# Question about Moth Balls

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-moth-balls/73728>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [July 25, 2001, 11:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-moth-balls/73728 "2001-07-25T11:47:30Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Osip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/4491bb/32.png) [@Osip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Osip)\
**Post date:** [July 25, 2001, 11:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-moth-balls/73728/1 "2001-07-25T11:47:30Z")

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OK, what exactly are they? well chemically anyway… I know what they are in very general terms.  
I have heard claim they keep away insects of all kinds.  
Is this true and how does it work?  
If I dropped a few in flower bed would that be a very bad thing enviromentally?  
Thanks in advance,  
Osip

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**Author:** ![Squink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)\
**Post date:** [July 25, 2001, 12:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-moth-balls/73728/2 "2001-07-25T12:31:42Z")

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> **[What is in moth balls? Is it harmful to people?](https://home.howstuffworks.com/home-improvement/household-hints-tips/cleaning-organizing/question210.htm)**
>
> Clothes moths can be a real problem in clothes made from natural fibers (especially wool). To combat this, use moth balls. But first, read this article to find out what moth balls are made of and whether they are harmful to your health.

discusses both types, napthalene and paradichlorobenze, of mothballs.

I’m not sure why you would want to drop a few in a flowerbed. It’s doubtful that they’d work to kill moths in such a well ventilated space. paradichlorobenze might kill your plants though. Try it and see…

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**Author:** ![Patty\_O\_Furniture](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/96bed5/32.png) [@Patty\_O\_Furniture](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Patty_O_Furniture)\
**Post date:** [July 25, 2001, 12:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-moth-balls/73728/3 "2001-07-25T12:34:24Z")

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And they smell damned funny, if you can get their little legs far enough apart 😃

“Moth Balls” is the common name for naphthalene, also known as albocarbon, mighty 150, mighty rd1, moth flakes, NCI-C52904, white tar, naphthalin, naphthene & camphor tar.

The chemical is toxic by inhalation or ingestion and may also be a carcinogen. It sublimates (goes directly from solid to gaseous state) at room temperature, and the resulting vapours are what dooms cooties of all kinds. I’ve been told by vets that it even clears carpets of flea infestations (even the eggs), but have not needed to try this as of yet. Supposedly, just sprinkle some moth flakes on the carpet, seal up the room & the heavy noxious vapours will exterminate the little buggers.

Not sure what it would do for plants. I can’t believe it would be any good for them.

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**Author:** ![Rue\_DeDay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/41988e/32.png) [@Rue\_DeDay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rue_DeDay)\
**Post date:** [July 25, 2001, 12:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-moth-balls/73728/4 "2001-07-25T12:38:21Z")

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[Duck Duck Goose hat on]  
[http://www.google.com](http://www.google.com)  
search “moth balls”  
get [results](http://www.howstuffworks.com/question210.htm)  
[Duck Duck Goose hat off]

This one was easy. (No offense intended to DDG.)  
-Rue.  
Man! **Squink** beat me to it. That was my link too.