How safe are moth balls?

July 9, 2025

[If You Want It Fixed - Fix It]

In most urinals.

[alternatives?]

They are too small to eat like rocky mountain oysters.

[Uncle Miltie]

They’re a vast conspiracy by the jooooos to poison you!

[dforest]

Don’t do that. Particularly in your underwear drawer.

[Puppage]

To me or to moths? :-)

[HIDEK6]

Oh for God’s sake.

[PGR88]

How do you get their little legs apart?

[Melinda in TN]

The last time I bought a box I had to show ID to get them but, they have been around since I was a little kid and I never saw any restrictions or dire warnings on them until the last decade or so. Just don’t let your dogs or cats eat them, not that they are stupid enough to do that.

[Red Badger]

😁......................

[Billthedrill]

They’re kind of nasty, actually, especially to pets. I had a family of skunks move under a shed and threw a couple packets of moth balls into the hole they’d dug. Worked like a charm, they haven’t been back. You have to figure if they gross out skunks, well...

[antidemoncrat]

As I remember we use to put them in our precision tools tool boxes to prevent rust and I don’t remember anyone getting sick from them.

[discostu]

They’re kinda nasty. The poison warning are because if you (or a child or dog in your care) eat them that is very bad. In proper use though, honestly, you are coating your clothes in insecticide, so maybe not the best idea. There are supposed to be a lot of natural alternative, basically flowers that exude a smell moths don’t like, much safer, unless somebody in the house is allergic to them. And yes your mom used them but we different back then, chemicals were gonna fix the world, and don’t worry about if that’s a good idea.

[Telepathic Intruder]

They’re white supremacists with a carbon footprint and guns, so they’ve been labeled terrorists by the Biden administration.

[Dr. Franklin]

In most urinals.

That's Paradichlorobenzene. The mothballs sold in the stores are usually Naphthalene. The difference is that Paradichlorobenzene actually kills things and Naphthalene just has a smell that insects don't like. If you want to kill bedbugs, put clothes and linens in a plastic bag with Paradichlorobenzene.

[Uncle Miltie]

lol!

Snort!

[aquila48]

I didn’t know moths had balls!

[rktman]

Safe with the proper protection cup.

[Red Badger]

Whatever you do, don’t put one in your car’s gas tank.............

[Red Badger]

AI Overview
Putting mothballs into a car’s gas tank is a bad idea and can damage the vehicle. Mothballs contain chemicals like naphthalene or paradichlorobenzene, which can degrade fuel lines, seals, and other rubber and plastic components in the fuel system. This can lead to leaks, engine performance issues, and even engine failure.

Here’s a more detailed explanation:

Fuel System Damage:
.
Mothballs contain chemicals that can dissolve or soften rubber and plastic parts in the fuel system. This can cause leaks, fuel line deterioration, and damage to fuel injectors and other components.
Engine Performance Issues:
.
Mothballs can disrupt the normal combustion process, leading to poor engine performance, rough idling, stalling, and potential engine damage.
Octane Boosting Myth:
.
While some older fuels may have seen a slight octane boost from mothballs, modern fuels don’t benefit from this practice and the risks far outweigh any perceived benefit.
Other Hazards:
.
Naphthalene, a common ingredient in mothballs, can be harmful to human health if inhaled or ingested and can cause health issues like headaches, nausea, and even hemolytic anemia.
In short, avoid putting mothballs in your gas tank. It’s a risky practice with potentially severe consequences for your vehicle and your health.
This video demonstrates the effects of putting mothballs in a gas tank:

Video at link.............

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c_-kFYsJ_H4&t=112