Mothballs – Use Safe Alternatives for Your Family

Mothballs are Toxic – Use Safe Alternatives

It’s horrible to discover a much-loved sweater has been chomped on by moths while it was being stored.   Would mothballs have saved your sweater?

Luckily, it’s easy to make sure moths don’t make a meal of your clothes and bedding – and you can also avoid the problem of toxic chemicals from mothballs.

What’s the Problem?

Originally, mothballs were made from camphor, but now they’re often made from naphthalene which is classified as a toxic chemical.  It’s banned in Europe, but naphthalene mothballs are still available in the USA and many other countries, including where I live.   It’s extremely effective, but not safe for us.

A baby died in Australia in 2011 after being wrapped in a blanket which had been stored in mothballs.   Even if you use mothballs according to the directions, I believe it’s safer and better to use non-chemical alternatives.

Pre-Wash

The secret to making sure moths and silverfish don’t enjoy eating your woollen clothes and blankets is to know what they like.

Moths and their larvae love to feed on human and animal hair and skin, food stains and sweat.

So, the biggest thing you can do to prevent moths is to make sure your clothes are spotlessly clean before you store them away.  This is a critical step that many people forget.

This stops the problem before it even starts!

Airtight, dry storage

If you want to store your clothes away until you need them again, the best place is in airtight containers.  (Cardboard containers are not moth-proof).

You must make sure no moisture gets into these containers.  So the clothes must be totally dry before you store them away, and make sure no moisture can get inside the container

Natural Moth Repellents

Storing your freshly-cleaned and totally dry clothes in an airtight container will eliminate most of the moth problems.  Indeed, for many people, that’s all they need to do!

But if you want to be absolutely sure, you can include some natural insect repellents inside the containers – they won’t harm people, animals or the environment.

Buy or make small sachets or bags to hold natural ingredients.  (The pictures on the right will take you to examples on Amazon).  Then fill them with:

• Cedar blocks smell lovely and are effective moth repellents (but only if used in a closed space or container).  However, they are also quite expensive to buy.

• Mix 2oz / 50g each of dried lavender, rosemary and thyme,  with 8 oz / 200g  whole cloves.
• Drop some essential oils onto the sachets as well – lavender and the herbs listed above all make good essential oil repellents, as does citronella oil.

Close the drawstring on the bag and drop them in the containers with your clothing.

No airtight containers?

If you can’t store your clothes in airtight containers, you need to take additional precautions to protect from moth damage.

• Wash and sun-dry woollen items every 6 weeks or so, and shake them well before putting them back.
• Hoover or vacuum drawers and wardrobes or closets frequently, as well as other places where lint, pet hair and human hair accumulate.  Dispose of the dust promptly.

But I’ve Used Mothballs!

If you’ve got clothes that have been stored in mothballs, here’s what to do:

• Never wear clothes immediately after removing them.  Take them outside in their container, and open the container in the fresh air.
• Allow the clothes to hang and air out for at least one day before wearing.
• Remove the mothballs (wear rubber gloves if you wish) and dispose of them properly.

Next time, use natural, safe and non-toxic ways of protecting your clothes from moths!

If you enjoyed this article, please Share, Like, Pin or Tweet it (buttons on the right) – thank you!

Editor’s Note: This article has been updated with more up-to-date information