You’re not alone if you need to learn how to get a mothball smell out of the house. Mothballs are intentionally made to have a unique and lingering odor. They have long been used to store clothing and furniture and guard against moths and other insects destroying them. Many people equate the aroma of mothballs with vintage objects and thrift store finds; either way, it’s unpleasant.
Getting mothball odor out of the house is no easy feat. Mothballs are made of chemicals to deter insects known to damage fabrics, including moths and their larvae. Using them, insects and rodents are occasionally kept out of basements, attics, and closets. Naphthalene balls gradually emit a poisonous vapor to insects and, in high concentrations, are dangerous to people and animals.
Begin by removing the leftover balls from your residence while wearing gloves. Follow simple techniques to get rid of the mothball smell from your clothes and closet and remove the musty odor permanently.
How to Remove the Mothball Smell From a House
It might seem impossible to figure out how to get mothball smell out of furniture. Mothballs are designed to be smelly since they destroy insects with the gasses they release. Though this might be efficient in keeping moths away from your clothes, it makes your surroundings smell terrible.
The musky, chemical smell of mothballs is overpowering. It typically doesn’t dissipate with a few open windows and some air freshener. Use straightforward tricks to get rid of old smells from the basement naturally and say goodbye to the potent stink of naphthalene for good.
Why Your House Smells Like Mothballs
Naphthalene is a toxic chemical used to eradicate the clothes moth, pantry moths, and other problem insects. Though mothball chemical treatments efficiently dispatch clothing moth larvae and prevent moth damage, they leave a lingering odor and reduce indoor air quality.
Mothballs release harmful chemicals into the air to kill pests. The offensive odor is detectable to humans and tends to persist as a lingering smell long after the treatment. The bad smell is so tenacious that you may be struggling with the mothball scent because previous tenants or owners used them as a form of pest control.
The first step in ousting the unpleasant smell is to ensure no mothballs are still around. Collect old mothballs while wearing gloves, dispose of them outside your home, and use simple remedies to remove the odor permanently.
How to Get a Mothball Smell Out of the House
Acetic acid, a gentle acid, makes up distilled white vinegar. Neutralize the stink of mothballs with this acetic acid, which breaks the bonds binding the odor particle to carpets and furniture.
White vinegar is an inexpensive deodorizer that works wonders to eliminate the lingering stench of chemicals indoors. If you’re worried about the deodorizer having an acidic vinegar smell, add half a cup of lemon juice for a pleasant scent.
Shake the sprayer, then mist the air with vinegar and water. Fabric rugs and sofas should receive extra care because they frequently hold on to the smell of naphthalene balls. Give the vinegar spray some time to air dry. If you can, open the windows to let fresh air in and speed the drying process.
How to Remove the Mothball Smell From a House
Cedarwood is a pleasant fragrance that has two purposes. Cedar chips or cedarwood oil mask the potent stench of mothballs and have the bonus of deterring insects.
If moths are still an issue, but you want to eliminate the oppressive mothball smell, switch out your mothballs for cedar chips or a cedarwood oil diffuser. Position small bags of cedar chips or diffusers around the space to remove the odor and keep moths away.
Getting Mothball Odor Out of the House
Although found in the baking section at the store, baking soda plays a significant function in cleaning and odor removal. It has long been used in home hacks. The baking soda powder absorbs unpleasant scents, such as the lingering aroma of mothballs.
Pick up a couple of boxes of baking soda, and sprinkle a fine layer wherever a musty odor is a problem. Cover your furniture, rugs, and even your mattress, and give the baking soda a few hours or overnight to settle. Sweep up the powder and discard it. Coffee grounds are another household odor-remover to try if you don’t have baking soda.
Removing Mothball Smells From a House
Fabrics are one of the biggest culprits for holding onto aromas – good or bad. If you’ve tried everything and can’t seem to shake the musty smell of mothballs, the odor is probably trapped in the material.
Launder blankets, clothes, curtains, and any other potential source of mothball odor. Use a pre-rinse with color-safe oxygen bleach to eliminate the odor before washing. Mix the oxygen bleach with cold water according to the package directions.
Remove Mothball Smell With a DIY Air Freshener
This DIY essential oil air freshener is an alternative to commercial air fresheners because it doesn’t contain dangerous chemicals or propellants. You have unlimited options to alter the fragrance due to the numerous essential oil fragrances available.
Essential oils are a safe technique to cover up the musty smell of mothballs if you’re in a rush and don’t have time to remove them before you have guests.
Forcefully shake the sprayer to combine the oils and warm water. Spray the deodorizer until any traces of chemical residue are eliminated in the air and on surfaces.
Activated Charcoal Eradicates Moth Ball Odor
Most home retailers sell activated charcoal powder, though charcoal briquettes work for odor removal too. Activated charcoal eliminates the most potent stench, including mothball odor.
One teaspoon of activated charcoal is as vast as a football field, thanks to its enormous surface area. The charcoal uses the entire surface to absorb offensive aromas like mothball fume smell.
Remove any mothballs in the areas you’d like to deodorize. Put a few tablespoons of activated charcoal in a muslin bag or other compact container. Disperse the pieces of charcoal so they absorb the naphthalene smell. Replace the activated charcoal packs every month or as soon as you observe a decrease in effectiveness.
You may struggle to figure out how to remove funky smells from your home. Though they’re effective in eliminating clothes moths, the pungent moth ball odor means this type of pest control isn’t the wisest option.
Fresh air helps, though it’s usually not enough to completely get rid of the stubborn odor. Choose one or combine a couple of ideas from this list to expel the smell of mothballs from your living space for good.
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