Will Deet spray wreck my BB ?

**Shewie** · 06-20-2010, 18:48

I laid in my Blackbird last weekend and watched the abomination that is the scottish midge, pull itself through the mesh in the netting and into my living space. I had to resort to wearing a headnet at the same time until I could get off to sleep. During the night the wind picked up and they cleared off so I could take off the headnet and sleep in comfort.
I've never seen them do this before but it seemed they were making a bee line for where the net that was in contact with the ridgeline. I sat and watched them just a few inches from my face and they were literally dragging themselves through the tiny holes, The scottish midge is a relentless creature and they're drawn by the heat and carbon dioxide from your breath, once they'd locked onto my tarp and hammock they were not stopping until they got in.

Anyway that's about as bad as we get it over here, nothing that bites your face off in your sleep or things that hide in bushes and hiss at you, but it's still an annoyance all the same.

So my question is will 80% deet spray wreck the nylon of my BB netting ? I'm so tempted to try it but I'd hate to see if disintegrate in front of my eyes.

**angrysparrow** · 06-20-2010, 18:53

I wouldn't use DEET on nylon gear. It might not disintegrate it, but it is corrosive to some fabrics.

Do you have access to any form of permethrin in the UK? It is a relatively common (and inert) pesticide in the states that is very good for treating fabrics for contact with insects.

**Shewie** · 06-20-2010, 18:57

I have some of this stuff. I've used it on clothes before without any probs, mostly hard wearing cottons though.

**angrysparrow** · 06-20-2010, 19:00

Yes, that's permethrin. I would treat your netting with that, instead of Deet. It will likely be more effective.

I think Deet is fine, but I reserve it for use on skin only, instead of gear.

**Shewie** · 06-20-2010, 19:14

Thanks for that, I'll get it rigged up and give it a good spray with the permethrin.

**BillyBob58** · 06-20-2010, 21:39

Originally Posted by Shewie

Thanks for that, I'll get it rigged up and give it a good spray with the permethrin.

Yep, use that on fabric only(not on skin), and don't use Deet on fabric.
Plus, the permethrin should last at least several weeks. Another item that is not supposed to hurt fabric is 15-20% Picariden(good stuff!), but like DEET only last's for a few hours.

**oldgringo** · 06-20-2010, 21:46

Originally Posted by BillyBob58

don't use Deet on fabric.

I know that's what they say, and I would never put it on synthetics, but I've sprayed my cuffs and boots with deet for years, with no ill effects.

**Knotty** · 06-20-2010, 22:24

Certain fabrics dissolve almost instantly when contacted by DEET. Discovered that during my mountain biking days. I think it was the lycra shorts that had the problem. But most items were unaffected.

**Running Feather** · 06-20-2010, 22:34

Originally Posted by Knotty

Certain fabrics dissolve almost instantly when contacted by DEET. Discovered that during my mountain biking days. I think it was the lycra shorts that had the problem. But most items were unaffected.

I've had Deet severely mar my biking helmet.

**Mundele** · 06-20-2010, 22:50

To echo what everyone else said, don't use DEET on it. I had a residue of a deet/sunblock combo on my hands when I was looking at one of those waterproof indestructible maps. It left a sticky residue on the map. Later that night when I noticed it, I wiped it off and the ink came with it.

Now this isn't WBBB fabric, but I wouldn't risk it.