How to Remove Mothball Odors from Closets

Whether the problem is in your own house, or you're cleaning out grandma's place, making a closet smell clean once it's been filled with mothballs makes good sense. Mothballs are a pesticide and their vapors can be harmful.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Gloves
• Gloves
• Gloves
• Fan
• Warm Water
• White Vinegar
• White Vinegar
• Baking Soda
• Baking Soda
• mop and washcloth
• sachet or pomander

1. Remove everything from the closet - including the mothballs. Wear gloves when handling mothballs.

2. Allow clothes to air out completely while you work.

3. Mop the floor of the closet with a solution of one gallon of warm water, 1/2 cup of white vinegar, and 1/4 cup of baking soda.

4. Wipe the other closet surfaces with the same solution.

5. Leave the closet empty and the door open to air it out, and/or let a fan blow into the closet.

6. Hang a sachet or pomander in the closet, or use a closet deodorizer.

7. Be sure that all closet surfaces are completely dry before putting anything back in the closet.

Tips & Warnings

• To remove odors without clearing out the closet, place activated charcoal or baking soda in a bowl and set it in the closet to absorb odors.
• Or, try spreading newspaper on the closet floor, then sprinkling coffee grounds over the newspaper. Let stand 24 hours and remove.
• Mothballs are a pesticide and should be disposed of at a licensed hazardous waste facility.