Five Natural and Nontoxic Moth Ball Alternatives

When you brought your winter sweater out of storage, did you discover ugly little holes in them? If so, you clothes may have fallen victim to the ravages of moths. Unfortunately, moth balls that are sold commercially are made up of two chemicals that are thought to be carcinogenic. These unhealthy chemicals are called naphthalene and paradichlorobenzene. It's the fumes from these chemicals that do the dirty task of killing the pesky moths that feed on clothing. Fumes from these two substances can be particularly toxic to small children. This means commercial moth balls should never be left within their reach of little hands. If you're concerned about the toxicity of commercial moth balls, you may be interested in these moth ball alternatives:

Clean your clothes prior to storing them.

By dry cleaning your clothes before storing them, you remove any potential moth larvae that could create a problem for your clothing later.

Store your clothes properly.

Avoid storing your clothes in cardboard containers since they aren't moth proof. Use plastic containers that have an air tight seal.

Use cedar chips to deter moths.

Cedar chips can be quite effective in preventing moth infestation. One strategy is to hang your clothes on cedar hangers and store them in plastic air tight garment bags. Throw a few cedar chips into the bag to give natural, non-toxic protection against moths.

Make your own moth repellent sachets.

It's easy to make your own moth repellent sachets. Buy some canvas drawstring bags from your local craft store. Prepare some dried lavender and cedar chips to which you've added a few drops of lavender and cedar essential oils. Close the drawstring on the bag and drop them in the containers with your clothing. The cedar chips and lavender will be only be effective if placed into a sealed container. You can also add dried rosemary, thyme, and dried cloves which seem to have moth repellent properties. If you're looking for an inexpensive source of cedar chips, ask for hamster bedding at your local pet store.

Consider professional storage.