From music@ERICH.TRIUMF.CA Fri Apr 15 17:01:19 1994 Date: Fri, 15 Apr 1994 07:54:20 PST From: "FRED W. BACH" Reply to: "Medicinal and Aromatic Plants discussion list\"." To: Multiple recipients of list HERB Subject: Re: moth ball ! >Subj: moth ball ! > > >Can anyone help me with getting rid of the smell of moth balls ? I brought >back from Florida several boxes of my parents clothing, now I can't get the >smell of moth balls out of my van. I've washed all the washable surfaces >with Citra-Solv and sprayed with an air freshener and it smelled great - >for about 2 or 3 days. Now it smells like moth balls again. Is there >something to counteract these things or do I just have to live with it ??? >thanks ! >Judy Judy, Finally, something I can contribute to this group! Thanks for the question. Sorry you are having the problem. Moth balls are napthalene crystals. This compound is one that sublimes (turns directly from solid to gas). It is rather penetrating and, here's the kicker, it will dissolve itself into plastics. Related compounds have been used as plasticizers or used in the plastic-manufacturing industry to keep plastics soft and not stick to the forming-moulds they are pressed in or extruded into. Here's another of my kicks at Webster's Dictionary. Wester's II New Riverside Dictionary doesn't list napthalene (a word in common usage when I grew up), but it does list "moth balls" and suggests that they are made of camphor. They *could* be made of camphor, but generally they are made of napthalene. Webster's is about the most useless dictionary I have around (they flood the market with their little book and make it cheap enough so that they are found everywhere (unfortunately)). I never liked it and I never will. Nevertheless, camphor also sublimes and penetrates and is used in the manufacture of plastics. As to dictionaries, nothing, but nothing, beats the O.E.D. What this all means is the the moth balls have dissolved themselves into the plastic parts of your car's interior, including the rubber backing of your carpet and right into the seats' spongy interior. :-( Wash, by all means (especially the carpet), but the only cure is warmth and continuous (preferrably forced) fresh air, since napthalene will eventually sublime itself all out, and does so faster if the temperature is increased. In the mean time, about all you can do is try to hide it with some nice smells (like pine, or orange blossom, or sweet clover -- three of my personal favourites). In the mean time, I guess the moths won't like your car. ;-) There is a product over here called Nil-Odour which seems to work by selectively dulling our nasal sensitivities. I don't really recommend it, but lots of people use it. It just takes a couple of drops in the car. Fred W. Bach | Internet: music@erich.triumf.ca Co-ordinator, Operations group | or: bach@devbn0.triumf.ca TRIUMF (TRI-University Meson Facility) | HEPnet : ERICH::MUSIC 4004 WESBROOK MALL, UBC CAMPUS | Voice: 604-222-1047 loc 327/333 University of British Columbia | FAX: 604-222-1074 Vancouver, B.C., CANADA V6T 2A3 Damien says " If you don't STAND for SOMETHING, you'll FALL for ANYTHING " These are my opinions, which should ONLY make you read, think, and question. They do NOT necessarily reflect the views of my employer or fellow workers. From london@calypso-2 Sat Apr 16 08:52:32 1994 Received: from vm.gmd.de by SunSITE.Unc.EDU (5.65c+IDA/FvK-1.07) with SMTP id AA18406; Sat, 16 Apr 1994 07:32:01 -0400 Message-Id: <199404161132.AA18406@SunSITE.Unc.EDU> Received: from VM.GMD.DE by vm.gmd.de (IBM VM SMTP V2R2) with BSMTP id 6282; Sat, 16 Apr 94 12:57:52 +0200 Received: from VM.GMD.DE (NJE origin LISTSERV@DEARN) by VM.GMD.DE (LMail V1.2a/1.8a) with BSMTP id 2349; Sat, 16 Apr 1994 12:57:51 +0200 Date: Sat, 16 Apr 1994 01:57:01 -0400 Reply-To: "Medicinal and Aromatic Plants discussion list\"." Sender: "Medicinal and Aromatic Plants discussion list\"." From: Dick Dawson Subject: moth ball ! Comments: To: HERB@trearn.bitnet To: Multiple recipients of list HERB In-Reply-To: "FRED W. BACH" Fri, 15 Apr 1994 07:54:20 PST >Moth balls are napthalene crystals. This compound is one that sublimes >turns directly from solid to gas). It is rather penetrating and, here's >the kicker, it will dissolve itself into plastics. Related compounds have >been used as plasticizers or used in the plastic-manufacturing industry >to keep plastics soft and not stick to the forming-moulds they are pressed >in or extruded into. Some moth balls and crystals are paradichlorobenzine. Much milder smell than naphthalene and the smell dissipates faster. It's as effective in my experience. But this is no help now. You might try putting things out in hot sun. That will outgas the stuff quicker. Also a clothes dryer running hot. Dick From ddawson@MAILBOX.SYR.EDU Sat Apr 16 08:52:56 1994 Date: Sat, 16 Apr 1994 01:57:01 -0400 From: Dick Dawson Reply to: "Medicinal and Aromatic Plants discussion list\"." To: Multiple recipients of list HERB Subject: moth ball ! >Moth balls are napthalene crystals. This compound is one that sublimes >turns directly from solid to gas). It is rather penetrating and, here's >the kicker, it will dissolve itself into plastics. Related compounds have >been used as plasticizers or used in the plastic-manufacturing industry >to keep plastics soft and not stick to the forming-moulds they are pressed >in or extruded into. Some moth balls and crystals are paradichlorobenzine. Much milder smell than naphthalene and the smell dissipates faster. It's as effective in my experience. But this is no help now. You might try putting things out in hot sun. That will outgas the stuff quicker. Also a clothes dryer running hot. Dick