How to Counteract a Mothball Smell

Mothballs can prevent damage to clothes that are in storage.

While mothballs can be an effective deterrent for moths, helping to keep your clothing safe from insect damage, mothball odor can be unpleasant. According to the National Pesticide Information Center, mothballs contain active ingredients that vaporize into a gas to kill moths. These chemicals -- naphthalene or paradichlorobenzene -- can be harmful if ingested. Some people also suffer ill effects from smelling mothballs. Counteract a mothball smell to remove the strong odors from your clothing and home.

Things You'll Need

• Clothesline
• Dryer sheets

Instructions

1. Remove the clothing from the storage containers at least one or two weeks before you plan to use them, to give the mothball odors time to dissipate.

2. Hang the items in a location where they will receive fresh air without sun. Use a clothesline on a cloudy day or string a makeshift clothesline across a garage or covered deck on a sunny day.

3. Allow the clothing to air out for two to three days. If you place items on a clothesline, take them down during the overnight hours and hang them back up again during the day.

4. Wash the clothing in the washing machine following the manufacturer recommendations. Dry clean items if necessary.

5. Place the clothing into the dryer and add a dryer sheet to the dryer. Set the dryer to an air cycle without heat and start it. Allow the dryer to fluff the clothing for 15 to 20 minutes and any residual mothball smells should disappear.

Tips & Warnings

• If you do not have access to an outdoor area where you can hang clothes, get creative. Try placing the item on a clothes hanger and hanging it outdoors on an overcast day. Even placing a kitchen chair outside and hooking the hanger over the back of the chair for a few hours would help air out the clothing fibers.

References

• National Pesticide Information Center: Chemical Properties and Environmental Fate of Mothballs
• National Pesticide Information Center: Health Effects of Mothballs
• University of Nebraska - Lincoln: Storing Your Summer Wardrobe; Lorene Bartos; November 2007
• Good Housekeeping: Removing Mothball Odor From a Blanket; Heloise
• Good Housekeeping: Mothball Odor in Car Interior; Heloise