Naphthalene is a solid, white material with a distinctive odour and it is found naturally in fossil fuels like coal and oil.
Naphthalene balls are also known as moth balls or camphor balls.
They are spherical pieces of a white solid material containing at least 98 percent naphthalene. Important thing is to use it properly .Use it in a air tight container exposure to open air can cause harm to human beings and pets . Its a good chemical but do use it very carefully.
Uses of Naphthalene balls
- Naphthalene balls are widely used to repel moths and cockroaches and as deodorants for urinals and bathrooms.
- Used to keep insects and moths away from the clothes especially when they are not used for a long time and are stored in the cupboard. They keep the fabric eating insects away.
- Helps in keeping the rodents at bay in the garden, lawn and plantations. It also keeps other pesky animals away. It can also be crushed and scattered in the pots to avoid insects.
- Naphthalene ball helps to keep the bats from entering the attic due to its pungent smell it drives away the snakes and other reptiles too.
- Rodents feel suffocated by the smell of the naphthalene balls.It reduces the oxygen-carrying capacity of their RBCs. Hence, mothballs will not only prevent their pesky presence in the house, but also avoid the chances of them breeding inside your house.
- Naphthalene balls can prevent stored silver from rusting by adding one or two balls to keep them shining.
- While storing things in a box for a longer time or several months place some naphthalene balls to protect them from silverfish.
- While vacuuming, add some naphthalene balls in the vacuum bag. This kills fleas or insects that are sucked in.
- The fumes they produce are trapped and the trapped fumes build up and kill any cloth moths inside.
- Naphthalene balls are commonly used insecticides for repelling or killing fabric insects
- Being good deodorizers, the smell of mothballs will balance the rotten and decaying smell coming from outside.
Precautions:
- Keep them away from children and pets. They look like white eatable sweet hence it is dangerous as the kids are attracted to put them into their mouth. It is better to store the naphthalene balls in small box or storage containers. Do not keep them lying around the house.
- Before using clothes that were in naphthalene balls make sure that you wash them properly.
- Inhaling their toxic fumes will harm your health, be careful while inhaling. Long exposure to their smell is risky.
- Naphthalene balls might contain very high concentrations of either naphthalene or paradichloro benzene as active ingredients. Each active ingredient can cause different health effects if the exposure is high enough.
- Naphthalene balls slowly turn from solids to toxic vapor. When you smell them, you are inhaling the insecticide. They can also be dangerous if they are chewed or eaten.. Some consumers place naphthalene balls under or around the bed or between the mattress and box spring for controlling or repelling bed bugs.
- Naphthalene balls are poisonous. If you can smell naphthalene balls,you are inhaling them and exposing yourself to their harmful effects.
- Naphthalene balls exposure can result in dizziness, headaches, nausea, disorientation and breathing difficulties.
- Chemicals in naphthalene balls and air fresheners may increase the risk of cancer.
- Naphthalene and para-dichlorobenzene are recognised pollutants that can cause cancer in rodents.
- Experts believe they are also likely to be harmful to humans.
