How to Get Rid of Mothball Odor

Mothballs protect fabrics from moths, but they leave a strong odor.

Mothballs are used to preserve fabrics such as bed linens and clothing from moths. Although effective, mothballs leave a strong odor in rooms or on furniture and fabric. Even if the mothballs are only in the closet, the entire room can be affected with the smell. There are a few ways to remove mothball odor from fabrics without breaking the bank at the dry-cleaner’s. Letting the items air out is key when removing the smell of mothballs.

Things You'll Need

• Odor eliminator spray
• Fabric softener sheets
• Activated charcoal
• Small trays

Instructions

Furniture

1. Move the smelly furniture outside into a sunny area.

2. Let the furniture sit outdoors for a one or two days and bring it in at night.

3. Spray the furniture with a color-safe odor eliminator, then let it air dry.

Clothing

1. Place the affected clothing in a dryer.

2. Add two or three fabric softener sheets to the load of laundry.

3. Set the dryer to no-heat setting and allow the clothing to tumble for about two hours.

Rooms

1. Spray the air in the room with an odor eliminator.

2. Purchase activated charcoal from a convenience store or pet store. Activated charcoal comes in bars or granular form.

3. Pour the activated charcoal into small trays and place them in each corner of the room. This absorbs odors.

References

• MadeMan: How to Get Rid of Mothball Smell in Furniture
• Lakas-Angkan Ministries: Laundry Tips

Resources

• Read this Article in Spanish