The smell, however, may remain in your home for months or years after the last used mothball. Naphthalene General Fact Sheet - Oregon State University If those options dont work for you, storing clothing inside garment bags or storage containers may also prove effective. Whether its how to get mothball smell out of clothes, furniture, or your house, we have several solutions! For instance, if you place the mothballs in an open environment with lots of fresh air, it may take about three to six months to dissipate entirely. If you put the mothball under fabric or someplace where there is no air circulation, it takes about 12 months to dissipate! If by chance you put mothballs inside a container with clothes, youll want to wash this clothing in vinegar before you wear it again. The mothball smell is caused by the chemicals in it, like naphthalenewhich is also present in tobacco smoke. How Long do Mothballs Last? Ive tried vinegar and baking soda, gonzo charcoal and the smell is still pungent. This is one of those products that directions on the label should be strictly followed. They can protect your clothing from moths and larvae for up to 3 months. Neglecting to do this could result in respiratory problems for either you, your family, or your pets. So they can last for 2 months or several in the winter months. There are a number of mothball odor eliminators on the market, each with their own qualities. Then, go over the furniture as you normally would with the wet-vac. However, delicate clothing my require hand washing. If you make the decision to use mothballs just make sure that you use them as directed on the labeling. I think I will have to call my landlord and hope he can help with the big mess I created. Mothballs may dissolve, but there will still be some intact pieces in the storage containers or within the folds of fabric. You might be pulling your hair out yelling my house smells like mothballs! First, as mothballs evaporate, they leave a gas in the air. How to Get Rid of a Mothball Smell - MothPrevention Get rid of your moth problem for good. You can add some essential oil diffusers or air fresheners to a room or spray some onto your clothing. Using mothballs during winter (especially Northern areas) is common in the RV community. Are Moths Attracted to Light and UV Light? We may earn revenue from the products available on this page and participate in affiliate programs. Does your breath change as you get older? If you have placed the mothballs inside your home but not in a sealed storage area or a rubber container be careful because this could cause a neverending headache. This will prevent you from accidently rubbing those toxins into your eves or into your mouth. That is just for the ball to disappear. There are too many things out there that work so much better. We are considering buying one but it has been treated with mothballs and I am very concerned about neuro damage since we have to live in it once or twice a year. Six months later not one problem. If you want to get rid of the mothball smell, you will need to clean the affected space and fabrics. Literally epitomising the statement sticking around like a bad smell!. The mothball smell tends to linger. The answer is yes, with some hard work. Airing it out for a couple days usually enough to get rid of most of the smell. And clothes moths pheromone trap. How long do mothballs take to work? If you place the mothball underneath clothing or otherwise not in open air, it will take up to 12 months to completely dissipate. In the beginning, put vinegar in tiny glasses on the camper's tables. Copyright 2023 Moth Prevention. Due to the harmful chemicals naphthalene and paradichlorobenzene found within these mothballs we DO NOT sell them and would advise against using them for your own safety. You stop the moth larvae from damaging your clothing, but the trade off? If you don't have white vinegar, you can use coffee grounds instead. Candidates include bay leaves, cinnamon sticks, eucalyptus leaves, peppercorns, rosemary, wormwood, and many other botanicals. Even handling mothballs can cause your hands and eyes to itch and burn. Alternatively, put the clothes in the washing machine and run a cycle using only vinegar; follow up with another wash cycle using detergent and softener. Always follow label instructions and take steps to avoid exposure. Will Mothball Smell Go Away? % of people told us that this article helped them. Naphthalene may also cause hemolytic anemia and is a possible carcinogen. Although this takes time, turning up the temperature in your home will help dissolve any leftover mothball residue that may still be around. Wipe out all containers or drawers prior to use to remove any existing moth eggs. 9 Signs of Termites in Your Walls, Ceiling, or Attic, Can You Kill a Cockroach By Stepping on It? One mothball in open air takes 3-6 months to dissipate entirely. Most people would answer that question with different adjectives, but the consensus is that they smell unpleasantly pungent. An alternative to vinegar is unchlorinated bleach, although this is best reserved for whites or more durable materials such as jeans. But because it works well for many other pests (other than moths) and can be purchased easily and for a relatively low cost, other sites and forums state various creative uses for it (no matter how dangerous it may be). If you click a link in my articles or recommended products page and make a purchase, I will earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. For very strong mothball smells, sprinkle baby powder on your hands after washing them and rub it into your skin. The good news is that getting rid of that stench is fairly simple and involves products you likely already have in your home. We have developed professional grade solutions including proprietary pheromones, not available from anybody else in the USA, and engineered in Germany to the highest production standards. This article was co-authored by wikiHow Staff. Whatever you do, just make sure you take precautions and follow the directions on the label on the box of mothballs youve purchased.
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