Wash stored clothing with vinegar before wearing it. The clothing will have a strong mothball smell, so clean it first. Soak the items in equal parts water and vinegar or add a cup (240 mL) of vinegar to the wash cycle. Place the water and vinegar combination in a spray bottle for use on clothing that can't be put in a washer and dryer. [2] X Research source

Mothballs containing naphthalene have been banned within the EU since 2008. [14] [15] Alternatives [ edit ] The Department of Parliamentary Services this month issued an alert to all Parliament House staff, declaring the house on the hill was suffering from an outbreak of case-making clothes moth. If the smell of cedar reminds you too much of hamster bedding from the pet store, try the relaxing scent of lavender instead. Richard’s Moth Away Sachets contain 24 little bags filled with dried lavender flowers. Lavender, either dried in sachets or fresh, can deter moths in your wardrobe. You can stow them away in your closet, shoes, or dresser drawers and use them as air fresheners.

Ventilation. One of the best ways to oust the mothball odour is to air out your space. Open the windows and doors. Turn on ceiling fans. Let the air circulate around the room or house for a few hours. The traditional napthalene and paradichlorobenzene based moth balls, which I stress again are banned, are active against insects and animals. Mothball". dictionary.cambridge.org. Cambridge Dictionary. Archived from the original on September 2, 2019 . Retrieved September 2, 2019. This article was written by Amanda Rose Newton, a freelance writer for The Spruce. As an entomologist, she is always on the lookout for effective, safe, and easy-to-use insecticides to recommend to friends and family. To prepare this roundup, Amanda Rose tested each product for ease of use, functionality, and accuracy. a b c d e "What You Should Know About Mothballs: Protecting Your Children and Educating Childcare Providers" (PDF). ldh.la.gov. Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals. Archived (PDF) from the original on June 11, 2021 . Retrieved April 22, 2021.

Puff lightly & evenly over surfaces, particularly areas that have been eaten bare or show signs of being eaten Although mothballs have been determined as safe for general use, the fumes can cause health problems. Even handling mothballs can cause your hands and eyes to itch and burn. Inhaling the fumes will exacerbate this sensation and may lead to headaches, breathing difficulties, nausea, and dizziness.

Alternatives to Mothballs

Many people have the same questions about ridding their home of mothball smell once and for all. Here are the most common mothball-related questions: Will the mothball smell go away? How long does a mothball smell last?

Clothes moths and pantry moths can be a real pest when they start eating your woollens and getting into your flour. Moths hate light and movement, so keep your closet open, air it out regularly, and move clothes around. Keep an eye on your sweaters and other wool clothes for signs of moths, and be diligent about keeping them clean. Likewise, wash any vintage or used clothes you buy before storing them. If all else fails, get helpAlthough cedar and other herbal scents can repel moths, on their own it’s unlikely they would be effective against moths or their larvae. A teaspoon of active charcoal has the surface area of a football field, and all this space traps bad smells like the mustiness of mothballs and removes them from your clothes. The odor can be particularly stubborn in rooms or closets where mothballed clothes have been stored. To remove these odors, leave out bowls of vinegar or plates of activated charcoal in the affected areas. (Activated charcoal is sold in various pellet sizes and is usually available at pet stores.) You can also try placing containers of coffee grounds or odor-absorbing candles for similar results. Whichever material you choose, place it in the areas with the heaviest smells, and change it often until the smell is gone. Mothball Alternatives

ToxFAQs™ for Dichlorobenzenes". Toxic Substances Portal. Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry. Archived from the original on November 26, 2020 . Retrieved May 24, 2013. What do mothballs smell like? Most people would answer that question with different adjectives, but the consensus is that they smell unpleasantly pungent. And the smell only gets worse the longer you breathe it in. You don’t want to remain exposed to mothballs for too long, though. The fumes are very toxic, and you could become ill with prolonged exposure. analysis A landmark case opens the door for thousands of sexual abuse survivors — and lawyers are already firing off letters If you find yourself in an unfortunate wardrobe situation where your clothes smell like mothballs, yet you have no time to clean them, don’t panic. 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.Baking soda is renowned for its multitude of uses, from cooking and cleaning and everything in between, so it may not be surprising to discover it works as an odor eater to eradicate mothball stench from clothing.