IIT Delhi develops washing powder that turn clothes into mosquito shield

Mosquito bites may seem harmless, but they spread diseases like malaria, dengue and chikungunya that affect millions every year. Now, researchers at IIT Delhi have found an unusual way to tackle the problem — through laundry detergent. The team has developed a mosquito-repellent detergent that works during regular washing and helps keep mosquitoes away from clothes, offering a new layer of daily protection without changing routine habits, a TOI report stated.

A simple idea from a daily chore

People usually depend on coils, sprays and creams to fight mosquitoes. These methods often work for a short time and need frequent reapplication. The IIT Delhi solution takes a different route. The detergent, available in liquid and powder forms, is used just like any other laundry product. After washing, the fabric itself becomes resistant to mosquito landings.

How the detergent was tested

The project is led by professor Javed Nabibaksha Sheikh from the department of textile and fibre engineering. The team tested the detergent in a commercial laboratory using a standard technique known as the “hand-in-cage” method. In this test, volunteers placed fabric-covered hands inside a cage filled with hungry mosquitoes.


“The number of mosquitoes landing on the fabric was evaluated and textiles washed with our detergent showed a significant reduction in landings,” he said.

Why clothes matter in mosquito defence

The researchers point out that clothing is often the first surface mosquitoes encounter. Despite wearing full sleeves or trousers, people still get bitten because mosquitoes can pierce ordinary fabric with ease. By stopping mosquitoes from settling on clothes in the first place, the risk of bites drops sharply.

What makes the fabric unattractive to mosquitoes

The detergent contains active ingredients that attach themselves to cloth fibres during washing. These ingredients interfere with mosquitoes’ smell and taste receptors. As a result, the insects find the fabric unappealing and avoid landing on it. The protection refreshes with every wash, making it a repeat-use solution without extra effort.

Trials and next steps

Repeated “hand-in-cage” trials showed a consistent and clear fall in mosquito landings on treated fabrics. Encouraged by these results, the researchers have already filed a patent application for the technology.

If it reaches homes at scale, this offbeat innovation could turn an ordinary laundry routine into an unexpected weapon against mosquitoes.

(Source: TOI)