Mothballs In Attic

A relatively common mistake is placing mothballs in an attic to repel squirrels.

Mothballs in attic.

Any such use is illegal. Show comments hunker may earn compensation through affiliate links in this story. Mothballs are the little spherical objects that are used to keep moths away from your clothes when you store them. Many people use moth balls to get rid of squirrels and other pests in their attic without knowing of the dangers.

Moth balls were stored in this space and when the person we know went up to work in the attic they were exposed to fumes that eventually killed them while they were working. 1 4 dichlorobenzene evaporates over time turning into a gas that is very toxic to moths and larvae. The mothballs are quite effective at keeping them away. This way the bats will smell the mothballs before they even try to enter the attic.

1 how to use moth balls as spider repellents 2. The question is if they are equally as useful in keeping a bat away. Mothballs are balls of pesticide and deodorant. Derik s neighbor advised him to use mothballs to control the rats.

Bats hate the smell and they will not come back in the attic. If you re having to go under the house or up in the attic put a container with several mothballs in the correct location a day ahead of time. They secrete a very strong smell due to an organic compound called 1 4 dichlorobenzene. Lately derik had seen a couple of rats in his basement and heard them running around in his attic during the nighttime.

They include squirrels skunks deer mice rats dogs cats raccoons moles snakes pigeons and a variety of other animals. What is a mothball anyway. However the fumes can last much longer allowing mothballs to effectively last for several years if in a properly sealed container. Getting rid of the mothball smell.

While it s possible to wait out the mothball smell this isn t recommended in no small part because the poisonous residue will remain after the smell dissipates. Step 4 take any leftover mothballs and shove them in any openings where you think the bats were coming in. As a result derik purchased several boxes of mothballs and then scattered them in his basement and attic.