The clothes moth, in there with a few beetles, are breaking down wool and fur and things like that; they're causing their share of biodegradability. For particularly stubborn cases, an unpleasant smell may persist even after laundering or attempting the above methods. Alternatively, put the clothes in the washing machine and run a cycle using only vinegar; follow up with another wash cycle using detergent and softener. The cedar wood oil within the rings gives them the anti-moth quality, while the sandpaper provided ensures the moth repellent remains effective. While mothballs are brilliant for keeping the clothes moth and their moth larvae out of your closet, the smell is troublesome.

Fortunately, getting mothball smell out of your clothes in the laundry is still possible by taking a few extra steps. Your gym bag may be safe from moths, but you can also use these cedar rings to eliminate any lingering odor before you work up a sweat. They're very secretive as adult moths and you don't see them flying around very much at all," Ted Edwards, honorary fellow with CSIRO's Australian National Insect Collection, told ABC Radio Canberra. Killing all the flying moths won’t solve the problem because it’s their babies that do the actual damage. You can also try placing containers of coffee grounds or odor-absorbing candles for similar results.

You can also wash clothes on hot (water over 120 °F, according to Ajoy Sarkar, professor of textile development and marketing at the Fashion Institute of Technology). Food that was not sealed correctly, brought from storage, or clothing from an estate sale can all be culprits. Due to the harmful chemicals naphthalene and paradichlorobenzene found within these mothballs we DO NOT sell them and would advise against using them for your own safety.

Beetles tend to have a relatively long life cycle (PDF), making them simpler to eliminate before damage occurs. If you have a non-agitating shelf in your dryer, that would be a good alternative for killing moth larvae on woolen clothing. Most insects are sensitive to scents, especially strong botanical ones like lavender and cedar wood.Mothballs may dissolve, but there will still be some intact pieces in the storage containers or within the folds of fabric. Keep them out of reach of kids and pets (you don’t want either mistaking mothballs for candy), and sealed inside storage bins. Both chemicals can cause ill health by breathing in fumes over time or ingestion which is a serious risk for small children.

It is also important to remember skin cells, hair or food particles and body odour are all smells that attract moths. While they effectively deter clothes moths, the odor of mothballs seeps deep into wood and fabric fibers, persisting for years even after you remove the balls.Both of these formulations have the strong, pungent, sickly-sweet odor often associated with mothballs. Our technicians understand the species of moth causing your issue and can offer the most effective, professional treatments to get rid of moths. Running the clothing through the dryer first lifts the heavy odor, making it easier to wash away in the machine. This all-natural and sustainable option includes 50 cedarwood moth rings, 30 moth balls, 2 moth traps, and a set of scented sachets.

When you need a fast resolution to musty-smelling clothes, take a canister of air freshener with a scent you like and hold it about six inches from your apparel before spraying well.

Find out how to get mothball smell out of clothes and avoid the lingering, undesirable fragrance of chemicals on your favorite outfit. Adding camphor hangers or balls is a good place to start when it comes to keeping moths out of your wardrobe. Keep your home and clothing free of lint and animal-based stains such as those from food, perfume, or sweat.