Removing Mothball Odor from Clothing

Removing Mothball Smell From Clothes and Coats

Last night while visiting my sister-in-law in her new home, she asked if I knew of any way to remove the smell of moth balls. Having their clothing packed for a few months, she added moth balls, not thinking of the consequences of that awful smell. She is now desperate to get rid of the odor from their clothing. Any Suggestions? Lorri from Cumberland, MD
Answers:
--	10/30/2004
Have you tried Frebreeze? hanging them outside in the rain? taking the to the cleaners? I would try the first two before taking them to the cleaners. I had a comforter once like that. I think I hung it outside through a couple of rains. GL
By seeled (Guest Post)
--	02/08/2006
try washing with added baking soda and rinsing with added white vingar in the rinse water. it has always worked for me to use these to remove odors in laundry.
By brenda thompson

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Removing Mothball Smell From Clothing

I put a bunch of clothes in a plastic container and then put in some moth balls since I was storing them in the basement. Now that I need to get into them they stink and washing them does not remove the smell. Can I soak them in anything to remove this smell permanently?

Misslilly from Holden, MO

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Request: Removing Mothball Smell From Clothes and Coats

RE: Removing Mothball Smell From Clothing

The smell is actually a gas so airing them out is the best way I would think. I have the same problem and I am going to hang them out for a few days. (09/25/2006)

By kathleen

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Removing Mothball Smell From Clothing

How do you remove the Moth Ball smell from clothing? I have just purchased some nice second hand clothing, which have been stored in moth balls. I have washed them in washing powder and Eucalyptus Oil but the smell is still there.

Jackie Y from Adelaide, Australia

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RE: Removing Mothball Smell From Clothing

(format_html) How do you remove mothball smell from clothes?

VJW from Lakeland, FL

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RE: Removing Mothball Smell From Clothing

The best and least expensive way to remove mothball odor is to put them outside and let the clothes air. It may take some time but the smell will go away. (11/02/2006)

By Dean

RE: Removing Mothball Smell From Clothing

Put them in your dryer on air dry with no heat, and toss in a few sheets of fabric softener and tumble for 20 minutes. The clothes will not smell of moth balls. (12/19/2006)

By Donna

RE: Removing Mothball Smell From Clothing

I bought some beautiful sets of sheets at a garage sale a few summers back and just packed them away in a plastic bin. When I went to go use them they wreaked of mothball smell! I washed them, put them in the dryer and hung them out side on the clothes line! Nothing worked. So I just packed them away again. Several years later I had to move and needed to decide what to do with these beautiful but very smelly sets of sheets! So just just dumped them on the front porch for a while, in freezing cold temperatures! Now they don't smell anymore! Fresh air, and lots of it seems to be the best thing! (10/26/2007)

By A. Verdonk

RE: Removing Mothball Smell From Clothing

Mothballs, Febreeze, fabric softeners, and dryer sheets are all very toxic. It will not protect you from the toxicity of mothballs to cover up the smell with other toxic scents. The best remedy is hanging outside but a vinegar rinse is a good start before hanging. I hang my things in the garage during winter months and even that seems to help. Add the vinegar to the rinse water as it will "fight" with any soap or detergent you use if you wash the item first. (10/30/2007)

RE: Removing Mothball Smell From Clothing

Use baking soda, it takes a while to get rid of the odor, but it works. (07/31/2008)

By Old Man

RE: Removing Mothball Smell From Clothing

Oh my, the hardest odor to remove, and very toxic. I just fill the washer, add a couple of cups of white vinegar, add the clothing, rotate a few minutes, then stop machine and let soak for an hour or two. Since you have already washed, just turn the machine on to complete the cycle. Have never heard of vinegar "fighting" with soap, but if some scent is still left, hang outside.

I have to laugh at people who spend their good money on all those odor remover products. I buy a gallon of white vinegar for about $1.75, and leave it by my washer. Anytime I detect odor in the laundry, I just add maybe a quarter cup, and all my laundry is odor free. I have also used it many times when shampooing carpeting, and any other odor problem. The owner of the Vinegar Co. says the law will not allow them to say it deodorizes and disinfects, but it's great and cheap. I have rental property and when they move, I grab the vinegar with my other cleaning products. LOL Ellen (08/20/2008)

By Ellen

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Removing Mothball Smell From Clothing

How to remove the smell of moth balls from clothes.

It's easy and costs nothing (providing you have a steam iron).

Wash the garment then iron at the relevant setting. The heat from the iron releases the molecule causing the smell. You could also try this on dry clothes with the steam setting.

My advice is to set the ironing table up out of doors. As you see the steam blowing away you know the smell is going with it. Then hang the clothes outside to air. When you are sure they are completely dry, pop them into a plastic bag with some lavender and you will have your formerly unusable clothes back (the lavender step is optional - or use a cotton wool pad sprayed with your favourite perfume - be creative).

I have just retrieved a bag full of woolen garments this way. I washed the garments then set the iron on wool/steam and was amazed at the instant results. I've just brought my woolens in from the line and there is not a trace of the smell of moth balls (an hour ago the smell from them was making me sick).

I suppose carpets, curtains and upholstery can be steam cleaned as can vehicle interiors just remember to create as much ventilation and through draft as possible as the steam produced is carrying the smell.

I don't know about using steam on timber furniture. I read a post saying wetting timber only injects the smell further into the object, but maybe a question placed on the woodworking forums might produce a solution.

I agree with the writer who said this stuff should come with a warning and thanks to the Perth (Australia) writer who explained about the 'smell molecule' affected by heat.

Hope you have as much success as I did.

Love, Margaret from Brisbane Australia

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RE: Removing Mothball Smell From Clothing

Never steam. I steamed a garment following this advice and the smell came back stronger than ever a few days later. Now nothing I do can remove it. It's been more than a month of washing and air drying. Steaming only causes the odor to penetrate deeper. (05/16/2010)

By JSJS

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Removing Mothball Smell From Clothing

I cannot get the smell of mothballs out of my clothing. I've washed them twice, hung them outside for 2 weeks, and just washed again with vinegar in the wash to no avail. Help!

By DorisB from Taylor, MI

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Removing Mothball Smell From Clothing

How do I get the mothball smell from my clothing? I've washed them 4 times.