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 This strategy works best for light-colored clothing and fabrics, as removing all the powder from dark colors takes more work. Oxygen Bleach for Removing Mothball Odor on Clothes The US Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) has determined that 1,4-dichlorobenzene "may reasonably be anticipated to be a carcinogen". This has been indicated by animal studies, although a full-scale human study has not been done. [4] The National Toxicology Program (NTP), the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) and the state of California consider 1,4-dichlorobenzene a carcinogen. [5] Certainly, a lot of people have pantry moths at the moment, even I have them," Dr Edwards said. Moths aren't all bad news

Choose a color-safe oxygen bleach and perform a test patch on a hidden area, as oxygen bleach isn’t suitable for every fabric. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions carefully to eradicate the musky chemical smell of mothballs without damaging your clothes. Get Rid of a Musty Smell with Fresh AirNo one loves the smell of mothballs. To get rid of the smell, you should first get rid of the old mothballs. You can then use white vinegar and baking soda on furniture, carpets, and curtains to remove the smell of mothballs. Are mothballs toxic to breathe? While mothballs are brilliant for keeping the clothes moth and their moth larvae out of your closet, the smell is troublesome. Naphthalene mothballs have a musty and chemical-like smell which is unappealing and makes you seem unhygienic when it clings to your outfit. Oxygen bleach is known for removing challenging stains, yet it works equally well on persevering smells. When combined with water, oxygen bleach releases tiny oxygen bubbles that penetrate deep into your clothes’ fabric to oust the musky, mothball smell from the inside out. Dichlorobenzene is a neurotoxin. It has been abused as an inhalant, causing a variety of neurotoxic effects. [12] [13]

Before putting clothes away for the season, wash and dry them to remove any scents that attract moths. Combine in a sprayer and test a small area of the fabric to ensure the treatment is safe. Spray liberally over the garment and hang to dry to remove the lingering stench of mothballs. Launder as usual to remove the vinegar smell and leave your items clean, fresh, and ready to wear or store. While they effectively deter clothes moths, the odor of mothballs seeps deep into wood and fabric fibers, persisting for years even after you remove the balls. If there are still mothballs in the closet, take them out, along with all your clothes and shoes. I understand the panic that comes from discovering clothes moths, I’ve helped enough tailoring clients in my time and after years of research I’m telling you that there are lots of really good, natural, environmentally friendly and above all safe ways to get rid of moths. As long as you take precautions and put mothballs in an enclosed space, you shouldn’t have to worry about breathing in enough fumes for the chemicals to affect you. How do you get the smell of mothballs out of furniture?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 help The mothball smell tends to linger. If you worry that you won’t be able to successfully remove the mothball smell from clothing, then you can seek out professional assistance. A dry cleaner should be able to get rid of the smell of mothballs. Wash with Vinegar. Load your smelly clothing into the washing machine and pour in some vinegar. Skip the detergent and the fabric softener for now. Run the machine, letting the clothing and shoes soak in the vinegar-water solution. Afterwards, wash the clothes with your regular detergent and fabric softener. Either air out the clothing or toss them in the dryer to finish up. The mothball smell should be gone.

The pyrethroid in modern moth balls is odourless. Traditional moth balls, the ones we know from our childhoods, contain one of two chemicals, napthalene or paradichlorobenzene. These are white opaque crystal-like balls and they have a tell-tale strong, unpleasant, acrid smell. Mothballs, air fresheners and cancer". Environmental Health Association of Nova Scotia. Archived from the original on February 22, 2020 . Retrieved May 24, 2013.

How to Get Rid of a Mothball Smell in Furniture

Like bed bugs, the most common way moths enter the home is by carrying infected items into the house. Food that was not sealed correctly, brought from storage, or clothing from an estate sale can all be culprits. Once taking up residence, unsealed food containers or old clothing in a closet are open invitations to moths.

Moths balls and camphor and things like that, they're not poisonous to moths, they act as deterrents," Dr Edwards said. Keep clothing clean: Clothing with food or sweat on it is extra attractive so don't put dirty items in your wardrobe

FAQ’s About Mothball Odour Removal

If you suspect you have moths or you already have a house wide infestation, then you will need to start a full and systematic process to get rid of them and we have just the tools to help. Our Moth Trap Box, and Moth Decoy both use the specific pheromone that the female clothes moth uses to attract the male. These products locate and disrupt the mating cycle and are used by museum conservators who are charged with protecting our national treasures. We have a blog dedicated to a moth elimination programme using these along with our Chrysanthemum Spray. 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. 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. As a verb, "mothball" has a metaphorical usage, meaning "to stop work on an idea, plan, or job, but leaving it in such a way that work can continue in the future". [19] "Mothballed" is a common adjective to describe ships or aircraft which are stored for long periods, but not sent for scrapping. Ever since her devastating sweater loss, Alex claims she has “over-indexed on prevention,” but her commitment to avoiding another scourge on her sweaters is the right instinct. “Monitoring and cleaning the storage area regularly may seem like very basic advice,” explained Kira Eng-Wilmot, textile conservator at Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum , “but [they] are very important parts of our preventative plan against pests.”