What do mothballs repel

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Pests aren't just a nuisance. They can threaten your health and property. Without the right approach to pest control, many homeowners may face unexpected repair and healthcare expenses. Rats and mice can be much more than nuisances. These unwelcome guests can be detrimental to your health, as they can contaminate a variety of food, damage personal belongings that may hold sentimental value, gnaw on electrical wires along with soiling several items in your home.

Your home may be your castle, but it can also be a welcome shelter for insects, rodents and other kinds of pests. To keep unwanted visitors away, take the following steps for pest-proofing your home. We checked. However, finding a lot of hits on your search doesn't necessarily mean that these methods will work.

Mothballs, one of the most common methods to control clothes moths, need to be recognized as a pesticide that when misused can be harmful to humans or animals, according to pest management experts and toxicologists from Oregon State University.

Dave Stone, assistant professor in the environmental and molecular toxicology department, and Tim Stock, integrated pest management education specialist, have written a new publication called " Mothballs: Proper Use and Alternative Controls for Clothes Moths. Mothballs should not be used inside attics, crawl spaces, gardens, trash cans or vehicles. Nor used to control skunks, mice or other pests. They include squirrels, skunks, deer, mice, rats, dogs, cats, raccoons, moles, snakes, pigeons and a variety of other animals.

Any such use is illegal. This will almost always result in a persistent and noxious odor throughout the home. The larvae of two species of clothes moths in the Pacific Northwest, according to Stock, are responsible for damage done to personal belongings: the webbing clothes moth Tineola bisselliella and the casemaking clothes moth Tinea pellionella.

Clothes moth larvae are shiny white and about a half-inch long. They can, however, chew through synthetic fibers to reach dirt or stains of animal origin. Mothballs or cakes, crystals, tablets, bars and flakes contain either naphthalene or paradichlorobenzene as active ingredients, according to Stone. Paradichlorobenzene is also a potential hazard, although typically less than naphthalene.

Following the label instructions will limit exposure to these chemicals and control the moths most effectively. It is also a legal requirement.

Mothballs must be used in an airtight space, such as a garment bag or well-sealed container, never in an open closet or plastic garbage bag, according to the authors. One part per billion is like a few drops of water in an Olympic-size swimming pool.

Alternative ways to control clothes moths are available for those who prefer not to use chemical treatments. The best way to protect your at-risk animal-fiber clothing from clothes moths is by keeping moths out by cleaning and storing in airtight containers. The best way to protect your at-risk animal-fiber clothing from clothes moths is by keeping moths out. The authors recommend cleaning the clothing according to the manufacturer's specifications and storing them in airtight containers.

Also vacuum furniture and other places that provide food sources such as lint, pet hair and human hair. Lint and hair that have been undisturbed for a long time are prime breeding grounds for clothes moths. After vacuuming, dispose of the vacuum bag promptly. Boric acid dust can be used to treat cracks and crevices once the infested articles have been removed and cleaned.

But the authors caution people to always follow the label requirements when applying boric acid dusts. Shake the clothes or brush them before putting them back in the drawer or on the hanger. This will help dislodge remaining eggs and larvae. Officials warn us to stay indoors when air quality is poor due to heavy smoke from wildfires. For more detailed information about how we use cookies, please review our Privacy Policy.

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