Like the streetwalker in the cartoon above, I too hate the smell of mothballs.
Big time.
And what I can't figure out is why people still use mothballs when storing their clothes.
Seriously, when was the last time you saw a moth? I mean, do moths even exist anymore because I haven't seen one since I was 12 years old in science class?
Has anyone else noticed how the smell of mothballs escalates during the winter months as people start wearing their coats, jackets, scarves, and gloves that have been packed in bins laced with mothballs all summer? And for some reason, this winter I've been smelling mothballs more than previous years.
Oh my god, last week someone in a store walked past me and I thought I was going to drop dead from the scent of mothballs permeating his coat. It was as if I had been hit head-on by a speeding truck containing a 4-year supply of mothballs.
And I'm thinking to myself, "Is he not aware of the way he smells?!?!" "Or perhaps for some strange reason, he enjoys smelling like the balls of a moth."
I feel about mothballs as I do about cilantro. Whenever I smell either one of them, it feels as though someone is throwing sharp knives at me.
It's utterly painful.
My history with mothballs -
My dislike of mothballs goes back to my childhood when our family would visit my grandmother (my father's mother) whose house WREAKED of mothballs.
This is not an actual picture of her but it's very much what she looked like body, mind, and spirit...
She had a horrible addiction to placing a box of mothballs in her vacuum cleaner bag so that whenever she would vacuum the carpets, it smelled as if a mothball nuclear bomb had been dropped there; killing not only the moths but anyone who walked into her house. And because she would always vacuum right before we arrived, the aroma would linger for the entire duration of our visit.
The worst part of the day was when we would all sit down for dinner and have to inhale mothballs as we ate her homemade lasagna.
Sorry, but mothballs with lasagna don't mix.
In fact, mothballs with nothing don't mix.
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Before posting this today, I went online and researched ways to get rid of the mothball scent on your clothes.
Here are some helpful tips:
Someone asked: Does mothball smell ever go away?
One mothball in open air takes 3-6 months to dissipate entirely. If you place the mothball underneath clothing or otherwise not in the open air, it will take up to 12 months to completely dissipate. The mothball smell stays in your home for months or years after dissipating.
Get Rid of Mothball Smells in Clothing
Prepare a solution of vinegar and lemon juice, and then dab this mixture on the areas of clothing that have a mothball smell. Let the solution sit for a while before you rinse it off with warm water.
Heat can also help to remove the mothball smell, so you can use a hot iron to press through the clothing or hang the clothing out in the sun. Another option is to put the clothes in the washer using vinegar instead of laundry detergent.
Remember that mothball odor can take weeks to get off. Make sure you do this several times. You can also mask the odor temporarily with deodorants or perfumes.
What Can I Use Instead of Mothballs?
Here are some of the most effective options:
- Store your clothing with cedar chips
- Use essential oils such as lavender, cloves, and mint in your storage areas
- Store your clothing in vacuum-sealed bags
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In conclusion -
I have the best idea for getting rid of mothball scent - don't ever use them.
But if you do, just BURN your clothes and buy all new ones. It's quicker.
Yes, I don't like the smell of mothballs. Can you tell?
Have a faaaaabulous rest of your week, y'all!
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