What Does Putting Mothballs Around Your House Do?

It might seem like a clever shortcut: scatter a few mothballs around your house and hope the smell keeps critters away. Homeowners often reach for them as a cheap, easy fix to discourage squirrels, rats, snakes, or other unwanted visitors. The reality, though, is a lot more complicated.

Mothballs were designed for one thing only, protecting clothes from moth larvae in sealed containers. When they’re used outside or spread around your foundation, garden, or attic, they don’t work the way people expect. Instead of solving your wildlife problem, mothballs can create toxic air in your home, harm your pets, damage your soil, and even put you at odds with pesticide regulations.

So what does putting mothballs around your house really do? This guide from AAAC Wildlife Removal breaks it down, showing the short-term effects, the long-term risks, and safer alternatives that actually protect your property and your family.

How Mothballs Work & Why People Use Them Around Homes?

Mothballs are small pellets made with either naphthalene or paradichlorobenzene, both of which turn from solid to gas at room temperature. As they evaporate, the vapors fill enclosed spaces with a chemical concentration strong enough to kill moth larvae. That’s why they’re effective in sealed garment bags or storage boxes where the fumes can build up to lethal levels for insects.

When homeowners place mothballs around the house, though, the chemistry doesn’t behave the same way. Outdoors, the vapors dilute almost immediately in the open air, leaving only a faint odor. This smell may briefly irritate some animals, but it’s not strong enough to create a lasting barrier. Squirrels, raccoons, snakes, and rodents often return once they realize there’s no real danger.

The practice persists because many people believe the pungent odor alone is enough to scare off wildlife. You’ll often see mothballs tossed into attics, crawl spaces, garden beds, or even along fences. While the intent is understandable, nobody wants a wild animal making itself at home, using mothballs this way rarely solves the problem and usually creates new ones.

Short-term Effects of Putting Mothballs Around the Exterior

The first thing most homeowners notice after scattering mothballs is the strong, chemical odor. In the short term, this smell may cause animals to hesitate before entering certain areas, especially if the pellets are concentrated in one spot. However, this effect is usually weak and temporary since the vapors quickly disperse in outdoor environments.

Animals are much more resilient than many people think. Raccoons and squirrels, for example, may initially avoid a space treated with mothballs, only to return within days once they realize the smell poses no real threat. Meanwhile, the odor can travel into your living areas through vents, crawl spaces, or open windows, leaving your home with a lingering, unpleasant smell.

Short-term side effects aren’t limited to wildlife behavior. Pets and children may be drawn to the white pellets out of curiosity, which poses a serious risk of accidental poisoning. Even a small amount can cause nausea, dizziness, or more severe reactions in people and animals. What seems like a quick fix often leads to more concern than comfort.

Long-term Risks & Dangers

While mothballs might seem harmless, using them around your house can create long-lasting problems that far outweigh any short-term benefits.

Over time, the chemicals seep into your environment, putting both your household and your property at risk. Here are the major dangers of relying on mothballs outside their intended use:

• Health Hazards: Breathing in vapors for extended periods can cause headaches, nausea, and respiratory irritation. In higher concentrations, naphthalene has been linked to liver and kidney damage. Children and pets are especially vulnerable to poisoning if they touch or swallow mothballs.
• Environmental Damage: Mothball chemicals can leach into the soil, contaminating gardens and groundwater. This makes them harmful not only to pests but also to plants and beneficial wildlife like birds or pollinators.
• Legal Issues: Mothballs are regulated as pesticides, and the label strictly limits how they can be used. Applying them around your house or garden is considered “off-label use,” which is illegal and can result in fines or liability if someone gets sick.
• Wildlife Impact: Far from repelling animals for good, mothballs often fail to stop infestations. Wildlife can become accustomed to the smell, meaning you still end up with raccoons, squirrels, or rodents, and now you also have toxic chemicals in your environment.

When used improperly, mothballs don’t just fail as a deterrent; they create a whole new set of risks that linger long after the odor fades.

Case Studies and Real Experiences from AAAC Wildlife Removal

At AAAC Wildlife Removal, we’ve seen countless situations where homeowners tried mothballs before calling us. The pattern is almost always the same: the wildlife problem persists, and now the property also smells strongly of chemicals. In some cases, residents reported headaches or dizziness from vapors seeping indoors, forcing them to keep windows open or leave the space entirely.

One memorable case involved a family that placed mothballs throughout their attic to deter squirrels. Not only did the squirrels chew through insulation as if nothing had changed, but the family also had to replace boxes of stored clothing and holiday decorations ruined by the odor. What started as a cheap fix turned into an expensive cleanup.

We’ve also encountered outdoor cases where homeowners scattered mothballs around gardens to keep away rabbits or raccoons. Over time, the pellets degraded into the soil, and the family noticed their plants were stunted and discolored. The wildlife returned anyway, proving that mothballs don’t deliver lasting protection. In each scenario, professional exclusion methods, not chemicals, provided the actual solution.

Safer, Smarter Alternatives & Best Practices

If you’re serious about keeping wildlife away, there are far more effective and responsible methods than scattering mothballs. The key is focusing on prevention and exclusion, which address the root of the problem instead of masking it with chemicals.

Start with simple property maintenance. Seal gaps in your foundation, soffits, and roofline with durable materials like steel mesh or hardware cloth. Trim back tree branches that provide easy access to your roof, and keep pet food, bird seed, or trash secured to remove attractants. These steps close off entry points and make your home less appealing to opportunistic animals.

Beyond physical barriers, non-toxic deterrents can also play a role. Motion-activated lights or sprinklers can scare off nocturnal visitors, while natural repellents made from essential oils are safer for households with pets or children. When wildlife issues are already established, professional trapping and relocation paired with exclusion work ensures the animals are removed humanely and can’t return.

What AAAC Wildlife Removal Recommends & Why Trust Us?

At AAAC Wildlife Removal, we don’t rely on quick fixes that put families at risk. Instead, our process begins with a full inspection to identify how wildlife is entering your property and what damage has already been done. From there, we design a tailored plan that combines safe trapping, exclusion repairs, and cleanup, so you’re not just pushing the problem down the road.

We also specialize in situations where mothballs have already been used. Our team can safely remove contaminated materials, neutralize odors, and restore your space to a safe condition. This extra step protects your home from lingering chemical exposure while also solving the wildlife issue the mothballs never addressed.

Homeowners throughout the region trust us because we combine expertise with humane practices. We understand that every wildlife problem is unique, and we use proven methods that actually work long-term. With AAAC, you get peace of mind knowing your family, pets, and property are protected without resorting to harmful shortcuts.

The Bottom Line: Why Mothballs Aren’t the Answer

Putting mothballs around your house might sound like an easy fix, but the truth is they rarely keep wildlife away and often leave behind bigger problems. From toxic fumes to soil contamination and even legal risks, the downsides far outweigh the temporary relief of a strong odor.

Wildlife is quick to adapt, while your family and pets are the ones left exposed to harmful chemicals. Instead of relying on outdated tricks, the smarter choice is prevention and professional help.

By sealing entry points, removing attractants, and working with experts like AAAC Wildlife Removal, you can solve wildlife problems safely and permanently. Your home stays protected, your air stays clean, and you avoid the costly mistakes that come with using mothballs where they don’t belong.

Protect Your Home the Right Way with AAAC Wildlife Removal!

If wildlife has made its way onto your property, mothballs aren’t the solution, professional help is. At AAAC Wildlife Removal, we provide safe, humane, and long-lasting services that keep raccoons, squirrels, rats, snakes, and other critters out of your home for good.

Don’t risk your family’s health or waste time on methods that don’t work. Call AAAC Wildlife Removal today for a thorough inspection and tailored plan that restores your home’s safety and peace of mind. With our expertise, you’ll never have to wonder if the problem will come back, we’ll make sure it doesn’t.