Yeah, so I don't really know ... perhaps just wearing an Insect-Shield bandana, that I could borrow from my dog, my cut it. But I'm not sure I'm going to do that experiment. But I might just try short sleeve shirts and short pant and see what happens.
Over the years I found the times I got hundreds of chigger bites were the days I didn't go swimming at night at the lake (and scrubbing with Dr. Bronner's Magic Peppermint Soap). You need to get them off your skin before they do too much damage. If you wash, you may get some bites, but they will be small (not those HUGE ones) because you got them off. The other problem to consider, though, is how long do the chiggers remain on your clothes? Can you re-wear them and does the washer remove them all? Insect Shield clothing makes those question mute.
I've read treating your clothing yourself also works, but the treatment is good for perhaps 10 washes, rather than 70. You have to do it outside, treat one side, let dry, turn over, and do the other side. I've been chigger-free for going on 3 years -- wear very lightweight long pants and long sleeved shirts. Is that necessary? I have no idea, but I'm afraid to do the experiment. Just because I'm paranoid doesn't mean 10^13 chiggers aren't out to liquify my body and slurp it up with a straw. Perhaps you could do the experiment and let me know?
Even my wolf, Nashoba, wears an Insect Shield Bandana. I mean, seriously, with his imprimatur on this product ...
Yeah, so I don't really know ... perhaps just wearing an Insect-Shield bandana, that I could borrow from my dog, my cut it. But I'm not sure I'm going to do that experiment. But I might just try short sleeve shirts and short pant and see what happens.
Over the years I found the times I got hundreds of chigger bites were the days I didn't go swimming at night at the lake (and scrubbing with Dr. Bronner's Magic Peppermint Soap). You need to get them off your skin before they do too much damage. If you wash, you may get some bites, but they will be small (not those HUGE ones) because you got them off. The other problem to consider, though, is how long do the chiggers remain on your clothes? Can you re-wear them and does the washer remove them all? Insect Shield clothing makes those question mute.
I've read treating your clothing yourself also works, but the treatment is good for perhaps 10 washes, rather than 70. You have to do it outside, treat one side, let dry, turn over, and do the other side. I've been chigger-free for going on 3 years -- wear very lightweight long pants and long sleeved shirts. Is that necessary? I have no idea, but I'm afraid to do the experiment. Just because I'm paranoid doesn't mean 10^13 chiggers aren't out to liquify my body and slurp it up with a straw. Perhaps you could do the experiment and let me know?