going into chigger habitats. Tightly woven fabrics reduce the threat of chiggers penetrating through clothing. Tuck pant legs inside boots, and button cuffs and collars tightly to keep chiggers on the outside of clothing. This increases the time that chiggers are exposed to any repellents you have applied to your clothes. Remove clothing as soon as possible after exposure to chigger habitats and launder it before wearing it again. A warm shower with a vigorous skin massage, taken within an hour or two after exposure, greatly reduces the number of irritating bites. However, if itching has already started, it is probably too late for bathing to do much good.
Repellents
If you must enter chigger-infested areas, chemical repellents can be used with good results. Any insect repellent containing DEET (diethyl toluamide) or picaradin will be effective. Apply it to clothing from the feet up and reapply every two to three hours to maintain its effectiveness. Sulphur powder is also effective when applied to clothing but has a strong odor that makes it less desirable. Another repellent is Permanone (also sold as Coulstons Permethrin Tick Repellent). It contains the pyrethroid insecticide permethrin and should be sprayed on clothing and allowed to dry before the clothing is worn. These products are generally available at sporting goods stores and outdoor-clothing outlets.
Permethrin does work for mosquitoes, ticks, and chiggers. There are plenty of studies to prove it. You most coat your cloathing well, and let it dry, including socks. But the good news is it will last for weeks and through several washings.
DocHeb
Veteran Member
A long time ago patrickg (who was pleasantly obsessive-compulsive in his posts) started the thread Ticks, chiggers, mosquitos... Ahh Summer. He was a big proponent of permethrins.
