Just say no — to mothballs

If you’re using mothballs to protect your woolen goods from pesky bugs, you might want to reconsider.  Mothballs usually contain either napthalene or paradichlorobenzene, which the Environmental Protection Agency consider to be carcinogens.  Napthalene can cause cataracts and liver and neurological damage.  Exposure to  paradichlorobenzene can cause nausea, vomiting, and headaches (short-term) and anemia, skin lesions, appetite loss, and liver damage (long-term).

Eco storage solutions include storing your sweaters in cedar chests or cedar closets.  Budget-friendly options include a number of herbs that repel moths, including cloves, fresh rosemary, eucalyptus, lavender, cinnamon sticks and bay leaves. Place the scented material in an open-weave bag (like cheesecloth) and put it in drawers or hang it in your closet.   Smells a lot better than toxins!