Recovering from DEET (1 Viewer)

[DuckNorris]

About a month ago, I really stupidly got deet insect repellent on the armor of my bins (Celestron Nature DX 8x42).

The stickiness is gone, and the armor feels normal in the air conditioning.

But after a few minutes of outdoor use in the summer heat, the right barrel (which got much more deet on it than the left barrel) feels like it's "sweating".

The "sweat" doesn't seem to be a liquid that's coming off on my hand. My hand feels sweaty after holding them, but neither my hand nor the bins are actually wet.

I think it's getting better, but it seems as though the rate of improvement is slowing down (like an asymptotic process).

Does anybody know something I can do to make this sweatiness go away or speed up the process? Should I leave them out in the heat or put them in the fridge or put some chemical on them?

I'm plan to upgrade, but probably not until Christmas.

 

[KC Foggin]

I was going to suggest you keep them outside for a few days and see if there is any change.

 

[WJC]

About a month ago, I really stupidly got deet insect repellent on the armor of my bins (Celestron Nature DX 8x42).

The stickiness is gone, and the armor feels normal in the air conditioning.

But after a few minutes of outdoor use in the summer heat, the right barrel (which got much more deet on it than the left barrel) feels like it's "sweating".

The "sweat" doesn't seem to be a liquid that's coming off on my hand. My hand feels sweaty after holding them, but neither my hand nor the bins are actually wet.

I think it's getting better, but it seems as though the rate of improvement is slowing down (like an asymptotic process).

Does anybody know something I can do to make this sweatiness go away or speed up the process? Should I leave them out in the heat or put them in the fridge or put some chemical on them?

I'm plan to upgrade, but probably not until Christmas.

When the rubber decides to go back to being a dinosaur, I haven't found anything that will stop it.

 

[b-lilja]

And here we thought it was ok to put on our skin.

 

[Maljunulo]

I thought we were supposed to use it on clothing only, especially the more concentrated versions.

 

[DuckNorris]

I did some research about insect repellents after I had the deet accident with my bins.

This is how I understand it.

There are three insect repellents commonly available: DEET, Picaridin, and Permethrin.

DEET - Used on skin. Dissolves plastics and artificial fabrics.
Picaridin - Used on skin but does not harm gear or clothing. Is also called Icaridin.
Permethrin - Used on clothing and gear. Should not be applied to skin but is safe to be in contact with skin once it has dried on the clothing or gear. Supposedly it bonds with the clothing and gear and lasts for six weeks or six washings. REI sells it.

I'm not using DEET from now on.

I treat my hat, shirt, pants, and and socks with Permethrin and put Picaridin on my skin. I haven't had any bug problems when using this combination.

I tried Picaridin by itself, but deer flies still came at me. With the Permethrin treated clothes also, they don't bother me any more.

 

[opisska]

DEET is indeed completely fine to put on your skin - meaning that it's not worse than any other of its application. In high concentration it's slightly neurotoxic and it's effects on the brain have been observed in soldiers in difficult conditions who really needed a lot if it for extended amounts of time. It's generally thought that it's still worth it if there are dangerous mosquito-borne diseases in the area, as Malaria is still worse than whatever DEET does to you. I would bever put in on myself in Europe though, I consider that completely foolish. It's insanely good in dissolving plastica, actually I once saw it dissolve a part if its own, particularly badly concieved, container It doesn't dissolve all aritifical fabrics - most notably it doesn't harm nylon, that's why nylon trousers are perfect for the tropics.

 

[Hermann]

t's generally thought that it's still worth it if there are dangerous mosquito-borne diseases in the area, as Malaria is still worse than whatever DEET does to you.

Just wait a few years. Malaria may well reappear in Central Europe due to climate change. Some epidemiologists believe it's inevitable.

I would bever put in on myself in Europe though, I consider that completely foolish.

Just do some birding in Northern Scandinavia during the mosquito season. Without DEET and some protective gear you will get eaten alive.

It's insanely good in dissolving plastica, actually I once saw it dissolve a part if its own, particularly badly concieved, container It doesn't dissolve all aritifical fabrics - most notably it doesn't harm nylon, that's why nylon trousers are perfect for the tropics.

Yep. I always clean my hands carefully after applying DEET. I also always wear some thin gloves to keep any remnants off my gear.

Hermann

 

[Ratal]

About a month ago, I really stupidly got deet insect repellent on the armor of my bins (Celestron Nature DX 8x42).

The stickiness is gone, and the armor feels normal in the air conditioning.

But after a few minutes of outdoor use in the summer heat, the right barrel (which got much more deet on it than the left barrel) feels like it's "sweating".

The "sweat" doesn't seem to be a liquid that's coming off on my hand. My hand feels sweaty after holding them, but neither my hand nor the bins are actually wet.

I think it's getting better, but it seems as though the rate of improvement is slowing down (like an asymptotic process).

Does anybody know something I can do to make this sweatiness go away or speed up the process? Should I leave them out in the heat or put them in the fridge or put some chemical on them?

I'm plan to upgrade, but probably not until Christmas.

Once that chemical destruction has started, there isn't anything you can do. That is from years in the trees watching DEET rot the world around us till there was nothing left.

 

[Binocollector]

I wonder if something like Vinylex might counter some of the negative effects? I used it on the slightly brittle rubber coating of my 30 year old Komz 7x30. And I often apply it on the foldable sunroof of our Twingo which AFAIK is made of PUR. I wonder if the rubber armor of the Nature DX might be PUR, too? I think Swaro uses some type of PUR for their armor.

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I put some on a paper towel and rub down the bino. worked pretty well for the rain guards on the Komz, also, which strangely enough were from a Zeiss bino and already showed signs of the dreaded "resin rot" (the PUR getting white and powdery on the outside which is a sign that it's getting brittle). However since the DEET seems to make it sticky and gooey rather than brittle, I am not sure Vinylex will help.

 

[Maljunulo]

To each is own, but I’m a bit reluctant to apply a neurotoxin to my skin.

 

[Andy Adcock]

Are you guys sure that DEET is to blame for this?

My telescope is now all sticky and you can scrape the paint off the body with your fingernail and the retractable, plastic cover has gone the same but it's been wrapped in bubble wrap (in the event it ever falls over) and had a stay on case on top of that. Zeiss were asking a lot of money to recoat it so I haven't had it done.

I don't often use my scope on trips abroad and never use DEET in the UK so I find it hard to blame that?

 

[Trinovid]

Are you guys sure that DEET is to blame for this?

I just found this; "DEET is a plasticizer and can damage certain rubber, plastic, vinyl, or elastic materials such as contact lenses, eyeglass frames and lenses, watch crystals, combs, painted and varnished surfaces, and certain synthetic or treated fabrics."

There are many other things that can lead to breakdowns but deet is definitely not something you want on your binoculars.

 

[DuckNorris]

In my (the OP's) case it definitely was deet that did this.

I was using 100% DEET that day, and I managed to get it on my bins' armor which immediately became sticky.

The stickiness has subsided, and after a month all I have is some cosmetic damage (armor got smooth and darker where the deet was) and this "sweaty" feeling from the armor when it's warm.

I wish the sweaty feeling would go away. It seems to be getting better but very slowly now. I think the deet is slowly dissolving throughout the armor.

The Lexol Vynlex sounds like a good idea. An internet search shows it's available at Pep Boys Auto Parts. I'll pick some up there and try it.

I'm glad I learned this lesson with my $135 starter bins and not with more expensive ones.

 

[Ignatius]

Just wait a few years. Malaria may well reappear in Central Europe due to climate change. Some epidemiologists believe it's inevitable.

Hermann

It won't be long IMVHO.

To each is own, but I’m a bit reluctant to apply a neurotoxin to my skin.

Alcohol is a neurotoxin. It is why it is used as a disinfectant. Some people drink it, too.

 

[dries1]

Now we are getting into various neurotoxins, showing someone else what we think they do not know.

 

[DuckNorris]

Malaria was not eliminated in Europe until the 20th century.

In the 19th century, it was endemic as far north as Sweden.

We don't have endemic malaria in Florida, but we do have to worry about West Nile virus.

For me, the chemicals are worth it only to prevent the itchy bumps.

I just don't want to damage my bins with DEET. I bet it would do a job on my car's interior too.

That's why I use only picaridin and permethrin now.

 

[THE_FERN]

DEET is a truly nasty necessary evil for me. It'll melt or destroy all kinds of plastic-type materials. Alas I find it ineffective unless at relatively high concentrations and I find it hard to believe it has no ill-effects on me. However, the mosquito bites are worse !

 

[Richard D]

Malaria was certainly present in Kent up until the First World War.

 

[Trinovid]

DEET is a truly nasty necessary evil for me. It'll melt or destroy all kinds of plastic-type materials. Alas I find it ineffective unless at relatively high concentrations and I find it hard to believe it has no ill-effects on me. However, the mosquito bites are worse !

It's a pragmatic world out there!