But now youre dealing with the smell of the mothballs you used previously to stop moths and their larvae from wreaking havoc on your wardrobe. Your email address will not be published. We use cookies to make wikiHow great. Thank you so much for replying, I did try using our vacuum to retrieve some of the balls. These chemicals actually make mothballs harmful to our health and the health of our children and pets, in addition to emitting an unpleasant odor. Once your baby can sit up, you can practise rolling a ball back and forth.Use a big, light ball that will be easy for your baby to push. Naphthalene may also cause haemolytic anaemia and is a possible carcinogen. Some people even use face masks, so they dont breathe any of the fumes. For delicates, you can also use a spray bottle instead of soaking. If you want to get rid of the mothball smell, you will need to clean the affected space and fabrics. Many people have the same questions about ridding their home of mothball smell once and for all. The mothball smell tends to linger. 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. More of a coverup. First apply a layer of the 50/50 vinegar mix using the vac or a spray bottle, then go over the furniture as you normally would with the wet-vac. Price at time of publish: $18. You might be pulling your hair out yelling my house smells like mothballs! I have poured some bleach, vinegar and even baking soda in the holes and I truly dont think its really helping. Store all chemicals safely out of the reach of children and with their safety . It says directly on the label to only use them in a sealed container where the fumes are contained. How Long Does it Take for Mothballs to Dissipate? Not only do you get rid of any odours, but you can also remove dirt and pests, like fleas, bed bugs, and moths. You can purchase cedar chips at most hardware stores. If you are trying to eliminate mothball odor the several proactive approaches you can take: Use vinegar to wash your clothes in a cycle then run the laundry again with detergent then dry it with dryer sheets. Just remember that you may need to change the item you choose frequently to have a maximum effect. Vacuum-sealed bags can be purchased online. Get rid of your moth problem for good. You don't need to hold your nose for much longer, thoughodor-absorbing materials like vinegar can help remove the mothball smell from your clothes and living space. Are You Infested? Get some activated charcoal. Typically, moth balls can last anywhere from 2 months up to a year, but like previously mentioned, the rate at which they dissolve really depends on the temperature and the current environmental conditions. Mothballs are made out of a chemical called naphthalene. % of people told us that this article helped them. No vinegar on hand? The reason mothballs are toxic is because of the chemicals they are made from. One of the best natural repellents is cedar wood. Setting the product in a strategic area that repels the mice without affecting the quality of life for your family should be your priority. If youre unfamiliar with what mothballs technically are, theyre small, tiny balls of deodorant and pesticide that help keep your belongings clean and protected. We've even outlined some ways to keep your clothes smelling great, so you don't have to worry about mothball odors in the future. When your mothballs have been totally evaporated, you'll know it's time to add new ones. However, delicate clothing my require hand washing. Keep mothballs away from ventilation areas in the home. Using mothballs during winter (especially Northern areas) is common in the RV community. If you don't have white vinegar, you can use coffee grounds instead. Store clothes in well-sealed containers or vacuum storage bags to restrict moth access. Before you start spraying your upholstery to get out the mothball smell, consider the material. Neglecting to do this could result in respiratory problems for either you, your family, or your pets. Read the manufacturer's label on an item of clothing to help you decide whether to hand wash the clothing or wash it in a machine. There are certain scents that I remember quite vividly from my childhood. One of the most successful methods for ridding the mothball smell from clothing is to soak the affected garments in a solution of equal parts water and vinegar. You can even consider things like essential oils, activated charcoal, or an ozone machine to accelerate the mothball odor removal. Mothballs can be placed in garbage bins and mailboxes, if needed. Plus, the supplies you need to remove mothball smells are already available in your home, like a couple of cleaning rags, a spray bottle, and some white vinegar. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Mailing Address: 9169 West State St., Suite 2867, Garden City ID 83714Phone No: (208) 549-9411. There are no uses for mothballs outside in the open. Take a small bowl and put baking soda in it. wikiHow's Content Management Team carefully monitors the work from our editorial staff to ensure that each article is backed by trusted research and meets our high quality standards. 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. You might also choose to use odor-absorbing candles or even coffee grounds. What do you recommend to treat a popup camper? You can use an angled mirror (you can get them in the oral care section of most pharmacy stores) and a flashlight or penlight to peer into the hole and look for any youve missed. So they can last for 2 months or several in the winter months. Does your breath change as you get older? When you take action, you could completely clear the air within a few hours or days. The moment you smell mothballs, you are being exposed to these dangerous chemicals. To make one such repellent, combine lavender blossoms, whole cloves, and a couple of handfuls of cedar chips, then place the mixture in cheesecloth or another breathable material, and tie it at the ends. One mothball in open air takes 3-6 months to dissipate entirely. Yes, the mothball smell will go away on its own. Here are some ways for removing mothball odor from clothes: Have none of these methods worked for ridding your shoes of mothball smell? Never keep mothballs in areas that people and pets use frequently. Air Fresheners are nice and they can make the air smell delightful, however, they do not treat the air so I dont think it really counts as a way to eliminate mothball odor. To remove mothball smell with baking soda, mix baking soda and water together in a bowl until you have a fine paste. In any case, try to avoid letting any children or pets wander into the kitchen and keep the room well-ventilated. Your very own sanitizer is ready. Mothballs are basically a chunk or small ball of pesticides that repel both clothes moths and humans alikeand for good reason. The combination of its low price and its efficiency in warding off moths makes this repellent our top selection. But now youre dealing with the smell of the mothballs you used previously to stop moths and their larvae from wreaking havoc on your wardrobe. One mothball in open air takes 3-6 months to dissipate entirely. You dont want this chemical mixing with the chemicals in the air freshener. Mothballs are definitely useful when you are at your wits end with clothes moths. Weve got you covered with tips and tricks for combating the pungent odour of mothballs. First apply a 50/50 mix of water and vinegar with a spray bottle. The labeled use of mothballs is to kill moths and other fiberinsects toprotectclothing. March 17, 2022 By Admin033 Leave a Comment. Is it possible to get rid of the smell from plastic? Keep in mind that just because you can smell moth balls, it doesnt mean its automatically harmful. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/d\/df\/Get-Rid-of-the-Smell-of-Mothballs-Step-1.jpg\/v4-460px-Get-Rid-of-the-Smell-of-Mothballs-Step-1.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/d\/df\/Get-Rid-of-the-Smell-of-Mothballs-Step-1.jpg\/v4-728px-Get-Rid-of-the-Smell-of-Mothballs-Step-1.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"