This Is Why Moth Balls Disappear Over Time


So why do mothballs disappear over time? Mothballs disappear because they are composed of a weak molecular structure called naphthalene or paradichlorobenzene.  Mothballs change from a solid into a gas in a process called sublimation. Sublimation is a fancy way to say that a molecule can go from a solid-state directly into a gas-state without going into a liquid state.

This is why the smell is so potent as the mothballs put off a putrid smell to keep unwanted moths away it is slowly releasing a gas.

How Long Does It Take For Mothballs To Disappear?

Mothballs will disappear usually in a couple of months, but it really will depend on where you use them and the temperature and humidity play a big factor. The hotter and more humid it is the faster the mothballs will dissipate from solid to gas. So they can last for 2 months or several in the winter months. 

If you are using them indoors they will usually last between 2-3 months. By the way, I hope you only use mothballs indoors. 

Will Mothball Smell Go Away?

Yes, the mothball smell will go away on its own. It does take several months for a mothballed gas to completely go away. If you have placed the mothballs inside your home but not in a sealed storage area or a rubber container be careful because this could cause a neverending headache.

SInce mothballs aka the molecule Naphthaline turns into a gas even in the most humid and hot conditions. 

 the smells can linger and will slowly dissipate over time.

Are Mothballs Toxic To Breathe?

In a word yes, mothballs release a toxic gas that is mild to us but deadly to bugs and the smell does repel some animals and reptiles.

 As the Naphthaline slowly dissolves into a gas it does create a mild toxin. Some side effects for humans can be a headache, nausea, and vomiting.

I think it is fine to use mothballs in seasonally store clothing bins that are tucked away out of sight. 

 In my professional opinion, I would only use mothballs in well-ventilated areas, garages, barns, or outbuildings.

There are mothballs that are made from a different active ingredient that is less toxic. 

This is called Paradichlorobenzene. Paradichlorobenzene is a chlorinated hydrocarbon that also sublimates from a solid into a gas. And though Paradichlorobenzene is less toxic than Naphthalene it is still a pesticide and it still releases an irritating gas into the air.

If you make the decision to use mothballs just make sure that you use them as directed on the labeling.

Uses For Mothballs Outside?

There are no uses for mothballs outside in the open.

 It says directly on the label to only use them in a sealed container where the fumes are contained.

 It is against federal law to use a pesticide in any manner that is not consistent with it’s labeling. 

Mothballs are a pesticide so if you want to use them please be sure to only use it for its intended purpose.

Where Not To Use Mothballs Outside!

I have had many customers whose home I have visited and when I get there they have a bag of mothballs out on the ground, in the garden and in other areas that they shouldn’t use them. 

I do understand the fear that people must have when they see a snake or rodents and other wildlife animals, however, that is not it’s intended purpose.

 Mothballs can pollute water sources damage soil and foliage, and if children or other animals get ahold of them there could be serious consequences even death.

If you want to keep snakes away go to the big box stores or jump on amazon and order some snake away. You will still want to read the label and only apply this in areas that are suggested for that particular pesticide.

How Do I Eliminate Mothball Odor?

If you are trying to eliminate mothball odor the several proactive approaches you can take:

 Use vinegar to wash your clothes in a cycle then run the laundry again with detergent then dry it with dryer sheets.

 Get some activated charcoal. Charcoal is used in many water purifying processes and filter applications, some people even brush their teeth with it from time to time, but did you also know that it can filter the air we breathe?

 By simply placing a bag of activated charcoal can help filter out some of the gassy smell that mothballs put out. It won’t completely take all the smell that the mothballs put out but it does help dilute it a bit.

 Air purifiers will suck in the air of the room you place it in and will cycle the air through water that filters it and then it is blown back out as cleaner air. 

Air Fresheners are nice and they can make the air smell delightful, however, they do not treat the air so I don’t think it really counts as a way to eliminate mothball odor. More of a coverup.

Baking Soda, on the other hand, does deodorize you can spread baking soda directly on or into clothing, shoes, etc and it will help eliminate odors.

Open Windows when you open your sealed clothes you can place them near an open window and it will release the gas into the air. To take this a step up you could use a house fan to blow the air out of the mothball area and out the window.

How Can I Keep Moths Away Without Using Mothballs?

This will highly depend on the type of moths you are trying to be rid of. If it is a pantry pest like an Indian Meal Moth you will want to use pheromone traps. If it is a clothing moth you will want to use Nuvan Pro Strips. And clothes moths pheromone trap. Two different types of moths and the pheromone traps have different active ingredients to treat them.

  • Pheromone Traps- These traps are more meant to control Indian Meal Moths that love grains, bird food, seeds, pasta, cereal, etc. This is a great and very economic way to get rid of pantry pests.  (see the current price for Pro Pest Pheronet Traps on DoMyOwn.Com).
  • Nuvan Pro Strips- Nuvan Pro Strips work a lot like mothballs except they are a lot less smelly. These should be used in a confined space like attic or crawlspace or sealed.

 luggage and Tupperware. (see the current price for Nuvan Pro Strips on DoMyOwn.Com).  Nuvan strips are great as a preventative measure to get rid of moths and other pesky flying bugs in your attic and crawlspace. Just make sure to use them as directed. It is also a good idea to have a pheromone trap that you can hang in your closet to get rid of clothes moths.

I just want to make it clear that mothballs are fine if you want to use them in the correct way I am not going to knock anyone who wants to get rid of their pest issues by using this method.

As a pest professional, I have never seen a pest company use mothballs to get rid of moths, in fact pest distributors do not sell mothballs to pest professionals. This is only something that you can purchase at a big box store and for the headache and everything else that comes with it I would say in my personal opinion is not really worth it. 

There are too many things out there that work so much better.

Summary

Mothballs disappear over time because of sublimation. They are a toxic pesticide that should be handled with the utmost care. You can eliminate mothball odors by using deodorizers, vinegar, or charcoal. It is irresponsible and unsafe to use mothballs in an open living space or outdoors in a non-controlled environment. Plus there are better methods to get rid of moths if you are willing to check them out as I have listed them above. 

Until next time:

“Thanks for Buggin’ out with me”  

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