Mothballs are commonly found in homes and are used to keep pests, especially moths, from ruining the fabric. They’re highly effective at repelling insects away, yet they leave behind an unpleasant, distinct odor that may adhere to fabric for weeks or even months.
While it might seem hard to get rid of the mothball smell, you can freshen your clothes with the right approaches and a little effort. Let’s explore mothballs, what they’re for, and some of the proven methods to get rid of the remaining smell from your clothes.
Mothballs: What Are They?
Mothballs are small white balls or tablets that are usually formed of naphthalene or paradichlorobenzene, two distinct chemicals with strong smells.
These substances evaporate at normal temperatures and release fumes that are deadly to moths, larvae, and other insects. The vapors act as a pesticide, protecting fur, wool, and other natural fibers from them.
Why Do People Use Mothballs?
Mothballs are usually used to prevent clothes and materials from getting worse, especially during long-term storage, in storage spaces like closets, attics, or drawers. Though it works effectively, the strong chemical smell may absorb into the fibers of your clothes, leaving them an unpleasant smell and making them difficult to wear once you take them from storage.
Methods to Remove Mothball Smells from Clothes
Methods to get rid of the Smell of Mothballs from Clothes:
1. Sunlight & Fresh Air
Two of the best deodorizers that exist in nature are sunlight and fresh air. The way this method works is by allowing the chemicals in the mothballs to slowly break down over time.
If you don’t want to use any chemicals with your clothes, then sunlight and fresh air are the best way to remove the smell of mothballs, but it has some limitations, it takes a lot of time and if the clothes or fabric are too thick then this method will take a lot of time and efforts.
Instructions:
- Hang clothes under direct sunlight: Hand your clothes under direct sunlight and in an open area where fresh air can flow easily.
- Allow sunlight to do its job: Let it wait for a day then check in the evening whether the smell is reduced or not, don’t let it sit there overnight.
- Flip it for even sunlight: If the smell is reduced in the previous or in the half day, you can not flip it to another side, so that the smell can get out from all sides.
- Check the clothes: If the smell is reduced, then you can wash them with regular detergents and again use sunlight and air to dry them, otherwise, you can use the methods mentioned below if the smell is not gone.
2. White Vinegar Solution
One of the most effective and most widely used methods for removing smells, especially mothball smells, is white vinegar. The substances in mothballs can be broken down with the acid in vinegar, which helps with getting rid of the odor.
Instructions:
- Prepare Vinegar Solution: Fill your washing machine with cold water and add 1 or 2 cups of white vinegar to it, create a solution by mixing water.
- Soak the clothes: Now put all your clothes in the solution and let it soak the solution for at least 1 hour, if the smell is too strong you can wait for more than 1 hour.
- Wash Clothes: Now take out your clothes from the soaking solution and then wash them using regular laundry detergent.
- Dry Clothes in Open Space: After the washing, you can dry your clothes outside in direct sunlight, sunlight also helps in removing the smell of mothballs from clothes.
3. Baking Soda
Baking soda is another natural deodorizer, baking soda effectively removes strong odors. It helps in removing the smell of mothballs from clothes with no harm to the clothes.
Instructions:
- Prepare your Clothes: Either spread out the clothes on a large surface or put them in a big plastic bag.
- Dust with Baking Soda: Lightly sprinkle the clothes with baking soda. If you’re using a plastic bag, fill it with about use one cup of baking soda, close it, and give it a gentle shake to coat the baking soda throughout the fabric.
- Let It Sit: Let the clothes a minimum of 24 hours to sit on the baking soda. You may need to give it a 48-hour time for stronger smells.
- Brush off the Baking Soda: After 24-48 hours time, you can take out your clothes and remove all the baking soda that is on the clothes with a shake or a soft bristle brush. You can also wash the clothes to get the freshest smell after all of this.
4. Activated Charcoal
A great extra odor absorber is activated charcoal. It successfully removes the mothball smell by trapping the odor-causing chemicals in its porous surface.
Instructions:
- Put all your clothes in a Container: You have to put all your clothes in a large airtight container or a large plastic bag.
- Add Activated Charcoal: You can then add a few bags of activated charcoal in the container or plastic bag as per the quantity of clothes, don’t add loose charcoal to the container, as it will stain all the clothes, use a small cloth, paper bag then add it with the clothes.
- Close the container: Then close the container or plastic bag, make sure no air can get in, and then wait for 3-7 days. The charcoal will absorb all the smell of mothballs slowly.
- Check clothes: After 3-7 days, open the container and check the smell, and then you can wash these clothes and dry them under sunlight to get rid of the remaining smell if it has remaining smell.
5. Coffee Grounds
Similar to baking soda and charcoal, coffee grounds also act as a natural deodorizer. They are effective in removing unpleasant smells, like the mothball smell.
Instructions:
- Gather Coffee Grounds: You can use either fresh or dried coffee grounds.
- Put clothes in Bag with Coffee Grounds: Place the clothing in a large, airtight plastic bag or container. Put one or two cups of coffee grinds inside an open container or breathable pouch.
- Seal the container airtight: For three to five days, close the bag or container and keep it out of the way. The coffee grinds will neutralise the scent of mothballs.
- Check clothes: After removing the clothes, check them again after a few days. You can try the vinegar and baking soda methods, wait slightly longer, then add more coffee grounds if the smell remains.
6. Lime and Water Solution
Lemon juice has an acidic property and a refreshing smell, so you can also mix it with water to get rid of mothball smells.
Instructions:
- Create a Lemon Solution: Use equal parts of lemon juice and water in a spray bottle.
- Spray it on the clothes: You can spray the solution lightly on the clothes, don’t put too much solution in one area, and make sure it is well spread.
- Hang the clothes: Hang the clothes under direct sunlight or in a well-ventilated room to dry out the solution, you can flip the clothes to another side and use the solution there as well if the thickness of the fabric is too much.
- Check for Smell: Check for mothball smell after a day of drying; if it remains, go on the process until the smell goes completely. You can then, if you want to wash your clothes.
7. Vodka & Water Solution
If you have vodka readily present, by all means, use it; it’s a natural smell neutralizer that can quickly evaporate and take the mothball scent with it. For fabrics that aren’t frequently washed, this is perfect.
Instructions:
- Create Vodka Solution: Add equal parts of vodka and water in a spray bottle.
- Spray the solution: Then spray the solution to the fabrics evenly, don’t make it wet by spraying too much in one area.
- Dry the clothes: You can hang the clothes in a well-ventilated room or under direct sunlight, it will help dry the solution that will take the smell of mothballs with it.
- Repeat Process: Check for the smell after one day of drying, if the smell is there you can repeat the process again, making sure to flip the clothes to remove the smell from all sides.
8. Dryer Sheets
Apart from being used to freshen clothes, dryer sheets also have the ability to remove the smell of mothballs.
Instruction:
- Put Dryer Sheets with Clothes: Get an air-tight bag or container put your clothes in it and close it, make sure air doesn’t get inside after the container is closed.
- Wait for 2-3 days: Now you have to wait for 2-3 days and let dryer sheets do their job.
- Wash & Dry: Now wash the clothes with the detergents you use regularly, and dry it with more dryer sheets in the dryer container.
9. Commercial Odor Eliminating Spray
If nothing works or the smell of the mothballs is too much you can use the commercial odor eliminator (Fresh Wave Odor Eliminator Spray). Commercial odor-eliminating sprays are commonly available and are specifically created to neutralise strong smells, like mothballs.
Instructions:
- Spray the solution: Spray the solution evenly on the clothes, don’t overuse it, just spray one layer to the clothes surface evenly.
- Let it Dry: Hang the clothes outdoors for better results or you can use well ventilated rooms, and let it get dry.
- Flip Clothes: If the clothes are too thick you can flip the clothes in half day and apply the solution to other side as well and let it dry.
- Check for smell: At the end of the day, check for the smell, if it is still there, use it again to remove the smell completely.
10. Steam Cleaning
Steam can also help remove several kinds of smells, such as mothball smells; it is a fast and successful method of removing strong smells from clothes and works perfectly on soft or sensitive clothing.
Instructions:
- Use a Handheld steamer: Use a handheld steamer and move it above the entire surface of the fabric evenly.
- Slow and steady: Steam takes time to penetrate the fabric if the thickness is too much, so slowly and steadily use it, don’t make it soaking wet.
- Hang clothes: Hang the clothes under direct sunlight or in a well-ventilated area for air drying.
- Check for smell: After the clothes get dry completely check for any remaining smell, if it is still there you can repeat the process or wash it with detergent and air dry or use dry sheets in the tumbler to remove the remaining smell.