Function

• Mothballs were designed to deter moths from feasting on clothing. This was especially true in attics and basements where people used to store out-of-season clothing or clothing kept as a keepsake.
  Over time, people have found other uses for mothballs. Some swear that mothballs placed around a garden will keep rabbits from eating plants. Others say they will deter snakes, raccoons and other pests
  But most experts warn against using mothballs for any but their original purpose.
  
  

Features

• The distinctive odor of mothballs comes from their chemical makeup. Naphthalene or paradichlorobenzene is the active and potentially harmful ingredient in the balls, with naphthalene being the more dangerous.
  The chemical odor is what scares away the moths, and it can be found in other forms besides the ball. They also can be found in flakes, crystals and bars.
  
  

Prevention/Solution

• Once you have used mothballs, it is hard to remove the odor. Of course if you have used them properly, the odor is not throughout the house, but is confined to the airtight storage box that you place them in. But that doesn't help you get the smell out of the clothes.
  If washing the clothes doesn't eliminate the odor, some would suggest Febreze and other types of odor-removing sprays. These seldom work. Stronger detergents are your best bet, though you should realize that you might never get the smell out.
  As for buildings and furniture, the same trial and error approach is used. For hard surfaces, a good scrubbing usually does the trick, but more drastic measures must be used for furniture and curtains etc.
  The most popular idea is to use an ionizer to give off ozone. It is said that it will eliminate the odor. You can also find ozone in spray form. Other will suggest the same odor-eliminating sprays such as Febreze, but these usually just temporarily mask the issue.
  Ozone will get you the best results, especially if coupled with airing out the house as much as possible before and after its use.
  
  

Warning

• Using mothballs in any other way except as described on the label can be harmful to your health. Mothballs give off toxic fumes that can cause various side effects such as dizziness, difficulty breathing and nausea.
  Always place them in an area that can be sealed off so that the odor does not make its way into living areas where people and pets reside.
  
  

Considerations

• If you want a good alternative to mothballs for keeping away moths, a good substitute is cedar chips or nuggets. They have been proven to keep the pests away and come with no known side effects that are harmful to humans.