What do I need to remove insect repellent stains from clothing?

You will need detergent, hot or warm water, an old toothbrush, a clean white cloth, oxygen-based bleach, and laundry pre-treatment spray.

How do I clean insect repellent stains from clothing?

First turn the clothing item inside out and use a clean white cloth to blot up as much of the stain as possible. Check the tag on the article of clothing to see what kind of fabric it is made of, then mix a teaspoon of detergent with a cup of warm water and submerge the stained item in the mixture. Use an old toothbrush to lightly scrub the area and rinse the clothing item in warm water. If the stain remains, mix one part oxygen-based bleach with four parts warm water and soak for 4 hours, then rinse with cold water and machine-wash normally. For especially strong stains, treat the stain with a laundry pre-treatment spray and let it sit for approximately 20 minutes, then wash the garment in hot water.

WikiLaundry > Stains > Insect repellent > HM

How to Easily Remove Insect Repellent Stains from Clothes

Insect spraying is a helpful way to protect yourself from bug bites and keep your home pest-free. Unfortunately, sometimes spray ends up leaving stains on your clothes. Fortunately, with some simple detergent and sweat, you can get even the toughest insect repellent stains out of your clothes.

Updated 04 Mar 2023

By Peter Blackwood

Things You'll Need

Detergent
Hot or warm water
Old toothbrush
Clean white cloth
Oxygen-based bleach
Laundry pre-treatment spray

Steps for Cleaning Insect Repellent Stains from Clothing

Turn the clothing item inside out and use a clean white cloth to blot up as much of stain as possible.
Check the tag on the article of clothing to see what kind of fabric it is made of. Depending on the fabric type, different instructions may apply.
Mix a teaspoon of detergent with a cup of warm water in a basin or sink. Submerge the stained item into the mixture and allow it to soak for at least 30 minutes.
Use an old toothbrush to lightly scrub the area where the stain is located. Be careful to not scrub too hard and damage the fabric.
Rinse the clothing item in warm water and check to see if the stain has been removed.
If the stain remains, mix one part oxygen-based bleach with four parts warm water and soak for 4 hours. If the garment is colorfast, rinse with cold water and machine-wash normally.
For especially strong stains, treat the stain with a laundry pre-treatment spray and let it sit for approximately 20 minutes. Then wash the garment in hot water.

Tips & Warnings

Always test a small area of the fabric with the detergent before applying it to the entire garment.
Oxygen-based bleach should not be used on silk or wool fabrics.
Be sure to read and follow the instructions on the label of any products you use when cleaning your clothing.

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WikiLaundry

How to Easily Remove Insect Repellent Stains from Clothes

Things You'll Need

Steps for Cleaning Insect Repellent Stains from Clothing

Tips & Warnings

Try Laundryheap - 24h laundry service with free delivery

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