MOTH BALLS! How to get rid of....

Hi! Just moved into my great little apartment to discover that the area under the built in bed has been home to millions and millions...okay not millions...of moth balls. I cant seem to get rid of the smell. Ive tried airing out the bedroom, putting bicarbonate soda under there, potpourri, air-freshener..... I really need ideas on how to get rid of that horrible smell. Dont people realise that they are slowly killing themselves with moth balls. They keep moths away.....have they thought why? Anyway, would love any suggestions!

Cheers!

Try some fresh strong herbs - such as rosemary, bay leaves and coriander - chop them and sprinkle them over the bed base and change every couple of days for a few weeks. This should help.


Or use essential oils of a strong herb such as rosemary - I too can't stand the smell of napthalene - it gives me massive headaches and just sick ness.

Just found this gem...from http://www.newton.dep.anl.gov/askasci/chem99/chem99622.htm


Ask a scientist from Dept of Energy USA.


Question - How do I neutralize the smell of moth balls (napthalene) that was placed in a ceder chest?


If you're trying to neutralize the smell in clothes, airing it out helps,

if you're in a hurry, throw it in the dryer (on low if they're temperature

sensitive), the heat volatilizes it a little faster. Yank it out and hang

in an open space while it's still warm.


If you're trying to neutralize the smell in the chest, throw it in the

dryer. Just kidding. Charcoal will soak up the napthalene vapor. It may

take a while before most of it seeps back out of the wood. Again the

warmer it is the faster it happens, but you don't want to damage the chest

by having it crack or even burn (if you do something silly like put a space

heater in it).


Some other suggestions have been to wipe vanilla essence over the offending item.

Thanks everyone! I will make sure to try all of them until it works.

And I totally agree oyster. Hong Kong has so many public service announcements that are commonsense and over expressed, eg: holding the handrails on escalators.

Thanks again everyone.

Cheers!

Ahhhh. The dilemma... moths or cancer. Don’t understand why so many people select the latter.


Also you can try wiping the inside with a sponge with a solution containing equal parts of white vinegar and rubbing alcohol on it. Repeat if necessary.


If there is still a slight smell put down newspapers under the bed and sprinkling coffee grounds on top. Leave it overnight and repeat if necessary.

Moth balls are made from naphthalene, a hydrocarbon derived from coal tar that easily sublimates, or exudes gas acting as a fumigant. However these gases must build to high concentrations to be effective.


Moth balls made with naphthalene are toxic and high levels of exposure can cause nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, blood in the urine and jaundice, a yellow appearance to the skin. Naphthalene can also kill red blood cells. Though your body can replace them, in the interim the condition is referred to as hemolytic anemia. Hospitals have reported a high incidence of hemolytic anemia in newborns and small children who were dressed in clothing or wrapped in blankets that had been stored in naphthalene moth balls. In pregnant women, naphthalene can transfer from the mother's bloodstream into the bloodstream of her unborn baby. The toxin has also been detected in breast milk, though not in quantities that are thought to be of concern. Naphthalene has also been linked to nasal cancer.


Moth balls look like gumballs or candy and therefore can be a danger to both children and pets, in which they can be fatal if swallowed. If using naphthalene moth balls, it's safest to store clothing in an air tight container along with the moth balls. All clothing should be fully aired out or washed before wearing.


Moth crystals are made from paradichlorobenzene (PDB), which is considered more toxic than naphthalene. PDB also sublimates easily and clothes should again be kept in a sealed container along with the PDB. Again, all goods should be fully aired or washed before wearing or using. Prolonged exposure of PDB vapors on plastics may melt them, affecting some sweater boxes and other types of plastic. It is therefore not recommended to use on clothes with plastic buttons or decorations. The effects on humans of PDB are not well-known, but related compounds do have associated health risks and PDB is a suspected human carcinogen, causing cancer in animals. Therefore minimum exposure is recommended when using moth crystals.


Due to the poisonous nature of moth balls and moth crystals they should not be used as air fresheners, though many air fresheners are made with naphthalene or PDB. In fact many people even prefer to use safer, more natural remedies to rid themselves of pesky moth larvae that can eat holes through woolen sweaters, coats and blankets.


Here are some alternatives to help save your woolen items without resorting to poisonous moth balls or moth crystals:


* Run items through a warm clothes dryer to kill any moth eggs, or if possible periodically air them in hot sun.

* Every 3-4 weeks shake out then brush your woolen items. Clean items prior to storage as moth larvae rely on human soil like perspiration residue for essential vitamins missing from pristine wool.

* Store clean, off-season items in air tight containers.

* Freeze infested items in a tightly sealed bag for 48 hours; thaw at room temperature and repeat. Once fully thawed and dry, seal in an air tight container for storage.


Cedar oil is a natural repellent of insects, however many older cedar chests no longer have enough aroma left to do the job. However if the chest seals well, it will probably be a safe place to store items.


Other alternatives to moth balls, include natural moth repellent sachets that can be made with herbs available at health food stores. The herbs are combined, ground and sometimes used with oils, then wrapped in small swatches of material and tied with a ribbon or sewn shut. The sachets are then tossed in drawers or hung from hangers in the closet. Some herbs that are used for repelling moths are lavender, lemon and santolina. There are many recipes online for a variety of moth repellent sachets, which can also be purchased online or from many health food stores.