# Removing moth ball taint

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/removing-moth-ball-taint/229725>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [February 17, 2004, 11:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/removing-moth-ball-taint/229725 "2004-02-17T23:22:04Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![ticker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/d07c76/32.png) [@ticker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ticker)\
**Post date:** [February 17, 2004, 11:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/removing-moth-ball-taint/229725/1 "2004-02-17T23:22:04Z")

</div>

I have an aluminium drinks bottle which has been stored close by some naphthalene moth balls. The bottle has picked up some of the naphthalene odour. Is there any way to safely remove this, or should I just chuck the bottle away?

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\
**Post date:** [February 18, 2004, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/removing-moth-ball-taint/229725/2 "2004-02-18T00:03:43Z")

</div>

> [@](#):
>
> Removing moth ball taint

I didn’t even know moths had bungholes.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Squink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)\
**Post date:** [February 18, 2004, 12:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/removing-moth-ball-taint/229725/3 "2004-02-18T00:06:52Z")

</div>

The mothball’s napthalene or paradichlorbenzene residue can be removed either by soaking in hot, soapy water, or by warming the object in an oven at ~150 °F.  
I’d try the soap and water route first.