How to Get the Smell of Moth Balls Out of Clothes

While the mothballs did their job and kept your clothes safe while they were stored, as you pull them out of the box you may find that the overwhelming aroma of mothballs has taken over your clothing. These odors are not only unpleasant, but tenacious as well. Washing may not remove the smell, so a little ingenuity is required to rid your clothes of unpleasant mothball odors.

Things You'll Need

• Baking soda
• Bleach-free laundry detergent
• White vinegar
• Newspaper

Instructions

Several Simple Suggestions

1. Toss the clothes into the washing machine and turn it on. Allow it to fill up with warm water and turn it off. Empty a small box of baking soda into the water and allow the clothes to soak overnight. Turn the machine on in the morning and allow it to finish the cycle.

2. Hang clothes outside to air out. Be careful not to set them in direct sunshine as this may cause some darker colors to fade.

3. Wash the clothes with a scented bleach-free laundry detergent such as Mrs. Meyers Clean Day. Add a cup of white vinegar to the rinse cycle to help eliminate any lingering odors.

4. Wrap the clothes in newspapers and set them in a cool dry place for 24 hours. Check the clothes and repeat if the smell persists.

Tips & Warnings

• Be careful not to mix cleaners as this could result in either damage to the clothes or toxic fumes in some cases.

References

• Remedy To Remove Mothball Odor In Clothing
• How to remove mothball smell from clothing
• Removing the New Smell from Clothes

Resources

• Mrs. Meyers Clean Day