It's Time to Mothball Those Mothballs

Wearing clothes with moth-munched marks on them is like delivering a joke in bad taste. That is why many people turn to mothballs to secure their clothespress from being infested by moth larvae. However, while mothballs do repel moths and keep them away from your wardrobe, they also present serious health risks because of the chemicals they are known to be made of.

Either one of two chemicals makes up mothballs: naphthalene or paradichlorobenzene (para-DCB). Chemical studies have proven that naphthalene can cause hemolytic anemia - an illness associated with most kidney failures - because the chemical can destroy red blood cells. An extended exposure to naphthalene can also increase the risk of developing cataracts. Para-DCB, though less toxic, carries the ugly tag of being a carcinogen - a cancer-causing substance.

Other maladies linked to exposure to mothball vapors include irritation and infection of the skin, eyes, and respiratory tract. What may ensue can range from the simple headache to the more serious harm on kidneys and liver.

Enough warnings have been made about dressing young children in clothes kept for some time in a clothes cabinet with mothballs in it. This is because young children are more susceptible to the ill effects of mothball vapors. Poisoning from mothballs among children is even a scarier prospect. There were reports of children severely poisoned by mothballs after mistaking the tiny round balls for candies and ingesting them. When this happens, there should be no second thoughts about calling for an emergency medical help. A child who ingests a mothball will immediately exhibit its effects by vomiting continuously, and may subsequently experience a seizure.

The use of mothballs in clothes storage is sometimes puzzling when we think why moths attack clothes. And when we come down to the very reason why moths infest on the fabrics and textiles that we wear (and understand it), we may realize we don't need mothballs at all. Think about this fact: Perspiration and stains of food on our clothings attract moth larvae. These larvae, which are hatched from eggs laid by moths, gnaw on soiled clothes (and even drapes and blankets) - thus damaging such fabrics. Therefore, keeping our clothes and house fabrics clean is the real first step in preventing them from being ruined by moths. One effective method for removing moth larvae that may already be in clothes is dry cleaning; washing clothes in hot water can be as effective. You don't achieve this by merely using mothballs.

The next step is vacuuming clothes storage regularly. Then use moth repellents that are a lot safer than mothballs. You can try such oils as fresh cedar and lavandin, or herbs such as lemongrass and mint.

Protect your clothes and house fabrics from moths. But think safety first. Get rid of those mothballs. [Read the Original Article]