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Removing Moth Ball Odor

posted by Annie B. Bond Mar 27, 1999 11:29 pm
Removing Moth Ball Odor
6 comments

By Annie B. Bond, Care2 Green Living Executive Producer

I’ve received a number of questions from readers who need advice on how to
remove moth ball odor from baby clothes, sweaters, and other clothes stored in the pesticide. People have tried baking soda, white vinegar, as well as many
days of fresh air, and nothing seems to work.

I posed the question of how to remove moth ball odor to an indoor air quality listserve I frequent, and one
professional carpet cleaner observed that for reasons nobody quite
understands, although possibly because of natural ozone, placing carpets (and
presumably other items) outdoors in the sun for as many days as is necessary,
will remove the smell of moth balls. Note that she claims that using
commercial ozone machines inside will NOT do the trick. You might try placing
the clothes outside in the sun every day (bring them in at night) until the
smell is gone. Note that even if the odor is removed it doesn’t mean there isn’t still residual moth ball chemical on the cloth.

More on Health & Safety (150 articles available)
More from Annie B. Bond (3251 articles available)

6 comments

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6 comments

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6 Comments       add a comment »
krystal
  • krystal says
  • Jun 23, 2008 1:08 PM

i am having a horrible time trying to get the smell of mothballs out of my husbands old plastic baby toys. He wants to give them to our son but seriously the smell is making me nausious!! What can i do?

Marilyn Maniery

how do you get the smell out of clothes i bought at a church and i smell moth balls.

Marilyn Maniery

how do you get the smell out of clothes i bought at a church and i smell moth balls.

Ashley Sopcheck

My mom bought my daughter a cedar chest and it mells like mothball. How can I remove the foul odor and keep her safe from harmful fumes and chemicals?

Glenda Robin

Try a bag of charcoal yes the kind you Bar-b-Que with It acts as a filter. Just open the bag and spread a few around. It help with a camp we had. It took care of dog urine.

Shirley Paterson

I have one for you... my landlord has placed mothballs in the holes of where squirrels were getting into the attic (I didn't know he was doing that). Problem is, the smell is now coming into the house!! What can I do to get the smell out of the house, other than removing the mothballs he sealed in the holes to keep the squirrels out??

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Disclaimer: Care2.com does not warrant and shall have no liability for information provided in this newsletter or on Care2.com. Each individual person, fabric, or material may react differently to a particular suggested use. It is recommended that before you begin to use any formula, you read the directions carefully and test it first. Should you have any health care-related questions or concerns, please call or see your physician or other health care provider.

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