Table of Contents
The labeled use of mothballs is to kill moths and other fiber insects to protect clothing. The vapors will remain inside the container and kill the moths. The closed containers prevent the chemicals from getting into the air and spreading through the house.
Do moth balls keep anything away?
Mothballs have been used for many years in the United States as an insect and pest repellent for natural fibers, especially wool. 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.
What can mothballs kill?
Mothballs are meant to kill moths, eggs and larvae, but are also used to keep rats, mice and squirrels away. Those containing paradichlorobenzene are safer than mothballs containing naphthalene. As little as one mothball can be toxic when swallowed. The chemicals can harm blood cells.
Can you sleep in a room with mothballs?
‘ and the answer to this question is yes, potentially. According to the National Pesticide Information Center (NPIC), the chemicals use in mothballs can be toxic to humans and pets and as people are exposed to these chemicals that are released as toxic fumes in the air space of the home.
Where do you put mothballs?
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 deter mice?
Do mothballs keep mice away? Mothballs repelling mice and rats is a common misconception. Mothballs contain a small amount of naphthalene and can be a deterrent in large quantities, however, they aren’t powerful enough to get rid of mice and rodents.
Will moth balls hurt plants?
Using mothballs in gardens also causes significant environmental problems. They usually contain either naphthalene or paradichlorobenzene. Both of these chemicals are highly toxic and can get into the soil and groundwater. These mothball hazards may even harm the plants you are trying to protect.
What happens if a child eats a mothball?
Ingestion of one moth ball can be toxic to a young child, and even lethal if G6PD deficiency is present in that child. A key symptom is jaundice (yellow skin) which can progress to organ damage and death.
What animals do mothballs keep away?
“Often, mothballs are used in these locations to control pests other than clothes moths,” Stone said. They include squirrels, skunks, deer, mice, rats, dogs, cats, raccoons, moles, snakes, pigeons and a variety of other animals. Any such use is illegal.
Do mothballs keep roaches away?
Most roaches will move away from the smell of mothballs, and in rare cases, some roaches affected by the smell die due to inability to breath. In other words, we can say that mothballs mostly repel roaches, and in rare cases can kill them as well.
Why does my house suddenly smell like mothballs?
The simple answer is mothballs. Specifically the chemical that causes the mothball smell is naphthalene. Naphthalene also is present in tobacco smoke, and even in the air in highly polluted cities. If you live near one of these sources of naphthalene, your house may take on a strong mothball type smell.
Do mothballs keep snakes away?
Mothballs are commonly thought to repel snakes, but they are not intended to be used this way and have little effect on snakes.
Do mothballs keep spiders away?
There is an easy solution to repel spiders in areas of the home where you don’t want them, and that solution is: moth balls! Moth balls not only kill moths, but they can ward off other pests, such as spiders.
Do mothballs repel bed bugs?
Moth balls will repel bed bugs. Page 3 o FALSE—moth balls do not repel or kill bed bugs and they contain naphthalene or PDCB (paradichlorobenzene) and they are both are considered poisons, as well as being a choking hazard for kids. Kerosene will repel bed bugs. It cannot get into the places where bed bugs hide.
How do I use mothballs in my closet?
To use mothballs, start by packing the clothes that you want to protect into an airtight container. Then, lay mothballs around the clothes in the container, using the right number of mothballs according to the instructions on the package. Next, seal the container and store it in a closet or under your bed.
Can moth balls make you sick?
The chemicals in mothballs are toxic to humans and pets. Some of the chemicals in mothballs can cause reversible health effects that include headaches, nausea, eye and nose irritation and coughing. Exposure to naphthalene can cause more serious effects, including hemolytic anemia.
What scents keep mice away?
Mice have a very keen sense of smell that is much stronger than what humans experience. You can use this trait to repel mice and use scents that mice hate like cinnamon, vinegar, dryer sheets, clove oil, peppermint, tea bags, mint toothpaste, ammonia, cloves, clove oil, and cayenne pepper.
How many moth balls keep mice away?
Place 2 to 3 moth balls in each container. Place the containers where mice usually come. This method will make the mice, those are there in your home to run away and at the same time prevent the outside mice from entering into your home. Mothballs work excellent to make your attic free from mice.
