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Looking for safe alternatives to moth balls, to use in your toddler’s drawers?
If you don’t already know, mothballs are made of toxic pesticides like napthalene that have been linked to health problems (napthalene specifically is linked to the development of hemolytic anemia. Kidney and liver damage may also occur.) and may be carcinogens.
Ever wondered what you can use to ward off clothes moths that is non-toxic?
I wondered the same thing but never really did anything about it until this week, when I suddenly noticed holes in my toddler’s clothes. Not cool! Normally I consider all bugs okay, and leave them to do their thing, (except for mosquito’s and spiders), but holes in clothes got me the hell in, and once I began looking for clothes moths, I suddenly saw a lot of them (called your ‘recticular activating system’ – like when you find out you’re pregnant and suddenly notice a million women pregnant too everywhere you go..) 🙂
So in a clothes moth-killing, clothing-saving frenzy this week I decided to make it my mission to find natural substitutes to ward the little critters off; but make sure that whatever I used was okay for toddlers.. I’m happy to say I found quite a few things that I’ll be trying:
Toddler friendly substitutes for moth balls:
NOTE: Before using any of the following, make sure to wash any clothes that have been exposed to moth balls, as well as cupboards /drawers that have had moth balls in them. Chemicals in moth balls become a gas when exposed to air, which is irritating to the eyes and lungs, and can cause headaches, dizziness and nausea.
EASY TO MAKE HERB BAGS: You can place any of the below-mentioned herbs/ingredients in the center of a bandanna / handkerchief & tie with a ribbon.
- Cedar chips/blocks – the smell of cedar masks the smells that clothing moths like, such as wool.. you can buy these at a hardware/ home improvement stores. Sandpaper every now & then to rejuvenate their scent.
- Bay leaves – great for cooking, and (who would’ve thought..) repelling clothing moths! Slip into a sachet /bag & pop in with clothing.
- Cloves / Cinnamon sticks – If you do use either of these, change the spices often – over time they excrete an oil that can damage clothing. Keep in the corner of the drawer, not in contact with clothing.
- Lavendar / Rosemary – also great popped into a bag /sachet in the corner of a drawer/cupboard! Change herbs often.
Toddler Clothing says
Wow, what a great resource! Thanks for sharing this…….