| Better alternatives to moth balls
January 9, 2004
 Dear Marti, Do you have any suggestions for what I could do to get rid of clothes moths without using moth balls? Thanks, Rita
Dear Rita, I recently had the same question. I picked up an old favorite wool sweater from my closet and half of it fell back on the shelf, thanks to some little winged friends who had been eating it for me. (At least they made the fibers easily compostable.)
I didn't want to go the mothball route, either. Traditional moth balls generally contain one of two chemicals that kill moths with their fumes: naphthalene and/or paradichlorobenzene. Not only do these chemicals smell horrible, they are considered toxic and can pose a serious health risk through ingestion and inhalation, especially for young children. There is also a risk of exposure from wearing clothing that has absorbed these chemicals.
So does that mean the only solution is to go naked or wear all synthetic clothing? Luckily, there are some natural and non-toxic scents that also repel moths: lavender and cedar wood. You can buy alternative mothballs made from cedar balls scented with lavender as well as cedar blocks on hangers you can hang in your closet.
You can also simply use cedar chips, or you can go the route I chose, which is to make your own mothballs. I cut squares of fabric and stuffed them with dried lavender flowers, scented with lavender and cedar essential oils (all available at most health food stores), then tied the fabric corners together to make little sachets. (It's not as Suzie Homemaker as it sounds, it's simple. The directions are online at www.ecocycle.org.)
The natural moth balls work more effectively if you contain the clothing you're trying to de-moth in a drawer or clothing trunk rather than just leaving them on a closet shelf. An air-tight container will really do the trick. If you're someone who may be thinking napthalene is a manlier scent than lavender, you could just go with the cedar scents. |