How to Remove Mothball Smell From Winter Clothes

Winter clothes stored for several months may develop a sharp chemical smell, especially when mothballs or naphthalene balls have been placed inside wardrobes, trunks or storage boxes. The odour can remain trapped in woollen sweaters, jackets, shawls, blankets and garment linings even after the clothes are removed from storage.

Learning how to remove mothball smell from clothes safely is important because simply covering the odour with perfume does not remove the chemical vapours trapped in the fabric.

Quick answer: Remove the mothballs without touching them unnecessarily, move the garments to a well-ventilated outdoor or semi-outdoor area, and let them air thoroughly. Wash washable clothes according to their care labels. Dry-clean-only, delicate, structured or valuable garments should be inspected by a professional cleaner. Do not wear clothes while a strong mothball odour remains.

Why Do Winter Clothes Smell Like Mothballs?

Mothballs are not ordinary wardrobe fresheners. They are pesticide products that release vapours as their solid ingredients gradually turn into gas.

Depending on the product, mothballs may contain chemicals such as naphthalene or paradichlorobenzene. These vapours are intended to build up inside a properly closed storage container and control fabric-damaging moths.

The National Pesticide Information Center’s mothball guidance explains that mothballs slowly release pesticide gas and should be used only according to their product labels.

Winter clothes can absorb or retain the smell when:

• Mothballs are placed directly against the fabric.
• Too many mothballs are used.
• Clothes remain inside a closed trunk for several months.
• The storage container has very little ventilation.
• Garments are packed before being cleaned.
• Wool, padding or thick linings trap the vapours.
• Clothes are packed tightly together.
• The wardrobe itself has absorbed the smell.
• Mothball residue remains inside pockets or folds.
• Storage covers are opened immediately before the clothes are worn.

The odour may be particularly strong in woollen coats, padded jackets, shawls, blankets and layered garments because these items contain thick fibres or multiple fabric sections.

Are Mothballs Safe to Use Around Clothes?

Mothballs must be treated as pesticide products rather than fragrance products.

They should not be scattered openly inside bedrooms, cupboards, suitcases, attics or living areas unless the product label specifically permits that use. They should also be kept away from children, pets and food-storage areas.

The US Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry advises keeping naphthalene-containing mothballs away from children and recommends airing and washing stored blankets or clothes before use.

When handling clothes stored with mothballs:

1. Open the storage area in a well-ventilated location.
2. Avoid placing your face directly over the container.
3. Remove the garments and spread them out.
4. Follow the mothball product’s disposal instructions.
5. Wash your hands after handling the storage materials.
6. Keep children and pets away from the opened container.
7. Do not wear the garments until they have been aired and appropriately cleaned.

If someone feels unwell after significant exposure, move to fresh air and seek appropriate medical advice. Do not rely on fragrance to hide a strong chemical smell.

How to Remove Mothball Smell From Winter Clothes Step by Step

The correct process depends on the garment’s material, construction and care label. A washable cotton sweatshirt and a dry-clean-only wool coat should not receive the same treatment.

Step 1: Remove the Source of the Smell

Take all mothballs, flakes, crystals or related pest-control products out of the storage container.

Check:

• Garment pockets
• Coat linings
• Folded cuffs
• Storage-box corners
• Saree and shawl folds
• Blanket layers
• Shoe boxes
• Wardrobe drawers
• Garment covers

Do not crush the mothballs or sweep broken pieces with bare hands. Follow the disposal directions written on the original packaging.

If you no longer have the packaging, keep the product away from children and pets while seeking local hazardous-waste or pesticide-disposal guidance.

Step 2: Separate the Affected Clothes

Do not immediately mix mothball-smelling garments with fresh laundry.

Separate the clothes according to:

• Washable and dry-clean-only items
• Light and dark colours
• Wool and ordinary fabrics
• Delicate and everyday clothes
• Strongly affected and lightly affected garments

Separating the garments prevents the odour from transferring to clothes that were not stored with mothballs.

Step 3: Read Every Garment’s Care Label

Before washing, steaming or applying any product, check the garment-care label.

Look for instructions relating to:

• Machine washing
• Hand washing
• Water temperature
• Bleaching
• Tumble drying
• Flat drying
• Ironing
• Dry cleaning
• Professional wet cleaning
• Restrictions such as “Do Not Wash”

The FTC’s garment-care labelling guidance explains that care labels communicate cleaning processes and warnings that may be necessary to prevent garment damage.

Laundrywala’s guide to understanding fabric-care labels can also help you identify the main washing, drying and dry-cleaning symbols.

Step 4: Air the Clothes in a Ventilated Area

Hang or spread the garments in a shaded outdoor or well-ventilated semi-outdoor area.

Use:

• A balcony with good airflow
• A shaded terrace
• A covered outdoor drying space
• A room with open windows and strong cross-ventilation
• A fan-assisted area that is isolated from occupied rooms

Leave sufficient space between garments so air can move around each item.

Avoid placing valuable wool, silk, cashmere or dark-coloured clothes under harsh sunlight for long periods. Strong sunlight may fade dyes or affect delicate fibres.

The time required will vary depending on the fabric, storage period and strength of the odour. Thick coats and blankets may require more airing than lightweight clothes.

Do not spray perfume while airing the garment. Perfume may combine with the mothball smell and create a stronger, more unpleasant odour.

Step 5: Wash Washable Clothes Correctly

If the care label permits washing, clean the garment using a fabric-appropriate cycle and detergent.

For ordinary washable winter clothes:

1. Shake out loose dust outdoors.
2. Close zips and fasten loose closures.
3. Turn the garment inside out when appropriate.
4. Use the water temperature permitted by the label.
5. Measure detergent according to the load size.
6. Avoid overloading the washing machine.
7. Select a suitable gentle or regular cycle.
8. Rinse the clothes thoroughly.
9. Inspect them before drying.

Do not automatically use hot water. Heat may shrink wool, damage elastic, affect synthetic insulation or fade colours.

Avoid adding excessive detergent in an attempt to overpower the smell. Too much detergent can remain inside the fabric and create stiffness or additional odour.

For large loads of washable winter clothing, Laundrywala’s professional laundry service can provide washing, drying and finishing in serviceable locations.

Step 6: Dry the Garments Completely

Drying is just as important as washing.

Any retained moisture can create a musty smell that becomes mixed with the original mothball odour.

Check thick areas such as:

• Collars
• Cuffs
• Waistbands
• Jacket linings
• Pockets
• Hoods
• Padded panels
• Elastic sections
• Folded hems

Follow the care label when choosing between line drying, flat drying or tumble drying.

Many woollen garments should be reshaped and dried flat unless their labels provide different instructions. The Woolmark guide to caring for wool recommends checking each garment’s care claim because wool products do not all have identical washing and drying requirements.

Do not pack or wear the garment until it is completely dry.

Step 7: Recheck the Odour Before Wearing

Once the garment is dry, inspect it in fresh air rather than inside the same wardrobe where it was stored.

Smell:

• The lining
• Pockets
• Underarm areas
• Collars
• Thick seams
• Folded sections
• Padded areas

If a noticeable chemical smell remains, air the garment again and repeat only the cleaning method permitted by its care label.

Repeated home washing is not suitable for every garment. Wool coats, cashmere, silk, leather, suede and structured jackets may lose their shape or finish if washed several times.

How to Treat Different Winter Fabrics

Different materials trap odour differently and require different cleaning processes.

Woollen Sweaters

Some woollen sweaters can be hand-washed or machine-washed on a wool cycle, while others should be dry cleaned.

Check the label before choosing a method. If washing is allowed, use a suitable wool detergent, minimise agitation and reshape the sweater before drying it flat.

Laundrywala’s guide on washing woollen sweaters safely explains how to reduce shrinkage, stretching and fibre damage.

Wool Coats and Suits

Structured wool coats and suits may contain linings, shoulder padding, interlining and shaped sections. Home washing can distort these components even when the outer fabric appears washable.

Air the garment first. If the smell remains or the label recommends dry cleaning, use a professional dry-cleaning service.

Tell the cleaner that the garment was stored with mothballs. This information is important because the cleaner needs to assess both the fabric and the retained odour.

Cashmere and Pashmina

Cashmere and Pashmina are delicate fibres that can felt, shrink or lose softness through unsuitable washing.

Do not repeatedly soak them or apply perfume, baking soda, vinegar or household chemicals without care-label approval.

For material-specific guidance, read Laundrywala’s cashmere dry-cleaning and care guide and Pashmina shawl cleaning and storage guide.

Puffer Jackets

Puffer jackets require complete and controlled drying because moisture can remain trapped inside down or synthetic filling.

Check the label before washing. If home washing is permitted, follow the specified cycle and drying method. If the jacket has leather trim, a delicate coating, glued sections or a dry-clean-only label, seek professional assessment.

You can review Laundrywala’s puffer-jacket cleaning and filling-care guide before cleaning an insulated jacket.

Leather and Suede

Do not soak, machine-wash or aggressively air leather and suede garments under strong sunlight.

Mothball vapour may penetrate the surface, lining or padding. These materials require specialist inspection because ordinary detergents and home deodorising products may cause stiffness, colour changes or water marks.

Can Vinegar or Baking Soda Remove Mothball Smell?

Vinegar and baking soda are frequently suggested as household deodorising treatments, but they are not safe for every winter garment.

Vinegar may affect certain dyes, coatings, trims and metal components. Baking soda can remain trapped in textured fibres or leave pale residue on dark clothes.

Neither treatment should be applied automatically to:

• Silk
• Wool coats
• Cashmere
• Pashmina
• Leather
• Suede
• Fur or faux fur
• Embroidered garments
• Coated jackets
• Clothes with glued embellishments

For ordinary washable garments, use only a treatment permitted by the manufacturer and washing-machine instructions. Test any approved product on a hidden area first.

Never mix household chemicals. In particular, do not combine bleach with acids, ammonia or other cleaning products.

The safest general approach remains proper airing, care-label-approved washing and professional treatment for delicate garments.

Mothball-Smell Removal Mistakes to Avoid

Spraying Strong Perfume

Perfume does not neutralise mothball vapours. It may only cover the smell temporarily and create an unpleasant chemical-fragrance mixture.

Wearing Clothes Immediately

Do not wear a garment straight from a sealed container when it still has a strong mothball smell. Air and clean it appropriately first.

Washing Everything Together

A heavily affected coat can transfer odour to other clothes. Separate affected garments before washing or professional cleaning.

Using Hot Water Without Checking the Label

Hot water can shrink wool, damage elastic and affect synthetic coatings. Use only the temperature permitted by the care instructions.

Drying Delicate Clothes in Strong Sunlight

Airflow is useful, but prolonged harsh sunlight can fade dark colours and weaken some delicate materials.

Applying Heat to Remove the Smell

Do not use a hairdryer, room heater or high-temperature iron to force the odour out. Heat may damage the fabric, lining, coating or filling.

Repeatedly Washing Dry-Clean-Only Clothes

Repeated washing can permanently change a structured or delicate garment. Follow its label and seek professional assistance.

Ignoring the Wardrobe

Cleaning the clothes alone may not solve the problem if mothballs or their odour remain inside the storage area.

How to Remove Mothball Smell From a Wardrobe or Storage Box

Empty the entire storage space before returning clean clothes.

Follow these steps:

1. Remove all clothes, covers and storage materials.
2. Locate and remove every mothball or broken piece.
3. Follow the product instructions for safe disposal.
4. Keep children and pets away from the area.
5. Open doors and drawers to improve ventilation.
6. Clean the empty wardrobe according to its material and manufacturer’s guidance.
7. Allow every surface to dry completely.
8. Wash reusable fabric storage bags.
9. Replace heavily contaminated cardboard boxes.
10. Return clothes only after the storage area no longer has a strong chemical smell.

Do not immediately introduce another strong fragrance. Scented products may mask the odour without addressing its source.

How to Protect Winter Clothes Without Creating Strong Odour

Preventing fabric damage begins with clean clothes and a properly maintained storage area.

Before storing winter wear:

• Clean every garment according to its care label.
• Remove food, sweat, oil and makeup stains.
• Dry garments completely.
• Empty all pockets.
• Repair loose buttons and stitching.
• Fold knitted sweaters instead of stretching them on hangers.
• Use padded hangers for suitable structured coats.
• Choose clean, dry storage.
• Keep clothes away from damp walls.
• Avoid overpacking storage containers.
• Inspect stored clothes periodically.
• Look for moth larvae, holes, webbing and shed material.
• Follow the exact label of any pest-control product used.

The Canadian Conservation Institute’s textile-care guidance recommends preventive storage practices and advises against using mothballs for textile storage.

Laundrywala’s guide on storing clothes without smell, moisture or damage provides additional tips for woollens, sarees, wedding wear and seasonal garments.

When Should You Choose Professional Cleaning?

Professional garment care is recommended when:

• The care label says “Dry Clean Only.”
• The garment is made from cashmere or Pashmina.
• A wool coat contains structured padding or lining.
• The item is leather, suede or fur.
• The smell remains after thorough airing.
• The garment is expensive or sentimental.
• Colour transfers during testing.
• The fabric has embroidery, sequins or glued decorations.
• The clothing has visible stains or pest damage.
• Home washing has already changed its texture.
• Several months of storage have created a very strong odour.
• You cannot identify the fabric or suitable cleaning method.

Tell the cleaner:

• Which moth-control product was used, if known
• How long the garment was stored
• Whether mothballs touched the fabric directly
• Which home treatments have already been attempted
• Whether anyone has already worn the garment
• Where the odour is strongest

Complete odour removal cannot be guaranteed in every case. Results depend on the product used, fabric, storage duration, garment construction and previous treatments.

Use the Laundrywala store locator to check professional laundry and dry-cleaning availability near you.

How Laundrywala Can Help

Laundrywala provides laundry, dry cleaning, steam ironing and specialist garment-care services across serviceable locations.

Depending on the garment, the process may include:

• Care-label inspection
• Fabric identification
• Colourfastness testing
• Stain assessment
• Odour evaluation
• Material-appropriate cleaning
• Controlled drying
• Reshaping and finishing
• Final quality inspection
• Doorstep pickup and delivery

Winter garments should be inspected individually because an everyday sweatshirt, wool coat, Pashmina shawl and leather jacket require different treatment.

To request assistance, contact Laundrywala and share clear photographs of the garment, care label and affected areas.u