One of the most effective methods of removing pests such as moths from fiber materials is the use of mothballs.
They have proven to be more effective in protecting clothes from moth and pest damage.
You could be considering applying them on other spots in the house like vents.
So, Can You Put Mothballs in Your Floor Vents?
Well, mothballs emit gaseous chemicals into the air when exposed to air from vents. Even if you want to protect vents from damage by pests you would not want to put mothballs on the floor vents. The reason is, floor vents are designed to keep the house cool by ensuring the smooth circulation of air. That means particles in the mothballs will be spread throughout the entire room leading to astounding diffusion of odor all over the room. Getting rid of mothballs odor is not a walk in the park.
In this article, we will take you through every detail of mothballs that you need to know including safety tips and application techniques. Read on.
What Are Mothballs and What Are They Used For?
As the name suggests, mothballs are small balls containing chemical deodorants and chemical pesticides that are applied to fabric materials and clothes to prevent possible damage by moth larvae and mold.
Other uses of mothballs include control of fibers such as silverfish that often feed and destroy fabric materials.
These pests specifically love materials made of natural fibers because they are ideal for laying larvae. Additionally, these materials offer them much-needed comfort and heat.
The best way to get rid f them and intercept their multiplication is through the application of mothballs.
What Are the Components of Mothballs?
It is critical to understand the components of mothballs for safety purposes.
Well, mothballs have been used as pest killers for a very long time.
Owing to the toxic nature of the original chemical products, mothballs components have been subject to change.
Ancient mothballs were primarily made of naphthalene.
Naphthalene has been used from time immemorial as a pest repellant.
Due to its adverse health effects and the flammable nature of the compound, however, naphthalene was removed from mothballs.
Modern mothballs are majorly made of dichlorobenzene.
It is worth noting that components are largely regulated by pesticide authorities to ensure that they do not pose adverse health ramifications.
How Do Mothballs Work?
As we mentioned earlier mothballs are used to eliminate pesticides, majorly moths, that live and thrive on fabric materials like clothes.
Mothballs are applied to these materials to keep moths and other destructive pests at bay.
Gas from the mothballs evaporates off suffocating and consequently killing these invading pests.
Mothballs Safety Measures
Application of mothballs should be carried out with ultimate care just like other chemicals.
Here Are 4 Steps That You Should Follow When Applying Mothballs to Your Garments:
1. Do Not Apply Mothballs on Clothes That You Intent to Wear
Only apply mothballs on clothes that will take a while before they are worn,
2. Put Treated Clothes in An Airtight Container
To ensure that mothballs work effectively, it is a prudent idea to put all clothes with mothballs in an airtight container.
This ensures that any pesticide lurking in them is completely suffocated to death.
3. Air Your Clothes Before You Put Them On
When the time comes for you to put on treated clothes, make sure that you thoroughly air them to release traces of mothballs.
This also helps to effectively expel odors from the clothes.
4. Do Not Put Such Clothes Directly Into The Washing Machine
The last thing you want to smell in the washing machine is the odor of the mothballs.
To avoid such occurrences, it is a nice idea not to put such clothes directly into the washing machine.
Is It Okay to Apply Mothballs on Floor Vents?
Floor vents are critical for the aeration of the rooms. They allow a cool flow of air in the houses and consequently regulate the room’s temperature.
Putting mothballs on these spots may not be a good idea given the fact that they release odors and smells into the room.
What the vents will do to these mothballs is force gaseous substances to evaporate from them and fill the room.
How Long Does Mothballs Smell Last?
Dichlorobenzene, a primary chemical in the composition, is a sublimate.
It can therefore turn to gas which kills the pesticides. Once they turn gaseous, this chemical spreads throughout the rooms and the smell fill the rooms.
How long this smell last depends on the concentration of mothballs and the sublimation that occurs in turn.
A typical mothball smell is pungent and sour. The smell can diffuse rapidly throughout the rooms depending on the concentrations.
The aeration of the building also dictates how long the smell will last since better aeration leads to the emission of the gas.
The smell can last between four to six weeks. In some cases, it can last for more than months.
Proper mitigation solutions are called for to explicitly oust the smell. More on methods of expelling mothballs odors in the last section of this article.
Are There Any Health Effects of Mothballs?
Let’s face it. in as much as many efforts have been put into making mothballs less harmful to human health, there remain some effects depending on how we handle ad use them.
Yes. mothballs can be hazardous just like any other pesticides. The bottom line lies with how we handle and apply them.
The chemicals used to make mothballs can be toxic to humans and pets alike. Toxic fumes emitted from these pesticides can find their way into your system and cause serious consequences.
Health Effects Associated with Mothballs:
- Headache
- Eye irritation
- Nose irritation
- Nausea
- Coughing
Should you experience any of these signs, see a physician immediately.
Mostly, these signs are manifest slightly and should be nothing serious to worry about.
However, the way our bodies react to allergens may vary greatly.
That is why it is a nice idea to take note of any adverse symptoms and act accordingly.
Tips for Getting Rid of Mothballs Smell
Ridding your home of the mothball smell is, no doubt, an extensive process.
There is a vast array of mothballs that can be used in a home to eradicate moths and pests depending on their chemical compositions.
As a result, various solutions are called for to rid the house of its respective smells.
Camphor mothballs, for instance, release solid particles into the air.
It also releases a strong smell that poses grave health risks if not handled well.
To get rid of such a strong smell, powerful air purifiers are required.
Specific air purifiers are available for combating specific air pollutants.
For this case, however, you will need to invest in a purifier that is designed to primarily focus on odor.
It should equally be capable of neutralizing chemicals. It should remove particles in the air.
Final Words
Mothballs are very effective in combating pests, especially moths.
The application of these pesticides is a crucial process that should be accorded maximum attention.
This includes appropriate application spots and appropriate procedures.
It is important to read and understand mothball safety measures before attempting anything with the pesticides.
Hopefully, this article has helped you demystify all myths that abounded about mothballs.
References
https://enviroklenzairpurifiers.com/is-it-safe-to-have-mothballs-in-the-house/
