First steps
Start here
- Air the items out right away; the odor dissipates once treated items are aired.
- Put on gloves before you pick out leftover mothballs or flakes.
- If someone swallows a mothball, call the poison control number, 800-222-1222, right away.
Mothball smell behaves more like a lingering fume than a stain. The naphthalene or paradichlorobenzene in the balls slowly turns into gas, and that gas clings to fabric after storage, so the odor can hang around long after the balls are gone. The fix is to remove every ball and flake, air the items out and wash them, since airing and washing is what clears it.
Getting mothball smell out of jeans usually takes a pretreater before the wash, not just extra soap. Furniture and trunks hold those fumes in wood and padding, so give them plenty of fresh air before you wash or wipe. If the odor still clings after washing, an odor eliminator made for stored clothes is worth a try.
5 items
What you'll need
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- Rubber or disposable glovesProtects your hands while you pick out mothballs and flakes. (opens Amazon)
- Original mothball containerKeeps leftovers sealed until you deal with them.
- Liquid laundry detergentCleans the washable items in the usual wash cycle. (opens Amazon)
- Baking sodaHelps neutralize the chemical smell when added to a load. (opens Amazon)
- Dry-cleaning agentFor dry-clean-only pieces, where a home wash isn't an option.
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7 steps
How to get mothball smell out of clothes
Step 1 of 7
Remove every mothball and flake
Put on gloves, then shake out each item and pick out any mothballs, flakes or crystals from pockets, cuffs and folds. Put the leftovers back in their original container and never pour them down a drain.
Tip. Turn cuffs and pockets inside out to find the flakes hiding in the seams.
Careful. Keep leftover mothballs away from children and pets; one can seriously harm a small child.
Step 2 of 7
Air the items out
Hang or lay the items where air moves freely, and turn pockets and cuffs inside out so the air reaches the folds. Airing is what lets the odor dissipate, so give it a day or two before you wash.
Step 3 of 7
Wash washable items by the label
Wash anything washable following the care label for water temperature and cycle. Items stored with mothballs need both airing and washing to lose the odor, so the wash isn't optional.
Step 4 of 7
Wash children's clothing before use
Children's clothes, diapers and bedding that were stored with mothballs must always be washed before use. Children can be exposed through these items, and some are more sensitive to naphthalene.
Step 5 of 7
Add baking soda to each load
Add up to 1 cup of baking soda per load to help neutralize the chemical smell. Put it in the drum with the detergent so it mixes through the water.
Tip. Use the same amount for every load of the stored items.
Step 6 of 7
Handle dry-clean-only items separately
Dry-clean-only items can't go through a home wash, so skip the washer for them. Use only a dry-cleaning agent for home treatment, or take the piece to a dry cleaner and ask for help.
Step 7 of 7
Wash your hands afterward
Wash your hands with soap and water after you've handled the mothballs or the treated items. It takes only a moment, and it's the last thing to do before you put things away.
If you'd rather buy than mix
Best products for mothball smell
Use a plain liquid laundry detergent for the wash, and keep a box of baking soda on hand for the odor step.
OdoBan Odor Eliminator & Disinfectant Concentrate
Clorox 2 Laundry Stain Remover and Color Booster Powder, 49.2 Ounces
How we picked these: each product is made for this type of stain, its maker doesn't warn against using it on this fabric, and its directions fit the steps above.
Finished the steps? How does it look?
Nice work. Let it dry completely and check it again in good light before using any heat. Here is what done looks like:
How to tell it's really gone →A faint mark usually needs one more round, not a stronger product.
A smell that keeps coming back needs the longer treatment.
If the smell lingers →When to call a professional →How to tell it's working
You'll know it's working when the items smell neutral once they've aired and been washed. If a faint odor returns after the wash, the items need another round of airing and washing.
What changes for yours
Adjust for your fabric
Whites and white shirts
White cotton and linen are the easiest case, since they can take the washing steps in the warmest water the care label allows and handle a soak well. Check the label before you start, because the water temperature and cycle are what change from one white item to the next.
Air dry whites rather than using heat, since heat is off the table for these fabrics. Hang them where air moves freely, and give them the full airing time before you decide they're ready.
Colors and denim
Colored fabric and denim take the same airing and washing, but the water needs more care. Use the warmest water the care label allows rather than automatically going hot, since hot water on colored fabric needs extra care.
Keep jeans and other colors out of the dryer until the smell is completely gone, because heat can set a stain and make it harder to remove. Turn jeans inside out for the wash and let them air fully before you pack them away.
Silk, wool and delicates
Silk and wool can't take hot water, chlorine bleach, oxygen cleaners or enzyme detergents, and you should never rub or brush the stain. Wool can felt and shrink when it's agitated in water, so use a gentle hand wash only if the care label allows it.
Leather, shoes and other non-washable pieces are outside the washing steps. Air them out somewhere well ventilated first, and if the smell stays, a professional cleaner is the safe next step.
Dry-clean-only items
Items labeled dry-clean only can't go through a home wash, so the washing steps don't apply to them. Air them out well first, then take them to a cleaner and tell them the smell came from mothball storage so they can plan the treatment.
Keep these pieces out of the washer and the dryer, since a home wash can't handle them. Keep them in a well-ventilated spot while they air, and don't store them back in the closet until the smell has faded.
If the smell lingers
If the smell is old and has soaked into the fabric, one wash often isn't enough, and the answer is more airing rather than stronger products. Air the items out again for as long as it takes, then wash them following the care label.
If the smell comes back once the items are dry, it means the odor hasn't fully gone, not that you've done something wrong. Air them again and wash them once more before you put them away.
Stick with air drying after each wash, since heat is off the table for these fabrics. If the smell still hasn't gone after a second round of airing and washing, that's the point to take the item to a professional cleaner.
Vinegar, baking soda, peroxide and more
Do home remedies work on mothball smell?
Airing and washing do most of the work on this smell, so start there. Baking soda is the one remedy worth using, and the rest don't match this smell or the fabric can't take them.
Works1Skip5
What makes it worse
Mistakes to avoid
Don't leave mothballs in open closets or bags
Never use mothballs in an open closet or a plastic garbage bag, because the vapors escape into the home. If the whole house smells, mothballs are probably being used outside a container, and the labels call for tightly closed containers.
Don't mix the two kinds of mothballs
Naphthalene and paradichlorobenzene products should never be mixed together. Paradichlorobenzene also doesn't belong in plastic containers or against plastic items, since it damages some plastics.
Don't use mothballs outdoors or on animals
Using mothballs outdoors or against squirrels, snakes or other animals is illegal, and it contaminates soil and water. Keep fumes out of living spaces as well, because naphthalene vapor can cause headache, nausea, dizziness and difficulty breathing.
When to call a professional
If several rounds of airing and washing don't clear the smell, take the item to a dry cleaner. Tell them the odor came from mothball storage so they can plan the treatment.
Questions
How do I get rid of mothball smell in furniture?
Start by airing the piece out, since airing is what lets the odor dissipate. Wash any removable covers following their care label. If the smell is deep in the upholstery itself, a professional cleaner is a safer next step than strong products at home.
Can you get mothball smell out of a car or camper?
Remove any mothballs first, wearing gloves, and air the vehicle out with the doors open. Keep airing it until the smell fades, and wash any washable textiles from inside following their care label.
How do I get mothball smell out of a trunk, luggage or purse?
Empty the piece and remove any mothballs or flakes with gloves on. Leave the lid or zipper open and air it out, then wash any washable lining or fabric pieces following the care label.
How do I get mothball smell out of blankets, a couch, a mattress or carpet?
Air the item out first, since airing is what removes the odor. Wash blankets and any washable covers following the care label, and for a couch, mattress or carpet that can't be washed, a professional cleaner is the safe next step. Skip strong household cleaners on carpet, since they're too risky for it.
How do I get rid of mothball smell in a garage or basement?
Find and remove every mothball or flake first, wearing gloves, then air the space out. Keep any leftovers sealed in their original container, since they shouldn't be left loose in a garage or basement.
Will washing clothes get rid of mothball smell?
Usually it takes both airing and washing, since the odor needs both to come out. Wash the clothes following the care label, and if the smell is still there once they're dry, air and wash them again.
Odor guides
Still smells?
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How we know this
Every method, amount and warning here comes from university extension services, industry bodies and product makers. We read them, check every step for unsafe combinations and changed amounts, and write it up so you can follow it.