Frequently Asked Questions

Will the suits shrink?

The suits are preshrunk and should not shrink more than 3-5%. Although the cotton in TheTickSuit is pre-shrunk, there can be some shrinkage in very high heat. We do not advise washing or drying in “sanitizing” heat. 

How is TheTickSuit™ sized?

All sizes are now Unisex. Sizing is mostly by height and we are creating a new sizing chart. In general, a 5’4”-5’6” person would fit a Unisex Small. For women, this sort of translates into sizing down – i.e. if you normally wear a Women’s Medium, we would recommend a Unisex Small. For men, size the way you usually do (yes, it’s sexist – it’s how the clothing world works – Unisex sizes are basically men’s sizes). You can still tighten the waist if you need to with the drawstring or use the elastic to provide that needed room. There is plenty of leg room for all, and we increased the ability to have a bit of room when you raise your arms.

Do we have wider sizes?

Yes we do!  We are all shaped differently. We have wider sizes but these are coming in late April, so keep your eyes out please. 

Do the suits have pockets and belt loops?

All suits have two pockets on the legs and belt loops. 

What colors are available?

We are only stocking white suits currently. We changed the zipper – all suits now have blue zippers. We liked the color.  

Do we have children’s suits?

These are coming! Please check our site at the end of April. 

What do I wear under TheTickSuit™?

We recommend a tee-shirt and gym shorts under the suit in the warm weather. That way, you can remove the suit outside without being embarrassed when someone happens to stop by! In colder weather, we recommend a base layer, such as long underwear or leggings. The suit will most likely not fit comfortably over thick pants or jeans. 

How do I use the stirrups with socks?

We do recommend socks (we actually spray our socks and shoes with permethrin). We have tried socks over or under the stirrups and it’s a personal choice that depends on the socks and the shoes. Currently we are wearing the stirrups over the socks. 

Wait, what about the thumbholes?

We removed them.  We found that the cuffs fit snuggly enough that they did not slide and the thumbholes were just not so comfortable. 

What do I do with the suit when I'm done gardening?

Don't bring the ticks in with you. Remove the suit outside and put it in the canvas bag - that's what it's for. Leave it outside until you are ready to wash or dry the suit.  Carry the suit inside in its bag and put it in the wash or dryer - it will fall out of the bag. 

What kind of gardening is it good for?

One of our team (yes the one who was formerly 5'6") says she would use it for all gardening, although her flower garden is decimated by deer. Or rabbits. Her main activity is waging war against invasive plants – bittersweet, knotweed, garlic mustard. And the invasive plants battle eachother and the winner is…mile-a-minute. Now she can join the battle and pull vines without fear of creatures crawling between her shirt and pants or down the back of her neck. But if you are lucky, and have a beautiful flower or vegetable garden, the suit is still for you. Ticks are everywhere.

Can I wear this hiking?

Yes! Please do!

Does the TheTickSuit™completely block ticks?

Let’s be honest – tenacious critters can get in anywhere, but we believe this will make it very hard. While developing the suit, we spoke to an entomologist and former Senior Museum Specialist at the American Museum of Natural History in New York City. He basically said no fabric will completely block ticks unless it’s shiny plastic or dusty - they can climb on anything. Well, you can't garden in plastic. TheTickSuit™ is  mechanical barrier, and we believe the fabric will deter them and reduce their ability to get to you.

Are ticks attracted to white clothing?

Ticks don't care about the color of your clothing. This has actually been studied. They are attracted by your smell (carbon dioxide, ammonia, or other body odors), body heat, moisture, vibration, or shadow. White or light colors are recommended to help you see any ticks that may attach.

How do I clean my suit and kill any ticks that may be on the suit?

So what do we do? We base our actions on scientific studies and practicality. We wash our suits (they are filthy after gardening) in hot water. We then dry on hot for at least 50 minutes. We do not add too many clothes in the dryer – we want to make sure there is a lot of room for our suits to dry.  We don’t use the “sanitize” cycle because it might shrink our clothing. (Nelson et al. Tick Borne Dis. 2016 PMID: 27156138).

Should I treat my suit with permethrin or essential oils?

Permethrin-treated clothing kills black-legged and Lone star ticks. The efficacy of the permethrin is reduced after multiple washes so repeated treatment of our suits may be desired (Mitchell et al.  Med Entomol. 2020 PMID: 32277701).

What about essential oils? The science is still unclear. We do know that if effective, their effectiveness is not long lived. 

The suits we sell are not treated. For our own use, we treat our suits with permethrin but let you choose what you would like to do. 

Will I still need this suit when the Lyme disease vaccine comes out?

Yes! We are very excited about the new Lyme disease vaccine and hope it becomes available soon. However, a single black-legged tick can carry multiple diseases. The new vaccine will certainly not protect against babesiosis or anaplasmosis. It will also not protect against the Lone star tick and the potential for alpha-gal disease. So yes, we will wear our suits!