I mix my own tick spray/soak solution. I use Duration Permethrin 10% concentrate. According to the directions you use 1/2 oz. of concentrate in 18oz. of water. I mix the solution according to the direction and use it as a soak.....will treat 1 set of cloths(t-shirt & pants). You put the cloths in a big zip-lock bag (2 gal. bag), add the solution, let them soak for 2-3 hrs. and then hang them to dry. Here is my question.....does it really matter how much water I use??? I'm using the whole bottle of the mixed solution in just one bag. What difference would it make if I used 1/2 gal of water to 1/2 oz. of concentrate. After they cloths are dry, wouldn't I still have 1/2oz of concentrate that has been soaked into the cloths??? Am I missing something?? I realize, that if I was splitting the solution in 2 different bags, I would want to keep it at the right concentrate.
Your solution would be much weaker and probably not work as well. Frankly using it as a soak and discarding it is a big waste and a lot more trouble, and a lot more risk of getting the liquid on your skin. Mix Duration 10% at a ratio of 20:1 and put it in a trigger spray bottle. You will have .5% spray like the aerosol spray and then just spray your clothes with it. An 8 oz bottle of Duration will make 168 oz of spray this way. A little will go a long way and the clothes don't have to be saturated so they dry quicker.
I'm not discarding anything(except the water[not much more than a pint] that evaporates). I mix the solution, soak the cloths in it(they absorb all the liquid) then hang to dry. The things I don't soak is underwear, socks, facemask, hat & boots.
Technically the 10% solution needs diluted 19:1 to yield the recommended .5% solution used on clothing.
I mix and spray everything including facemask, gloves, and the inside of all garments. Permethrine is not harmful to humans as very very little is absorbed through the skin, and that which is is quickly metabolized and dicarded in urine. I've sprayed my bare skin numerous times when hiking in shorts. 45% permethrine cream is what is recomended to apply topically for treating scabies in humans.
Captpete, I agree that as long as all the solution is soaked in the garment, it doesn't matter what the concentration is. The same amount of permethrine is applied in both concentrations. Actually the weaker solution could make a more uniform coverage