Can you still buy mothballs?

They can be found in many supermarkets and convenience stores (including CVS Pharmacy and dollar stores) and are generally sold in the aisle where you can find laundry supplies. The smell of mothballs is unmistakable and hard to miss.

Do they still sell mothballs?

But while mothballs are still available for purchase, you're far less likely to find anyone who actually admits to using them to preserve their clothes or prevent an insect problem.

Why you shouldn't use mothballs?

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. The active ingredients can contaminate water and soil, harm wildlife, and contribute to air pollution.

Why are mothballs still sold?

Mothballs are sold with a very specific claim that they repel a pest (moths). Because a pest repellant/control claim is made, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) requires registration and creation of a product use label.

What to use instead of mothballs?

Can you still buy mothballs?

What smells similar to mothballs?

Naphthalene is either a white solid or a liquid with a strong odor like mothballs. It's used to make dyes, explosives, plastics, lubricants, and is found naturally in crude oil. It is also found in coal tar wastes at former manufactured gas plants.

Can mothball smell hurt you?

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.

Are mothballs safe to use in the house?

Per package directions, mothballs should only ever be in tightly closed containers, although even these containers may release vapors. Mothballs are particularly dangerous because they are often used incorrectly. They shouldn't be placed in closets, storage chests, trunks, garment bags, basements, or attics.

Can you touch mothballs?

If you touch mothballs, naphthalene can enter your body. Low levels of naphthalene have been found in some samples of fatty tissue and breast milk. The body dissolves naphthalene in your blood, which carries it to the liver and other organs. It then passes through your body and exits in the urine and waste matter.

Why do snakes hate mothballs?

Do mothballs repel snakes? Moth balls are common old-time home remedy to keep snakes away, but this old wives' tale doesn't stand the test of science. Mothballs don't repel snakes. Snakes “smell” with their tongues, so methods like mothballs that rely on odors are unlikely to deter them.

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.

How long do moth balls last?

Mothballs can last up to four to six weeks, and they can last even longer if you store your garments in a tightly sealed container. Regardless of how long the mothballs last before they dissolve, the smell will likely last longer.

Can you use mothballs to get rid of squirrels?

Mothballs. The smell of mothballs, which bring back memories of visits to grandmother's house for so many people, is repulsive for squirrels. If you have a squirrel issue within and around your home, you can place mothballs around your flowers or even in areas around the yard, including the attic.

Where can you use 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.

Which is better mothballs or cedar?

You can use cedar in combination with neem oil and other natural repellents to keep your home moth-free. However you choose to use cedar, though, it will always be safer and healthier than mothballs.

What happens if you breathe in mothballs?

Inhalation of naphthalene may cause skin and eye irritation; gastrointestinal symptoms, such as nausea, vomiting, abdominal cramps, and diarrhea; neurologic symptoms, such as confusion, excitement, and convulsions; renal problems, such as acute renal shutdown; and hematologic features, such as icterus and severe anemia ...

Do snakes hate mothballs?

Use of Snake Repellents

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 repel 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.

Do mothballs repel mosquitoes?

The label of any pesticide product, including mothballs, tells you exactly where and how a product is supposed to be used. Using the product in any other way could put you and others at risk. Besides, they have little or no effect as repellents. Many years ago, mothballs may have been made out of different chemicals.

Why does my husband smell like mothballs?

Bacteria are more likely to thrive and grow when your mouth is dry. Conditions that generate excess mucus in the nasal cavities may cause you to breathe through your mouth, making it dryer than normal. For that reason, having dry mouth can intensify mothball breath. Many conditions and medications also cause dry mouth.

Why do people's houses smell like 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. Companies that produce products such as ink, dye, coal and tar, preserve wood, or tan leathers also use naphthalene.

What does it mean when a person smells like mothballs?

People with sinus problems often emit a scent reminiscent of mothballs. This is because the mucus formed when you have a stuffy nose or congested throat contains very dense proteins. It is these proteins, which are hard for the body to break down, that contain that very distinctive odour.

Where do you put mothballs for your house?

Mothballs must be used in an airtight space, such as a garment bag or well-sealed container, never in an open closet or plastic garbage bag, according to the authors. "Once vapors enter the home, their odor can be detected at a few parts per billion in the air," Stone said.