There are certain scents that I remember quite vividly from my childhood. One of them is the smell of mothballs. My mom would usually put the mothballs in the closets and the shelves to get rid of harmful bugs. However, the smell would stay around for months. My mom would always struggle to get the smell out of the house and come up with various solutions that helped diminish the scent quickly.
So, if you are looking for ways to get rid of the mothball smell, I suggest you keep on reading because I am about to disclose some of the extremely effective methods that I learned from my mom. Now, without wasting any more of your precious time let’s head right into the depth of the things!
Contents
How To Get Rid Of Mothball Smell
1. Baking Soda
You may have heard a lot about baking soda, for it is renowned for its mindblowing odor-absorbing qualities. This simple white powder has the power to absorb even the most stubborn smells imaginable. To get rid of mothballs smell from the room, sprinkle liberal amounts of baking soda on the carpets, sofas, and furniture. Leave it there overnight. In the morning, vacuum the contents using a vacuum cleaner.
Moreover, you can also use baking soda to help get rid of the mothball smell in your clothes. This time the use is a little different. Take a small bowl and put baking soda in it. Next, place the bowl in your closet where you are keeping your clothes. The next time you open up your closet, the smell will be gone for good.
2. Sanitize Your Stuff!
If you really want to get rid of the mothball smell, then you need to sanitize everything that reeks of that bizarre smell. For this purpose, you will need a good sanitizer. You can either purchase it from the nearest grocery store or you can make up your own DIY sanitizer. If you prefer a ready-made sanitizer, you can easily find sanitizers from different brands and with different price tags. The choice is yours!
However, if you prefer DIY sanitizers then let me introduce you to one. Take a spray bottle and half fill it with white vinegar and half with plain distilled water. And Voila! Your very own sanitizer is ready. Spray it on the walls, carpets, etc. You can also spray this solution directly onto the furniture and wipe it clean using a rag before the droplets dry out. This will help considerably with getting rid of the mothballs smell in your house.
3. White Vinegar Tonic
Another thing you can do is take a small glass and fill it up with white vinegar. Now place this glass in your wardrobe where you keep your clothes. This will effectively help you in getting rid of the mothball smell in your clothes. It means that you can wear your clothes the next day without feeling embarrassed about your clothes reeking of naphthalene.
4. Let The Fresh Air In!
One of the fastest ways to get rid of the mothball smell is by letting the fresh air into your house and anything that stinks of naphthalene. Fresh air will naturally quicken up the process of dissipation of all sorts of bad odors including weed and mothballs. So, make it a habit of opening up the windows and doors of your house including the doors of your closets, and let the air ventilation work. It will effectively help you get rid of the stale air with all its bad odors. You can also freshen up the air with the petitgrain aroma.
FAQs
How do you neutralize the smell of mothballs?
If you are looking for ways to neutralize the smell of mothballs, there are a number of things you can try to suck it up. For starters, you can use a good odor absorbent such as baking soda, activated charcoal, or white vinegar. Apart from that, you can also use air fresheners to cover up the smell of mothballs. It all depends upon your own personal preferences and budget.
Is the smell of mothballs harmful?
Yes, mothballs are incredibly harmful to all living things, whether humans, plants, or animals. The chemical used in the mothballs produces a vapor that can trigger respiratory contractions in asthma patients. Other than that, prolonged exposure to the mothball vapor can cause severe liver and kidney damage.
How long does it take for mothballs to stop smelling?
If you are wondering how long it takes for the mothballs to stop smelling, keep in mind that it all depends upon the place you put them in. For instance, if you place the mothballs in an open environment with lots of fresh air, it may take about three to six months to dissipate entirely. However, if you put it in a confined place, the smell will dissipate in over a year.
What does a mothball smell like?
The present-day mothballs contain Pyrethroid, which is an odor-less chemical, thus rendering the mothballs odorless as well. However, in the past, chemicals known as Naphthalene and Paradichlorobenzene were used in the making of mothballs. These chemicals are known to have a strong, pungent smell that we remember so vividly from our childhood.
Final Thoughts
I hope I was able to convey all my knowledge to you all effectively. Getting rid of the mothball smell is really not that hard, you just have to take care of a few things. Amongst all the things I mentioned earlier, the most important amongst all is fresh air. You have absolutely no idea how beneficial morning air can prove to be for your mental and physical health.
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