Here are the questions asked by community members. Read on to see the answers provided by the ThriftyFun community.
I had a family of raccoons who crawled down my chimney (one died). To get rid them, I tried a portable heater, hose, and radio. I was told to toss some mothballs down the chimney. They came out, which is good, but for 2 years now I have had this terrible mothball scent in my home I cannot get rid of. What can I do? The flue portion is too high to get my hand in and I do not have a vacuum hose long enough to suck them out.
I would get nok-out, available on Amazon. I would spray it up the chimney.
I personally do not believe you can use any type of product that will kill this odor - it may mask it for a while but odor will probably return.
If you use your chimney and it has been a while since it was cleaned, this may be the ideal time to bite the bullet and call a chimney sweep to do the job.
Chimney sweeps usually charge $150 - $300 according to where you live and what needs to be done.
If you are experienced with doing work on your roof, you can do it yourself for probably $50-$75 and have the equipment to do the job every year.
Home Depot sells the chimney brushes - you will need one that fits your chimney size. They also have the fiberglass rods to reach the length of your chimney.
Most DIY sites give instructions for cleaning from the opening on your roof but a partial job can be done from inside the house.
The house has to be prepared properly before any work is done or there will be a terrible mess.
If you are interested in doing the job yourself there are several YouTube videos on the subject.
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First, mothballs are highly flammable so it is best not to use your fire place until you have these professional removed if you can't do it yourself, which it sounds like you can't.
Second, the smell is probably infused into your furniture and paint if you are still smelling it two years later.
You may need to do three things to fully rid your home of the smell...
1. Get the chimney cleaned out. If that doesn't eliminate the smell, you will need to move on to...
2. Have your soft furniture (couches/chairs) and rugs professional steam cleaned. If that doesn't eliminate the smell...
3. Paint the room effected. As the paint people at the hardware store the best brand to help eliminate smells in the walls (they get this question all the time when people buy a smoker's home and want to get rid of that horrible stench).
Post back with updates! I hope method one is one and done, but I am thinking it is going to be a 3 step process.
You have two choices to do the job and get rid of the order. You fireplace needs to be cleaned out and it can be done professionally or you can do it yourself. If you choose to do it yourself they normally sell all the tools at Home Depot so you can clean it out yourself. This is a big job and you will need to cover your furniture and prepare your home so that when you brush the fireplace you will not get all the ash in your home.
I used mothballs in the attic, but the smell is so strong. How can I get rid off the smell in the house?
Help me please.
First you'd want to make sure you got all those moth balls out & toss them out.
You might want a fan for ventilation and air out your house as much as possible.
I also read charcoal or lava rocks may help? Here is a forum that could help you out: www.hornfans.com/
Good luck!
Get rid of all the mothballs from your home and place bowls of vinegar or vinegar and lemon juice around the home. This should help eliminate the mothball smell. Keep everything well ventilated.
There is a highly rated product called Nok-Out. You can get it on Amazon.
Mothballs terrify me. They are not good to be breathing in the fumes.
Once you get rid of them, put a fan in the area so it pulls the air out rather than push air into the room. This is very effective if you can do this so it pulls the air from the room through a window and out side to dissipate.
Since it has permeated other parts of the house, if you have more than one fan, do the same in every room you have the smell (set the fan to suck the air outside). Keep the windows open as much as possible in between.
Blessings and best wishes!
My daughter bought a jean jacket at Kohl's a couple of weeks ago. A few days later she removed the tags and went to put it on while noticing a strange smell like moth balls. So she figured she would wash it, but that didn't help so she washed it 3 more times, but still nothing. She remembered that putting something in the sun outside would do the trick, but it's been outside in rain and shine and it still stinks.
What she really should have done is return it right away, but she didn't stick her nose in the jacket at the store and when she noticed at home after several washings it's too late. I went to her house and smelled it myself and it still smells like moth balls. What should she have done or what can still be done? Thanks. How in the world did this happen from a Kohl's store?
By Bonnie H
I've had this happen a few times from J.Crew and from Hollister and Express and when it happened with Hollister and Express it was much stronger. The smell is formaldehyde. It gets on random pieces of clothing. It really doesn't come out. It's permanent. Both Express and Hollister refunded my money without the receipt, not sure how long ago it was now, but for future reference, take it back as soon as you notice. Tags or receipt are helpful, but not necessary if they ever want your business again.
This happened to me I simply soaked the dress in cold water with vinegar and baking soda and it worked perfect and didn't damage the dress at all
Moth balls were put in plastic bags with luggage stored in a barn. Now I can't use luggage for intense moth ball smell. Please help. Thank you.
By Charlsa S.
The need lots of airing out in the fresh air. Also you can put activated charcoal in them. It will help absorb the smell.
Stuff with newspapers and leave for a few days
How do I remove moth ball smell from a blouse purchased at a thrift store? I washed the blouse once, in the washer and dried it on a hanger.
By lUPE
Try soaking the blouse in a solution of water and white vinegar.
We are moving in to a small trailer and it reeks of mothballs. Could someone please tell me how to get rid of the awful smell it left behind?
By ANNA from Gray Court, SC
Put out bowls of vinegar to help absorb the smell. You may also try some eucalptus scented candles. The best thing though is to remove all moth balls that remain, and keep airing out the house.
I once had a battle with mice, and my house reeked of moth balls for a year. I overdid it on the moth balls, but I never had a mouse invade the house again, lol. :)
I am buying a new house. The previous owners put moth balls in every room and closet drawer. The entire house is saturated with this smell. How can I remove it?
By V.C.W.
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