What Are Mothballs Used For And Are They Safe? Top Tips For Families

Ritwik Bhuyan
Nov 16, 2022 By Ritwik Bhuyan
Originally Published on Oct 22, 2021
Edited by Jade Scott
Fact-checked by Sakshi Raturi
Naphthalene mothballs on blue background.
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Age: 3-18
Read time: 5.7 Min

Mothballs are a kind of pesticide and are used to repel clothes moths and other fiber pests in wools.

All of us have smelled the peculiar smell of mothballs sometime or other and have seen the small white balls in the bottom of the closet. Mothballs are small balls of pesticides made of paradichlorobenzene or naphthalene and are used to get rid of moths and moth larvae.

Using mothballs has perks as the small mothballs turn into toxic fumes from the solid state to kill off the pests (such as the moth) in your clothes. These fumes are where the nostalgic smell comes from. When you inhale the smell, you are actually inhaling the fumes of the pesticide used to repel the pest in your home. Each active ingredient in a mothball can cause different health problems for both us and animals. It can be very dangerous for the health of your children and pets if they somehow chew or eat these mothballs. It is necessary to control the use of mothballs to protect our loved ones. Using mothballs all over the house in your clothing can make it more likely for animals to mistake them for candy or food and this can cause serious damage to your child or your pet animal.

Using mothballs always has a risk, so we should know the right way to place them in containers. Mothballs should not be placed in attics, closets, basements, gardens, trunks or chests, and any other places other than airtight sealed containers. Fumes from the mothballs could escape into the air and exposure to the chemicals can cause respiratory issues. In closed areas, a high level of chemical exposure can lead to dangerous problems in humans and pets. As the chemicals in the fumes are heavier than air, the natural tendency will be for them to accumulate along with the floors of the house. Also, mothballs are of no use to repel mice, bats, squirrels, and snakes. Mothballs are ineffective against these and can also contaminate the plants in the soil and even water. The use of mothballs in the open can be illegal. To contain the harmful gas, only use mothballs when stored in an airtight container.

If you enjoyed this article, why not also read the answers too what are orbeez made of and what are crocs made of here on Kidadl?

What are mothballs?

Mothballs are pesticide products used to get rid of different types of pest and clothes moths in your clothing. The active ingredients of mothballs are naphthalene or paradichlorobenzene.

Both ingredients of mothballs (naphthalene and paradichlorobenzene) are chemicals that volatilize into the air. These chemicals need to be in high concentration to be able to kill and protect your clothing from moths and insects. However, higher concentration for pest control is also a health hazard for humans, children, and animals. Using mothballs in an unsealed container can impair the air quality indoors and the odor can be easily recognized. It is a hazard for the environment as much it for pests if not used carefully.

Mothballs are basically small pellets of foul odor stored in clothes to repel clothes moths and insects and stop them from breeding in the clothes. A mothball sublimates and releases gas that is toxic to moths and moth larvae. As this gas is toxic to the air and dangerous to humans and the animal kingdom, storing the balls in a sealed environment is necessary. This will ensure that the chemical fumes will get trapped in the same place which contains the moths.

What kind of animals do mothballs keep away?

People should use mothballs to repel moths and their larvae from clothes. These balls kill the eggs of the moths, but there are limitations to the use of a mothball in our daily lives.

As the name suggests, you should use mothballs only to control pests like clothes moths that breed and stay in your clothing. The use of these chemical balls should be restricted to killing moths that eat the natural fibers of the clothes kept in closets and attics. They are not made to be used outdoors which is both illegal and harmful for the plants, soil, and the air.

It is a great health risk for animals that usually move around in gardens. People try using the balls to kill mice and other rodents that damage their crops. However, apart from killing pests, the fumes won't hurt mice. There have been cases of people using mothballs to repel dogs, snakes, moles, squirrels, mice, and other animals illegally. This can really hurt the people and animals around the gardens. Instead, use alternatives like building a fence. Mothballs are pesticides to keep away the pest infestation in your clothing.

Moth balls in the glass over the sackcloth.

What do you put mothballs in?

Here are few ways to use mothballs correctly to eradicate a moth population in your closet.

These chemical balls should be only used in airtight containers. Plastic containers or garment bags are the right way to go here which can be sealed with the clothes and the balls inside. Then put this bag or container inside the closet where you have identified a moth population. Read the box of the mothballs to know how many you need to use. Make sure the container is sealed tight so that the fumes do not come out. The alternatives are to wash your clothes regularly and remove any stain that the moth might attack. Also, expose your clothes to the sun or a heat source at least once every month to prevent a moth problem. The use of mothballs should be regulated and used only when extremely necessary. Also, remember to seal the boxes after putting the balls in so that they do not pollute the environment for your children and pets.

Is it safe to have mothballs in the house?

Mothballs contain harmful chemicals, therefore, the use of these should be regulated inside the house.

Animals and children alike won't differentiate between a mothball and some kind of food item. If they swallow a ball, it can have serious health implications. Even if you need to use mothballs inside the house, they should be put in airtight boxes with the clothes and away from humans so that they only affect the moth infestation. Fumes can really prove to be a health hazard if not checked. Although useful in killing pests, such as the moth, it is not healthy to keep mothballs lying around the house for a long period of time. It is best to remove the balls, along with the smell as soon as possible.

Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly facts for everyone to enjoy! If you liked our suggestions for what are mothballs used for then why not take a look at what are joggers or what are non-alphanumeric characters.

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Written by Ritwik Bhuyan

Bachelor of Arts specializing in English

Ritwik Bhuyan picture

Ritwik BhuyanBachelor of Arts specializing in English

A skilled content writer, Ritwik holds a Bachelor's degree in English from Delhi University. He has refined his writing abilities through his past experience at PenVelope and his current role at Kidadl. In addition to his proficiency in writing, Ritwik has pursued his passion for flying by achieving CPL training and becoming a licensed commercial pilot. This diverse skill set highlights his commitment to exploring multiple fields. Ritwik's experience in the aviation industry has provided him with a unique perspective and attention to detail, which he brings to his writing.

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