Remember exploring your grandparents' attic as a kid? You opened the old trunk in the corner, hoping for pirate treasure, and wound up coughing on camphor fumes. Blech! That nasty smell was from the mothballs your grandma used to protect stored clothing, linens, and towels from voracious moths. Moths feast on fabric fibers, particularly when the clothing or linens are stored away, creating the dark, enclosed conditions moths seek for nesting and egg-laying.
Mothballs for pest control, when used as directed, are effective, inexpensive, easy to use, and long-lasting. Sounds great, right? Want to try it for other pests? Maybe we can use mothballs to repel pests like mice or rats, or even snakes!? Not so fast.
There are reasons mothballs for pest control have fallen out of use and that their use outdoors is illegal. Let’s explore the use of mothballs as repellent and see whether they’re truly effective — or even safe — for general pest control.
What Are Mothballs and How Do They Work?
Mothballs are a highly effective means of targeted pest control. When used as directed, they quickly kill adult moths, silverfish, and other fiber-devouring pests, their larvae, and eggs.
But how do mothballs work? They are small bits of toxic substances — typically paradichlorobenzene or naphthalene — which are solid at room temperature but slowly convert to noxious gas. These released fumes are highly toxic, killing moths and silverfish, and they are also toxic to pets, people, and wildlife. Available as small balls, cakes, or flakes, mothballs are designed to be used in small, enclosed spaces to protect clothing, bed linens, and towels when they are put into storage.
Mothballs for pest control seem attractive because they are easy to use and deadly to their target pests. People often want to use mothballs as repellants for any pests that pester them, like mice, rats, snakes, and squirrels. However, when misused in this fashion, mothballs will contaminate soils and water without effectively controlling or even repelling the pests.
Are Mothballs Effective for Pest Control?
Mothballs are highly effective at killing moths and other fiber-eating pests, but they are ineffective and dangerous in broader applications. They are designed to be used in closed spaces where their toxic fumes can build up to lethal levels against the moths and silverfish they are designed to kill. When used in open spaces or outdoors, they damage the environment and spread toxic chemicals without repelling pests.
“But, my great aunt Edna swore by mothballs as repellent against mice!” With all due respect to your great-aunt, she may have thought that mothballs smell so bad that they must repel mice. Many websites still recommend mothballs for pest control based on mere assumptions rather than facts. However, the toxic fumes are not effective at repelling or controlling mice, chipmunks, rats, snakes, skunks, roaches, or mosquitoes. Meanwhile, the failed attempt can make you, your family members, or your pets very sick while damaging the environment. In fact, it is illegal to use mothballs outdoors.
What Pests Do Mothballs Repel?
Used in small, enclosed spaces, mothballs effectively eliminate moths and silverfish as adults, larvae, and eggs. And that’s it. Mothballs should not be used in other ways or to target other pests.
Mothball fumes are toxic and can harm humans, pets, and wildlife if inhaled, ingested, or absorbed through the skin. If used outdoors, mothballs can pollute the soil and water without achieving your goals.
Eco-Friendly Alternatives to Mothballs for Pest Control
Given the significant health risks and environmental concerns, many choose safer and equally effective alternatives to mothballs for pest control. To protect stored clothing and linens, try cedar chips or blocks, which naturally repel moths and silverfish. The natural oils in cedar repel fiber eaters without emitting harmful fumes. Lavender sachets produce a lovely scent that drives off moths and can freshen stored items. Eucalyptus or peppermint essential oils can be sprayed on cotton balls and packed away with the linens to repel moths.
Instead of using mothballs for pest control, those cotton balls soaked in eucalyptus or peppermint oil can repel mice and rats! Leave them in the rodents’ runways or entrances to their nests to help drive them out of your home. The scent will fade over time, so be prepared to replace the cotton balls every few days for maximum effectiveness.
The Role of Mothballs in Modern Pest Control
Before modern cooling and heating systems and the development of nylon, polyester, and other synthetic fibers, using mothballs for pest control was essential to protect clothing and linens in storage. Today, however, they are seen as old-fashioned and seldom used. However, countless blogs recommend using mothballs to repel pests. The idea is ineffective and dangerous.
Instead, try the eco-friendly options discussed above to protect your clothing. When you need outdoor pest control services, contact the experts at Mosquito Joe®. We tailor our home pest control services to meet your specific needs. From pest inspections and eco-friendly pest control to getting rid of rats and mice — we’ve got all your pest control needs covered.
Count on being satisfied with our service — we do the job right the first time. The Neighborly Done Right Promise™ and the Mosquito Joe Satisfaction Guarantee back everything we do.
Ready to get rid of pests so you can relax and enjoy your property again? Request your free estimate, and Mosquito Joe will take care of it for you.
This article is intended for general informational purposes only and may not be applicable to every situation. You are responsible for determining the proper course of action for your home and property. Mosquito Joe is not responsible for any damages that occur as a result of this blog content or your actions. For the most accurate guidance, contact your local Mosquito Joe location for a comprehensive, on-site assessment.
