BS: Mothball Stink, Help!

Subject: BS: Mothball Stink, Help!
From: wysiwyg
Date: 23 Dec 07 - 02:34 PM

Eeeew!

How do I get rid of the smell so I can USE this stuff I got at the Thrift Shop!?!?!?! I'm talking, it's been in some lil ole lady's drawer for DECADES, heavily salted with that distinctive smell.

I'm trying vinegar on the plastic items, but laundering the cloth items, what's best?

It's all up in my nose just from unpacking it, eeeew!

~S~

Subject: RE: BS: Mothball Stink, Help!
From: Bobert
Date: 23 Dec 07 - 02:48 PM

I could send my Couzin Rufus up there fir a couple days, WYSuzie... That'd be all it would take, and I guarentee that you'd never have to worry 'bout smelling mothballs again... Might of fact, you might learn to love the smell of mothballs...

B~

Subject: RE: BS: Mothball Stink, Help!
From: Sorcha
Date: 23 Dec 07 - 02:59 PM

Try soaking the washables in vinegar before you wash them. What we need here is a chemist (Micca) who can tell you the 'opposite' composition of moth balls. I have been told but can't remember what the active chemical/s is/are.

For non washables that smell, you might be able to bury them in activated charcoal--see an aquarium dealer. Sometimes a couple sheets of fabric softener will work, or a lemon, cut in half and hollowed out then filled with salt.

Subject: RE: BS: Mothball Stink, Help!
From: bobad
Date: 23 Dec 07 - 03:04 PM

Some tips here.

Subject: RE: BS: Mothball Stink, Help!
From: katlaughing
Date: 23 Dec 07 - 03:15 PM

I use vinegar in the wash to remove the sizing when I buy new clothes. It works as an all round freshener for clothes, too. I'd think it would take care of it.

Subject: RE: BS: Mothball Stink, Help!
From: wysiwyg
Date: 23 Dec 07 - 03:28 PM

LOL, I feel like drenching it all in white wine, Or me! :~)

~S~

Subject: RE: BS: Mothball Stink, Help!
From: Sorcha
Date: 23 Dec 07 - 03:49 PM

THERE'S an idea...drench YOU in white wine!

Subject: RE: BS: Mothball Stink, Help!
From: Sorcha
Date: 23 Dec 07 - 05:07 PM

Whiz, see this page. Several ideas there.

Subject: RE: BS: Mothball Stink, Help!
From: Bert
Date: 23 Dec 07 - 07:39 PM

Try half a cup of ammonia in the wash.

Or hang 'em out on the clothes line, nothing like a drop of the ol' currant bun-shine to freshen things up.

Subject: RE: BS: Mothball Stink, Help!
From: Bee
Date: 23 Dec 07 - 07:55 PM

Sunlight, for sure. I had to wash some mothball saturated 100 year old linens and laces a while ago, and all I used was cold water wash, gentle cycle, no spin, soap flakes, and a day of good sunshine and a light breeze. Worked for me.

Subject: RE: BS: Mothball Stink, Help!
From: bobad
Date: 23 Dec 07 - 07:56 PM

Naphthalene toxicity

Subject: RE: BS: Mothball Stink, Help!
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 23 Dec 07 - 10:56 PM

If I have a moth ball in my left hand and another moth ball in my right hand, what do I have in front of me?


















A Bloody big moth!

Merry Season of the Jolly Red Fat Man!

Subject: RE: BS: Mothball Stink, Help!
From: wysiwyg
Date: 24 Dec 07 - 09:12 AM

Neti pot up the nose before bed didn't hurt either. Thanks, Oprah!

This stink was SO BAD that the little plastic handle on a manicure tool completely stink up not only the Q-tips in the metal box where I stashed it along with some toher tiny tools, but the box itself! The lip balm stick for some reason was unaffected, which was also in the box-- the wrapper must have been some kinda weird plastic is all I can guess. Thank goodness the chair, where some of the contaminated items sat for about 15 minutes yesterday, no longer stinks, this AM.

~S~

Subject: RE: BS: Mothball Stink, Help!
From: GUEST,Mr Red who prefers mothballs
Date: 24 Dec 07 - 03:12 PM

washing.

better mothballs than an unwholly mess as it were.

Subject: RE: BS: Mothball Stink, Help!
From: Greg B
Date: 24 Dec 07 - 06:32 PM

Fresh air, breezes, and sunshine.

Naptha is quite volatile, but the stink needs some place to go.

So put it out in the fresh air and sunshine, and the smell will
vanish.

You'll thank the ol' gal for mothballing them up, though, else
you'd not have them hole-free.

Subject: RE: BS: Mothball Stink, Help!
From: Geoff the Duck
Date: 24 Dec 07 - 09:01 PM

White wine should always be applied INTERNALLY!
Quack!
GtD.