Mothballs – Not Just Bad for Moths!

Most of us think of mothballs as a strong smelling, but effective, way to protect our sweaters from getting moth eaten during Spring and Summer.   People also use them to deter pests in attics, backyards and gardens.    Unfortunately, mothballs are highly toxic!

Pesticide labels, including mothball labels, state exactly how they are to be used.   Using mothballs in any other way is not only illegal – it can be harmful to pets, people and the environment.   Mothballs should NOT be used inside attics, crawl spaces, gardens, trash cans or vehicles.  

Negative Health Impact

Today’s mothballs contain either naphthlalene or paradichlorobenzene which are extremely potent pesticides.     Both are proven to cause cancer, and they can cause headache, nausea, vomiting, damage to red blood cells and difficulty breathing.

Proper Use of Mothballs

The key to safe use of mothballs is to place them with your stored items in an airtight, sealed container.   Inside a container the fumes concentrate and kill moths.   As long as the container is airtight you face no risks from the pesticides while clothes are in storage.   However, once they come out it is very important to air them out and even then residues will likely be present that have potential health effects.

Safe Alternatives to Mothballs

Machine was or dry clean your clothing prior to storage to kill any larvae that may have attached prior to storage.

Store clothing in sealed containers such as plastic storage chests, containers, and zip wool coats into sealed garment bags.

Use Cedar blocks, chips, chests, or closets.   You will need to periodically sand the cedar or apply cedar oil over the long haul to maintain the effectiveness.

Cloves, rosemary, and thyme – place a mix of these dry herbs in one or more sachet bags and add to containers with clothing and replace them every 6 months or whenever you stop smelling the herbs.

Lavender and Peppermint – fill sachet bags with dried lavender or peppermint or apply lavender or peppermint oil to mothballs and place them in Sachet Bags.