Clothes moths will choose anywhere in your house that is dark, warm, undisturbed and has a food source. With rings, cubes, and hangable hooks, these kiln-dried pieces offer a pleasant scent while keeping your space moth-free. Fortunately, getting mothball smell out of your clothes in the laundry is still possible by taking a few extra steps. Overall, moth balls can be a useful addition to any household looking to protect their clothing and fabrics from unwanted pests. Killing all the flying moths won’t solve the problem because it’s their babies that do the actual damage.

Cedar blocks, sachets, and traps need to be hung up, like the MothPrevention Powerful Clothes Moth Traps, and do the heavy lifting for you. IARC classifies naphthalene as possibly carcinogenic to humans and other animals (see also Group 2B). Inhaling the fumes will exacerbate this sensation and may lead to headaches, breathing difficulties, nausea, and dizziness. If you aren’t sure whether moths caused the holes in your clothing, one way to tell is that some larvae leave behind a web that resembles dried snot. There is no need to use moth balls to care for synthetic garments, as moth larvae generally only feed on natural fibres.Another sign is larval cases or sticky webbing on clothes or furnishings, which can sometimes be hard to spot because the larvae droppings take on the colour of the fabric they have been feeding on. When you have a clothes moth problem, mothballs are a convenient solution for getting the infestation under control.

Moth balls are actually small round discs of solid chemical pesticide, usually made of naphthalene or para-dichlorobenzene. While the techniques to remove the stench from the fabric all take time to complete, it is possible to mask the odor temporarily so you can wear your clothes now and clean them later.Keep an eye on your sweaters and other wool clothes for signs of moths, and be diligent about keeping them clean. People use mothballs because moths have been known to eat through fabric in clothing and destroy the clothing items. Let the baking soda sit on the smelly garments for at least one hour, though 24 hours is ideal, before shaking or vacuuming it off.

Beetles tend to have a relatively long life cycle (PDF), making them simpler to eliminate before damage occurs. You can place them in wardrobes, drawers, storage boxes, storage bags, shoe cabinets, cars, or any other position where moth protection is needed. This sustainable and long-lasting solution reduces chemical and plastic use and protects our precious planet. Repellants with strong scents [like cedar] convince insects to rethink taking up residence in your home.

Prevention is the first step in reducing the entry of any insects into your home,” says Jim Fredericks, PhD, senior vice president of public affairs at the National Pest Management Association. Additionally, mothballs are a pesticide, and breathing large amounts of the fumes can make you pretty sick.

The traps are effective because they attract male moths, thus preventing mating and further spreading the infestation. Zidina Moth Rings are 100% natural cedar wood rings that repel moths, pests, mildew and mustiness while providing a fresh clean scent in wardrobe storage. Because cedar wood naturally repels insects and spiders, it may be helpful in repelling moths, ants, and termites. While they’re great for protecting fabrics from the ravages of insects, mothballs have bigger drawbacks than simply their smell.This can be a problem if you don’t want holes in your favourite sweater, but this is where moth balls come in handy. Pour half a cup of active charcoal into a shallow bowl and set it inside your closet where there’s a mothball aroma. Before putting clothes away for the season, wash and dry them to remove any scents that attract moths. Used in this way, the ingredients are not harmful, as we do not inhale or come in contact with the gasses which are released.