Repel
Repel Insect Repellent Mosquito Wipes 30% DEET
Wipe · EPA-registered repellent (Reg. No. 121-86-305, a distributor registration of United Industries Corp. product 121-86)
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Pros
- Convenient 30% DEET wipes, 5 to 6 hours of cover with no spray, easy for travel and faces.
Cons
- Wipes spread less evenly than a spray, and it's still DEET, so keep it off plastics.
The full review
Delivering 30% DEET in a controlled wipe format, these towelettes earn a clear recommended, with the design offering precise application and no overspray, handy for travel and faces. Effectiveness is strong on roughly 5 to 6 hours of complete mosquito protection and 2 to 4 against ticks. The familiar strengths carry it: definitive evidence behind DEET, clean skin safety, and 5 audited claims that all hold up (4 strong, 1 moderate). The manufacturer's "up to 10 hours" reflects reduced biting rather than bite-free time, so our shorter window is expected. As with the rest of the line, transparency is the soft spot because the inert ingredients go undisclosed, and wipes spread a touch less evenly than a spray.
Scorecard
Expand any pillar to see exactly why it scored what it did.
Effectiveness45%91Mosquitoes: 5–6 h of complete protection. Ticks: 2–4 h of complete protection. Protection times are modeled from the actives, concentration, and format (see methodology). Scored on a saturating curve (each added hour counts less than the last), 65% mosquito / 35% tick, with reasonable confidence.
Mosquitoes: 5–6 h of complete protection. Ticks: 2–4 h of complete protection. Protection times are modeled from the actives, concentration, and format (see methodology). Scored on a saturating curve (each added hour counts less than the last), 65% mosquito / 35% tick, with reasonable confidence.
Evidence & honest claims25%97DEET is backed by definitive published evidence, weighted by how close its concentration is to the studied effective dose (base 85). Of 5 marketing claims audited: 4 strong, 1 moderate, 0 weak, 0 unsupported (+12).
DEET is backed by definitive published evidence, weighted by how close its concentration is to the studied effective dose (base 85). Of 5 marketing claims audited: 4 strong, 1 moderate, 0 weak, 0 unsupported (+12).
Safety15%96From published dermal toxicology (EPA/CIR/IFRA), scaled by each active's concentration against its leave-on limit: no notable sensitization risk; low irritation; moderate aquatic toxicity (−4).
From published dermal toxicology (EPA/CIR/IFRA), scaled by each active's concentration against its leave-on limit: no notable sensitization risk; low irritation; moderate aquatic toxicity (−4).
Transparency15%75This product publishes an ingredient list (+20); discloses 100% of active concentrations (+40); discloses 100% of all ingredient concentrations (+15); inert ingredients are not fully accounted for (0).
This product publishes an ingredient list (+20); discloses 100% of active concentrations (+40); discloses 100% of all ingredient concentrations (+15); inert ingredients are not fully accounted for (0).
Every pillar is scored from published rules. Read how we score.
How long it protects
Complete protection ends when the first bite gets through; partial protection keeps reducing bites as repellency decays. EPA label times are verified; the rest are modeled from the actives, concentration, and format.
Mosquito estimate basis (moderate confidence)
Estimated complete protection time from active ingredient + concentration; the source research used a spray-style formulation, adjusted down for this wipe format (×0.80). Partial protection (reduced but real bite suppression) is modeled to extend to ~10 h as repellency decays.
Tick estimate basis (moderate confidence)
Estimated complete protection time from active ingredient + concentration; the source research used a spray-style formulation, adjusted down for this wipe format (×0.80). Partial protection (reduced but real bite suppression) is modeled to extend to ~7 h as repellency decays.
Ingredient disclosure
This product publishes an ingredient list (+20); discloses 100% of active concentrations (+40); discloses 100% of all ingredient concentrations (+15); inert ingredients are not fully accounted for (0).
Only active ingredients are disclosed. The full ingredient list (inerts/carriers) is not published, so this may not be the complete formula.
- DEETActive
Active repellent · 30%
Claims audit
What the marketing says, versus what the evidence supports.
“Convenient, ready-to-use wipes in a resealable travel pouch”
OtherStrongFormat claim.
“Also repels ticks, biting flies, gnats, no-see-ums, chiggers and fleas”
EfficacyStrongEPA-registered pest spectrum for 30% DEET.
“Specially formulated to repel biting insects for up to 10 hours”
DurationModerateManufacturer claim on brand/retail pages; the EPA repellent search tool lists 8 hours of mosquito protection for the base registration 121-86, so the 10-hour figure is slightly above the EPA-listed time.
“Repels mosquitoes that may transmit the Zika, West Nile, Dengue and Chikungunya viruses”
EfficacyStrongEPA-registered label claim; repellency does not guarantee disease prevention.
“DEET 30%”
EfficacyStrongActive ingredient concentration confirmed by EPA registration and label.
How to apply it
Tear open the package at the notch, pull out one towelette, and wipe it evenly over exposed skin, using just enough to cover the skin; reseal the pouch between uses to prevent drying. Do not use under clothing; when using on the face, apply sparingly, avoiding eyes and mouth, and apply sparingly around the ears. Do not apply over cuts, wounds, sunburned, or irritated skin, do not apply to children's hands, and do not allow children to handle the product. After returning indoors, wash treated skin with soap and water, check yourself, family members, and pets for ticks, and wash treated clothing before wearing it again.
The label
Ingredients, warnings, and directions from the package label. Read it before you buy.
