International Journal of Material Science & Engineering
Author(s) : AUFA ADEELA ANUAR, NUR AIN YUSOF
Mosquito repellent-incorporated fabric softener was produced using geranium oil from Pelargonium Graveolens plant as a potential natural source of repellent agent to provide efficacy against mosquitoes. This paper provides the method of making the mosquito repellentincorporated fabric softener having the geranium oil added during the preparation. 100% cotton fabric was laundered and treated using the fabric softener. The treated samples were tested using the Bioassay Repellence Assessment, WHO Cone Test using Aedes Aegypti mosquito species to ascertain the repellence potential of the fabric softener against mosquitoes. Some physical attributes of the treated fabric, i.e. the fabric weight, fabric stiffness and crease recovery angle, were determined to ensure the main functions of the fabric softener are retained. The Bioassay WHO cone test result showed that the fabric softener incorporated with the geranium oil from the Pelargonium Graveolens plant has the potential to drive away mosquitoes from the treated fabric with better fabric hand properties.