Organizing and Cleaning

There are many different uses for mothballs besides using them to put in with wool clothes. However, you should also be aware that mothballs could be dangerous to humans as well as household pets. If you use them, you should do so with caution.

There are two different kinds of mothballs and both of them have ingredients that can be harmful and should be used with caution. In one type, the main ingredient is called naphthalene and the other is called paradichlorobenzene. They sound like scary words, don't they? That is because they are; they both make a toxic gas that can kill moths and many other animals. It can make humans and household pets sick as well.

The fumes build up when they are in plastic or an airtight container and become more potent, so it is best to open a container that has mothballs in it, outside in the fresh air. Keep the container away from your nose and face, open it and let it blow away from you to help to take the fumes away from your respiratory system.

There are however many things that mothballs are good for besides killing moths.

Some of these are:

1. Placing in gardens to keep insects away from the vegetables
2. Placing around the perimeter of a home, garden or flower bed to keep snakes away
3. Place mothballs in a container that, has a houseplant that is infested with insects, enclose in a plastic bag for 3 days and all of the insects will die.
4. Place in a vacuum (even the bag less type) and it will kill any fleas that may be sucked up from the carpeting,
5. Mothballs scattered around a shrub or bush that deer like to feed on will make the deer keep their distance.
6. Keeping mothballs in the attic will keep the bats from trying to get in,
7. A few mothballs in boxes and hanging in bags in the attic will also keep silverfish from appearing,
8. Do you live an area that has snakes, you will want to keep some mothballs handy because snakes won't go anyplace where there are mothballs,
9. Squirrels also have a hatred for mothballs and will stay far away from any place where they are.
10. It is also said that mothballs can be used for keeping silver from tarnishing. Simply store the silver in a plastic bag, add a mothball of two and the silver will stay shiny.

Therefore, mothballs do serve a good purpose if they are used wisely and with caution. As with any other toxic chemical, always keep this out of the reach of children.

Jan Hayner offers tips and shortcuts for helping you keep your house clean and save you money at the same time. Go to her site at http://www.organizingandcleaning.com for her checklists and newsletter.