Beware of "Deep Woods OFF" spray

[hrhofmann]

I was sitting on my deck this am, under the umbrella, reading the newspaper when a bee started coming closer than I liked, ending up flying under the umbrella. My wife brought me our spray can of Deep Woods OFF and I gave a very quick spray in the area of the umbrella, which is over the plastic (le xan?)table that supports it. Bee flew away, paper enjoyed for the next hou r or so. Just now (5PM) went out to set the table for a nice outside supper, and not iced that half of the table was very sticky. Wiping with a wet(water) clot h did not make any difference. So, I resorted to my universal solvent, Nap tha. Some medium level sprinking of Naptha, along with some more water and scouring powder and a medium level of rubbing got rid of the stickiness, w ithout scratching the table surface.

The table had been fine when I was reading the paper, so I really was puzzl ed. Then it came to me, the side of the table that was sticky was the sid e of the table where there was NO newspaper when I sprayed for the bee.

So 1+1 leads to the conclusion that the OFF spray was what made the table s ticky. Fair warning to other folks who use this product!!!

[willshak]

Unless you are paranoid about Bees or Wasps, let them be. They are beneficial insects that pollinate flowers and vegetables. They won't attack unless you bother them. I can let them land on me and as long as I don't swat at them, they fly away with no harm to me. I usually leave a saucer of soda some distance from where we are eating and that can attract them and help keep them away. Besides, Deep Woods Off is an insect repellent spray that you spray on yourself. It is not a insecticide.

[hrhofmann]

er when a bee started coming closer than I liked, ending up flying under th e umbrella. My wife brought me our spray can of Deep Woods OFF and I gave a very quick spray in the area of the umbrella, which is over the plastic (l exan?)table that supports it. Bee flew away, paper enjoyed for the next hou r or so. Just now (5PM) went out to set the table for a nice outside supper , and noticed that half of the table was very sticky. Wiping with a wet(wat er) cloth did not make any difference. So, I resorted to my universal solve nt, Naptha. Some medium level sprinking of Naptha, along with some more wat er and scouring powder and a medium level of rubbing got rid of the stickin ess, without scratching the table surface. The table had been fine when I w as reading the paper, so I really was puzzled. Then it came to me, the side of the table that was sticky was the side of the table where there was NO newspaper when I sprayed for the bee. So 1+1 leads to the conclusion that t he OFF spray was what made the table sticky. Fair warning to other folks wh o use this product!!!

The unfriendly insects around our deck do sting, I have been stung twice in the past week.

[Frank]

I would be surprised if this caution is not on the label. I don't have a can of Off but it is on a spray can of Cutter and says it can damage some plastics.

Read the label and let us know.

[TimR]

Something you may not know about insect repellants: they do not actually r epel. They interfere with a bug's ability to find you. Caveat: this was t he state of the art a few decades back when I had biology classes and a fri end was getting his PhD in entomology. But DEET is pretty old.

With bees there's a better method than chemical sprays: soapy water. Mix some dish detergent and water, 1:15 ratio, put in a spray bottle. It drops them instantly, faster than Raid does, and you can use it around food.

[Ralph Mowery]

Is that Deep Woods Off listed as an area spray or to spray on your skin and clothes ?

I have a can of Cutter also and it also says it can damage some plastics, leather, watch crystals, and lacker surfaces. It is just for skin and clothes. Says will not harm cotton, nylon, wool.