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The best way to avoid mothball odor is not to use them. This is an old-fashioned way to store clothes for winter. Purchase a few reusable vacuum-sealed clothing bags to store your clothes in; they are simple to use and very effective in preventing moth and mildew damage.
You can simply put your winter clothing up for storage in a clean, cool dry area. This could be a cedar chest, clothing drawer or closet. Make sure the closet or area is completely clean. This is also necessary for the clothing or items such as books that you want to store. -
To get rid of that lingering smell of mothballs, sprinkle your fur with unscented baby power. Rub it gently in and then take a blow dryer set on a cool temperature and blow it out. You can also put it in the clothes dryer and toss it for about 5 minutes on a cool temperature to remove the powder.
You can hang your clothes on a clothesline outside for a few days to rid it of mothball odor. Be sure to bring it inside at night and make sure the sun will not fade the item.
Tossing a clothing item in the dryer for about 15 minutes on a low temperature with a few fabric softeners sheets is an effective way to get rid of the odor.
There are odor-removing sprays such as Febreeze that will get rid of that bad mothball smell.
Pouring one cup of white vinegar in at the beginning of your wash cycle will effectively remove most odors from clothing. Vinegar neutralizes odor instead of just masking the smell.
Some people have RVs that they only use during the summer months, so they toss in a few mothballs to prevent damage to the upholstery and mildew and mold. The RV can reek when you reopen it the next summer. Open all the windows and let it air for a few days if you have time. Placing cups of white vinegar throughout the area works well also. Placing several charcoal briquettes in the room will also rid it of odor, as the charcoal is absorbent. Make sure to get the real charcoal, not the quick-starting kind that contains lighter fluid.
Clothing may just need washing and drying for the odor to go away, but this may not be possible for items such as books. A cleaning solution of equal parts white vinegar or lemon juice mixed with rubbing alcohol is effective in removing odors, as stated by the Home and Garden website.
