How to Remove Mothball Odors from Clothes

When it's time to bust the winter clothes out of storage, you won't want to smell like mothballs. The odor can be eliminated with a few tricks and some home remedies.

Difficulty:

Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• Laundry Detergent
• White Vinegar
• Hangers
• biological odor remover

1. Remove clothes from the closet and take them out of boxes, plastic bags or storage containers.

2. Hang clothes outside on a nice day to let them air out.

3. If clothes are washable, place 1 to 1 1/2 cup white vinegar in the load at the beginning of the wash cycle.

4. Dry clothes outside, not in a clothes dryer.

5. Use a biological odor-eliminating product. Follow instructions carefully.

6. Be sure that all family members - especially grandma, who has used mothballs for a good portion of her life - understand the danger that mothballs pose.

Tips & Warnings

• Natural moth repellents include lavender, cedar and mint.

• Clothes may need to hang outside for a few days until the odor dissipates. Bring them in at night unless you live in a dry climate.

• Mothballs are considered a pesticide and should be disposed of at a licensed hazardous waste facility.

• Avoid inhaling the fumes of mothballs.