Naphthalene is not the only way to protect your clothes. 8 natural hacks to keep clothes moth-free and smelling fresh without mothballs

Nothing can be more irksome than to spot a hole in your beloved woollen cardigans and turtlenecks. Moths are a pest which often desecrate our beloved outfits. According to a New York Times article, clothes moths prefer fibres made of animals such as wool, cashmere, fur, etc. Two species of moths are particularly dangerous to your clothes – clothing is most frequently infested by the casemaking clothes moth (Tinea pellionella) and the webbing clothes moth (Tineola bisselliella). Both are yellow or greyish in colour and only measure approximately 1 cm in length.

While using mothball or naphthalene is the easiest way to get rid of moths, it does have some serious disadvantages. According to the US Centers for Disease Control & Prevention, long exposure to napthlalene can have some health consequences, such as skin and eye irritation and gastrointestinal effects such as nausea and vomiting, diarrhoea and abdominal cramps.

People may also exhibit haematologic characteristics like icterus and severe anaemia; neurologic symptoms like disorientation, excitation, and convulsions; and renal issues, including acute renal shutdown. According to an article published by the UK Health Security Agency, napthlalene may also be considered a possible human carcinogen.


Here are some natural alternatives to using mothballs to keep your clothes free from moth attacks.

Clean Your Clothes

Dry cleaning is one of the most effective ways to kill moth larvae. Was them at a temperature of more than 100 degrees Fahrenheit, suggests Readers Digest. Once cleaned, keep your clothes in sealed plastic storage bags.

Make Sure Your Closet Is Clean

Vacuum your wardrobe thoroughly. Dark nooks and crannies are favourite havens for moths and larvae. The hover bag will likely contain eggs and larvae, so remove it and throw it outdoors right away.

Use Cedar Balls

According to Moth Prevention.com, cedar balls may be an excellent alternative to moth balls. The oil in cedar wood is a powerful moth repellent. The disadvantage to these balls is that the oils and scent are short-lived. Any cedar balls you purchase to keep your clothes moth-free have to be replaced every two-three months or so.

Give Your Clothes Some Lavender Love

Another natural alternative to mothball is lavender. Buy some sachets of lavender sachets to line the shelves of your closet. Or immerse some cotton balls in lavender oil and place it near your clothing. Not only is lavender a repellent, but it can also leave your clothes smelling great!

Make Your Homemade Herbal Sachet

Use herbs such as rosemary, cloves and thyme and mix them into a sachet bag. According to Moth Prevention.com, this combination is powerful enough to keep moths at bay for at least six months. However, these are not moth killers, merely repellents.

Create A DIY Moth Repellent Spray

A 2-quart spray bottle is required for a basic homemade moth spray formulation. Add ¼ cup of neem oil. Add some liquid soap and fill the remaining space with water.

To prepare a moth-killing spray, you can alternatively use white vinegar and water or a vinegar, neem oil, and vinegar combo. However, be cautious about the fabrics you spray the solution on because vinegar may discolour silk, leather, and suede.

According to the Master Herbalist website, neem contains azadirachtin, a compound known to be a powerful anti-feedant and growth inhibitor. When moth larvae come across neem, the compound destroys their hormonal balance, preventing their urge to feed and move into the next life stage.

Use Eucalyptus

Aside from keeping your clothes smelling minty and fresh, eucalyptus leaf extracts and essential oils have compounds called cineole, which is a natural moth repellent.

Try Patchouli

According to Clothes Doctor, patchouli essential oil has many active compounds, such as patchoulol and alpha-bulnesene, which act as insecticides. These compounds interfere with the life cycle of moths, preventing them from laying eggs near your clothes.