How to Remove Stink Bug Stain From Skin

It’s quite hard to force a stink bug stain from your skin, however, some options to try would be vinegar, baking soda, Dawn dish detergent, olive oil with salt, and milk. Be sure to rub vigorously to clean deep within the skin. 

The rest of the article will go into detail about how to remove stink bug stains from your skin and why stink bugs leave stains in the first place!

We will be exploring the following in this article:

  • Why do they stain in the first place?
  • What works well to remove the stain?
  • What doesn’t work well to remove stains?
  • What should you avoid?
  • How do you identify that it’s a stain from a stink bug?

Why do they stain in the first place?

Stink bugs will leave a residue or stain when they are squished or when they secrete their waste.

This could be their natural waste, or if they are scared they may also secrete this stain. 

What works well to remove the stain? 

Stink bug stains are pretty difficult to get off of the skin. If you don’t want to wait a couple of days it will take for it to naturally disappear, you can try some home remedies like

  • Vinegar,
  • Baking soda,
  • Dawn dish detergent,
  • olive oil and salt,
  • and even milk to break down the stain.

Be sure to vigorously scrub, scrub, scrub!

What doesn’t work well to remove the stains?

Generally, you want to stay away from a base, which won’t have the elbow grease to break down the stain. 

What should you avoid?

You should always be careful and completely avoid using harsh chemicals on your skin. Although these might get the stain to disappear, they can burn or hurt your skin.

You can also avoid picking up a stink bug altogether, avoiding skin contact in the first place.

How do you identify that it’s a stain from a stink bug?

Stink bugs leave a bronze or orange stain which can appear not only on your hands if you handle them, but also on walls, clothes, drapes, and other places where they have been squished. 

Why do you use milk to remove a stink bug stain?

Milk contains lactic acid, which works very well in breaking down stains. On top of this, it works as a fantastic cleanser for your skin!

What’s the most effective thing for when you have a stink bug stain?

Time is the most effective thing! You want to remove it as soon as possible.

Although many remedies can help, making sure you act fast is just as important in removing the stink bug stain, so it doesn’t have time to sit and sink in.

Do the stains smell?

Yes, stink bugs leave behind smelly stains.

This is partially due to the natural chemicals that they produce in a high-stress situation, but it can also be due to the fact the stain is fecal matter, yuck!

How do olive oil and salt remove stink bug stains?

The salt acts as an exfoliant, and the olive oil acts as a lubricant, both of them together acting as a great way to scrub out a stink bug stain in your skin.

This is also one of the least invasive ways to get rid of the stink bug stain that leaves your skin soft to the touch!

Do stink bug stains stay on your skin forever?

Luckily for you, stink bug stains usually clear up on their own in a few days. That being said, the smell of the stain typically fades away quicker than the stain itself. 

Should you be concerned about stink bug stain on your skin?

As irritatingly smelly as it is, a stink bug stain is pretty harmless.

Unless you have a specific allergic reaction specifically to stink bugs, you have nothing to worry about. Well, besides the foul-smelling stain that’s hard to get rid of immediately. 

Should you use chemicals for stink bug stains on your skin?

Although it’s tempting to use something like Windex or a household cleaner on your skin to get rid of the stink bug stain, you should probably avoid this.

Harsh chemicals can have unfortunate effects on the skin, such as rashes or burns. Stick to the things a little less harsh, like the Dawn dish soap and baking soda.

What if there are stink bug stains on other things around me?

Sometimes they can, not only, stain your skin but also the area in which they are postmortem.

On top of the skin-safe remedies I’ve listed prior, you can also use some harsher chemicals safely on your wall, fabric, or surface in which they’ve stained. 

What are stink bugs?

Stink bugs are shield-shaped bugs originally from South-East Asia that destroy crops and can become an in-home pest that can leave a nasty smelling odor behind, as well as leave stains around your house.

How big are stink bug stains?

They can be as big or smaller than the stink bug itself. Of course, if the stink bug leaves a stain on your skin or household surface, the action of squishing it can smear the stain, causing it to be larger than it originally would have been.

What are some other preventative measures to avoid getting stink bug stains on the skin?

It’s hard to avoid the immediate reaction of squishing a stink bug upon discovery, but this will most certainly lead to staining your skin.

Instead, attempt to put a pair of gloves on, or use a tissue to squish the stink bug, which will prevent your skin from smelling and staining.

Still, feeling self-conscious of your stink bug-stained skin?

If you’re still struggling with removing the stink bug stain from your skin, open up the makeup cupboard or run to your local drugstore and use some liquid foundation to cover it up. Although, if you just leave it, no one will know!

Can stink bugs stain my dog’s skin?

Stink bugs, when threatened or squished, can certainly stain your dog’s skin. Although this is unlikely due to your dog’s likely high fur volume, their curious noses could bring them upon a stink bug that they decide to smash, in which case it is possible they can stain your dog’s skin. 

Should you be worried if a stink bug stains your dog’s skin?

It’s unlikely your dog will have any side effects to a stink bug stain. Usually, your dog might feel a bit ill if they eat a stink bug, but overall they’ll be fine. You most certainly don’t have to fret about these little stink bugs being dangerous.

In conclusion!

For the most part, stink bugs leaving stains on your skin is nothing to worry about, and you might not even notice it…until you smell it.

But if it really bothers you, you can use gentle and organic stain removal methods to help get rid of it quickly. If you’re still struggling to get rid of it, just let it fade naturally in a few days. 

Alright, that’s it for this article, here are a few hand-selected articles that you might also find interesting reads:

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Steve Foster

Mad about bugs and wanting to publish as many articles as I can to help educate people about these amazing beautiful creatures! For more info check out my about page https://schoolofbugs.com/about-steve-foster/

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