What exactly are moth balls and what causes a house to smell like them???

Question

What exactly are moth balls and what causes a house to smell like them???

Answer 1

Moth balls are small white balls (around the size of a standard marble) the primary ingredient is naphthalin, which is an aromatic, white, solid hydrocarbon, and it smells! It is volatile, forming a flammable vapor, and readily sublimes at room temperature, producing a characteristic odor.

So, use it pretty much anywhere in the house and the smell lingers! If you are smelling in but can't find it, try attics, top shelves or back of shelves where linen, fabrics or clothing may have been stored. Once removed the smell will fade over time, but if you want a less smelly option I would go for orange clove balls or cedar to repel moths, much more pleasant than moth balls!