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What Are Mothballs?
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Airing out clothes can help any trapped odors and fumes naturally evaporate over time.
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Leave the clothes out for around 24 to 28 hours in a shaded area.
If they still have that mothball smell, you might let them sit outside for longer.
Let the clothes sit overnight and the odors should neutralize and disappear.
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Add one cup of white vinegar to your washing machine with laundry detergent.
During the wash cycle, the vinegar will break down the mothball scent.
According to Van, dry cleaners have equipment and cleaners that can help get rid of stubborn smells.
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Mothball smells can be difficult to remove, so the process can be a bit time consuming.
For lighter mothball odors, you might be able to get rid of the smell after a few hours.
However, more stubborn odors can take weeks to get rid of, if not longer.
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Mothballs are considered household hazardous waste (HHW) and should be brought to a local HHW facility.
