The use label on mothballs lists that it is to be applied to kill moths and other fiber insects to protect clothing. These mothballs use the gas which evaporators from the chemicals they contain to kill off the moths and moth larvae that are trying to develop and thrive on these materials in your home.
How to use mothballs around the House?
If you’re only using mothballs when storing clothing, you’re missing out! Try these genius ways you can use mothballs around the house, in your garden and in your garage. To exterminate bugs on a potted plant, put the plant in a clear plastic bag, such as a cleaning bag, add a few mothballs, and seal for a week.
How do mothballs affect indoor air quality?
This regulated pesticide can cause quite an upheaval in your home such as tainting the indoor air quality, effecting the health of those occupants exposed to these mothball chemicals in the air, and even the smell that is produced into the air from mothball usage in a home.
What happens if you smell mothballs in Your House?
If you smell mothballs in the air of your home then you are being exposed to these chemicals in your indoor environment. Some of these chemicals used in mothballs can cause adverse health effects such as headaches, nausea, eye and nose irritation and coughing, in some cases.
Should you worry about mothballs?
If so, there are certain precautions you need to observe. Mothballs are known to contaminate the soil and other water sources. As a result, the poison can kill plants nearby. At the same time, it may find its way to the waters and affect marine life.
What does putting mothballs around your house do?
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.
Where should mothballs be placed?
Mothballs must be used in an airtight space, such as a garment bag or well- sealed container. Never place mothballs in an open closet or plastic garbage bag. Once vapors enter the home, their odor can persist for a long time.
Do moth balls keep animals away?
Mothballs are not meant to be used as animal repellents and should not be used in ways that allow people or animals to become exposed. To make sure you are keeping your risk low, be sure to follow all label instructions and remember to keep all pesticides out of the reach of children and animals.
Can you use mothballs around the house?
Mothballs should not be placed in closets, attics, basements, storage chests or trunks, garment bags or other spaces other than in tightly closed containers as explained above. Gasses from the mothballs escape into the air and can cause respiratory problems.
Is the smell of mothballs harmful?
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. They are both suspected of causing cancer.
Do snakes like mothballs?
Use of Snake Repellents As with any pesticide, make sure you read the entire label before using any products to repel snakes. Mothballs are commonly thought to repel snakes, but they are not intended to be used this way and have little effect on snakes.
Why are mothballs illegal?
Mothballs are insecticides that are controlled by the Environmental Protection Agency. This makes it illegal to use them for any purpose or by any method that isn't specified on the label. Mothballs are labeled only for use in closed containers for the control of clothes moths.
Does moth balls keep away roaches?
Roaches don't like the scent of mothballs, making them an effective pest repellent. Mothballs can only keep cockroaches away for a year or two since the pests adjust quickly and easily to new environments.
How to keep mice out of potting shed?
Place a few mothballs around the garage, and the mice will seek other quarters. To keep mice out of our potting shed, put the mothballs around the base of wrapped or covered plants.
Do you take a plant out of a bug bag?
When you take the plant out of the bag, your plant will be bug-free. It will also keep moths away for a while. Not all bugs are pests! Here’s how to roll out the welcome mat for insects that are actually good for your garden. 2 / 5. Photo: Shutterstock.
Can bats invade a belfry?
Bats won’t invade your belfry (or attic) if you scatter a few mothballs around. Add some mothballs to the boxes you store in the attic and silverfish will stay away too.
Can you wash woolen sweaters with moth balls?
Use mothballs to rinse woolens for storage. Of course it is a good idea to store woolens with mothballs to ward off moths. To give your favourite sweaters even more protection, dissolve a few mothballs in the final rinse when you wash them before storage.
How to store mothballs?
It is better to store the mothballs in a netted bag or a small box, in such cases. Before using clothes that were mothballed, make sure that you wash them properly. True, they help get rid of bad smells. However, that’s no reason why you should use them as air fresheners.
What are mothballs made of?
However, don’t miss reading the word of caution. Mothballs are balls of chemical pesticides, mostly made up of naphthalene, which are used mostly for safe storage of off-season clothes. They give out a characteristic pungent smell. Since naphthalene in highly flammable, nowadays, para-dichlorobenzene is used instead.
Is chewing mothballs dangerous?
Sniffing or chewing of mothballs, is extremely dangerous. This tells us that their use is best avoided. There are many other options for such deodorizers; and yet, the use of mothballs is still rampant.
Is mothball naphthalene carcinogenic?
Naphthalene or para-dichlorobenzene are active ingredients of mothballs. Both are anticipated to be carcinogenic to humans, according to the Department of Health and Humans Services (DHHS) and the World Health Organization (WHO).
Do moth balls repel snakes?
Yes, a few different studies have painted a close correlation between exposure to alpha-napthalene, the active ingredient in moth balls, and a sharp increase in the rates of some otherwise quite rare cancers. Among the reasons people are exposed is the false belief that moth balls repel snakes.
Do not eat mothballs?
Eating mothballs (which allegedly taste very sweet) can kill you within days, and is nearly certain to give you major cataracts even if you do survive.
Is it safe to put naphthalene in a container?
It is fine as long as the items are packed inside a container, but it can be dangerous if the items are kept unpacked as the ball vaporizes and mixes with contents like flour, etc. There was an incident as well which you can refer thru below link. Naphthalene triggers rare cancer in minor - The Times of India.
Can mothball fumes kill you?
On the other hand, exposure to mothball fumes is unlikely to kill you immediately. Many deaths ultimately caused by them are instead attributed to other induced diseases such as various blood, kidney, or liver cancers, or other non-cancerous disruptions of normal physiology.
Is mothball cancer dangerous?
Continue Reading. Mothballs are very dangerous, and are not labeled adequately in the US and other countries.
Why do we use moth balls in our garden?
Using mothballs to repel pests in the garden presents a danger to children, pets and wildlife that visit your garden. Young children explore their surroundings by putting things in their mouths. Animals might think moth balls are food.
What are mothballs in soil?
These mothball hazards may even harm the plants you are trying to protect. Mothballs are insecticides that are controlled by the Environmental Protection Agency.
How to get rid of animal pests without mothballs?
There are a number of ways to eliminate animal pests from the garden without using mothballs. Hazards are minimal when you avoid using chemicals and poisons. Here are some tips on using safe control measures as alternatives to mothballs. Traps.
How to get rid of chipmunks?
Traps. The persistent use of traps is a good way to reduce rodent populations and the only effective way to get rid of chipmunks. Use traps that capture animals without harming them and then release them in countryside fields or forests. Fences.
Can mothballs cause harm?
Ingesting even a small amount of the toxic chemicals in mothballs can cause serious harm that requires immediate medical or veterinary attention. Mothballs in gardens also present a risk if you breathe the fumes or get the chemicals on your skin or in your eyes.
Is it illegal to use mothballs?
Mothballs are insecticides that are controlled by the Environmental Protection Agency. This makes it illegal to use them for any purpose or by any method that isn’t specified on the label. Mothballs are labeled only for use in closed containers for the control of clothes moths.
Can moth balls be used as rodent repellent?
Mothballs In Gardens: Safe Alternatives To Mothballs For Pest Control. You’ve probably read tips on websites and in magazines that recommend using mothballs as rodent and pest repellents. Some people think they are “natural” animal repellents because they are ordinary household products.
Why do people use mothballs?
Mothballs are popularly used in the U.S. to repel insects and pests that like to eat natural fibers, particularly wool. However, people started using mothballs to repel most insects and pests in their garden. At that time, mothballs may have been made using different chemicals that have an effect on pests. Older products bore labels stating that ...
What are moth balls used for?
Mothballs have been used – as previously mentioned – to deter snakes in the garden, get rid of mice in the garage, or even squirrels in the attic. They are also claimed to be effective against bats when originally, it was used only for moths.
What happens if you eat mothballs?
If mothballs are ingested, they can cause the following symptoms: Vomiting.
Is mothball spraying illegal?
This violates the proper usage of the pesticide and in that case, it is considered illegal. In addition, mothballs that have not undergone checks by the EPA are considered illegal and should not be used.
Can mothballs repel squirrels?
There have been claims that mothballs can keep away garden pests, like snakes, as well as mice and squirrels. However, there hasn’t been any research done on the effect of mothballs as repellents against these animals.
Can mothballs harm the environment?
It can even contaminate water that you drink. That being said, mothballs are considered a toxic waste so proper disposal is a must. To avoid any naphthalene contamination that can harm the environment, keep in mind the following tips: Do not flush down the drain. Do not throw in with regular trash.
Is it safe to use mothballs indoors?
This is why they are safe to use indoors, provided they are in an airtight container. Mothballs are typically used to protect items that are put away for a long time, such as those in your storage area or garage. When used for other purposes, it can be risky for the health of humans, animals and the environment.
