Table of Contents
How do you mask mothball smell?
How to Get Rid of Mothball Smell from the House
- Use charcoal.
- Leave out bowls of vinegar or coffee grounds.
- Set out a box of baking soda.
- Get some ventilation in the room.
- Use cedar chips or cedar balls.
- Spread zeolite – or household cat litter – on wood and furniture.
- Mop the floors in the room.
- Use air fresheners.
What absorbs moth ball smell?
Mix some baking soda with warm water and mop the floors with the solution. Make sure that you keep the rooms properly ventilated when mopping. Then place a bowl of vinegar, bowl of coffee grounds, or a plate of activated charcoal in the room (or closet). This will absorb any leftover mothball smell.
What happens when mothballs are exposed to the air?
Moth balls contain a toxic chemical, either naphthalene or paradichlorobenzene. Both become a gas when exposed to air and cause that pungent moth ball smell. These gases are irritating to the eyes and lungs and may cause headache, dizziness and nausea.
Is it safe to breathe in the smell of mothballs?
The chemicals in mothballs are toxic to humans and pets. People are exposed to the chemicals in mothballs by inhaling the fumes. If you smell mothballs, you are being exposed to these chemicals. Extended exposure to mothballs can also cause liver and kidney damage.
What smells like mothballs outside?
Naphthalene
Naphthalene is either a white solid or a liquid with a strong odor like mothballs. It’s used to make dyes, explosives, plastics, lubricants, and is found naturally in crude oil. It is also found in coal tar wastes at former manufactured gas plants. Coal tars were byproducts at these plants.
Why does my air conditioner smell like mothballs?
If you’ve been sensing a musty, mothball-y smell coming from your vents that you haven’t really been able to place, there’s a big chance that what you’re smelling is mold or fungus growth in or around your HVAC unit. This results in a warm, humid environment where mold and fungi thrive.
Can you put mothballs outside?
The fumes from mothballs kill clothes moths, their eggs and larvae that eat natural fibers in indoor storage areas, such as closets, attics and basements. Mothballs are not intended to be used outdoors. The active ingredients can contaminate water and soil, harm wildlife, and contribute to air pollution.