How to Get the Smell of Moth Balls From Clothing
Moth balls might protect your favorite clothes from becoming prey to insects, but they also can leave behind a smell that won't go away with regular washing alone. Clothes that have been stored with mothballs (especially if they've been packed away for a long time) need to be treated using a specific method to remove the moth ball scent. They may even need multiple treatments if the smell is especially strong. Luckily, this treatment method is simple and cheap to administer. Does this Spark an idea?
Things You'll Need
- Vinegar
- Laundry detergent
- Clothes line (or other means of hanging clothes outside)
Instructions
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Wash the clothes in a washing machine using one cup of white vinegar along with a half scoop of standard laundry detergent. You can wash multiple items that have the moth ball odor at once, but be sure not to overload the washer. The clothes will need plenty of room to swish around in the vinegar solution.
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Allow the clothes to soak in the washer for about 20 minutes before the cycle actually starts.
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Remove the clothes when they are through drying, and hang them up outside in clean dry space. If you don't have a clothesline, you can place a tension rod between two ladders and hang the clothes from the rod using hangers. Another creative way to hang them is to use a child's swing set. If your child has two hanging gymnast rings on his swing set, run the tension rod through both rings and hang the clothes from the rod.
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Allow the clothes to stay outside for 24 to 48 hours.
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Bring the clothes in and wash once more using vinegar and laundry detergent.
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Dry the clothes in the dryer using a dryer sheet.
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Tips & Warnings
If the odor isn't gone after following this process, repeat the process. It may take several tries to completely remove the smell. Another tip is to air the clothes outside for longer than 48 hours. If all else fails, take the clothes to a dry cleaners.
