Most people asking "cedar or mothballs?" are really asking something bigger: what keeps moths out of my sweaters without making the house smell like a chemical store? Cedar and naphthalene mothballs are the two everyone knows, but they aren't the only options, and they don't do the same job.
This guide puts five common moth treatments side by side: cedar wood, lavender sachets, pheromone traps, freezing and cleaning, and mothballs. For each one you'll see what it really does to clothes moths, how safe it is to have at home, and how much looking after it needs. Then we match them to real situations, from an everyday sock drawer to a closet where holes are already appearing.
How moth treatments compare at a glance
The chart scores each method on the questions that matter. Can it stop damage before it starts? Will it deal with moths you already have? Will it warn you early? And what does it cost you in safety, smell and upkeep?
Two things stand out. Nothing on the list does everything: cedar and lavender are prevention, traps are an early warning, and only freezing and cleaning reliably wipe out an infestation. And mothballs are the only option that loses on safety, smell and environmental impact all at once, while only working when they're sealed in with the clothes.
What you're actually fighting
The moths you see fluttering in a closet aren't the ones eating your clothes. Adult clothes moths don't feed at all. The damage comes from their larvae, tiny cream-colored caterpillars that hatch from eggs laid in folds and seams. They eat keratin, the protein in wool, cashmere, silk, fur and feathers, and they're drawn to fabric with sweat or food on it.
In most homes the culprit is the webbing clothes moth (Tineola bisselliella), sometimes the casemaking clothes moth. Both like dark, quiet places where nothing gets moved. That's why the right treatment depends on the stage you're dealing with: stopping adults from laying eggs is a different job from killing larvae that are already chewing.
Cedar wood
Aromatic red cedar (Juniperus virginiana) is the classic natural moth repellent, sold as blocks, balls, hanger rings and sachets of chips. Its scent comes from oils in the heartwood.
What cedar does well
Fresh cedar oil can kill young moth larvae, and the smell makes adult moths less likely to settle and lay eggs. Cedar is pesticide-free, leaves a light woody scent instead of a chemical one, and lasts for years: when the scent fades, a light sanding opens up fresh wood. For everyday closets and drawers, it's the best choice on the list.
Where cedar falls short
Cedar only partly prevents damage, and it won't fix an infestation that's already there. It doesn't kill eggs, and once the oils have evaporated it does nothing. A single block in an open walk-in closet is mostly decoration. Cedar works best in a closed space, close to the clothes, where the scent can build up.
Upkeep
Sand blocks and balls every few months, and replace them when sanding no longer brings back the smell. For how many to use per drawer and how long they last, see our guide to how long cedar balls last.
Lavender sachets
Lavender is what most people reach for after cedar. Dried flowers in a cotton bag smell lovely in a drawer, and adult moths seem to avoid the scent.
The honest verdict: lavender is a nice extra, not real protection. The evidence that it prevents damage is limited, it does nothing to eggs or larvae, and dried flowers lose most of their scent within two or three months. It's safe, compostable and cheap, so there's no harm in using it alongside cedar. Just keep concentrated lavender oil away from pets, especially cats. Our guide to making herb sachets has blends that hold their scent longer.
Pheromone traps
A pheromone trap is a small sticky card baited with the scent female clothes moths use to attract a mate. Male moths fly in and get stuck.
Traps don't prevent damage or treat an infestation, because they only catch adult males. What they're very good at is telling you whether you have moths, often weeks before the first hole turns up. Hang one in each closet, check it once a month, and replace it as the label directs, usually every three months. They're safe in the house as long as they're out of reach of children and pets, though they are single-use. If a trap that's been empty starts catching moths, go looking for the source.
Freezing and cleaning
This is the only approach here that kills moths at every stage: eggs, larvae and adults. It's what to reach for when you've found holes, larvae or the silky tunnels they leave behind.
- Freeze: seal the item in a plastic bag, squeeze out the air, and leave it at 0°F (-18°C) or below for at least 72 hours. Let it thaw inside the bag so condensation doesn't soak the fabric.
- Wash or dry clean: a hot wash at 120°F (49°C) or above kills every stage if the care label allows it. Dry cleaning works too.
- Vacuum: clear closet floors, shelves, corners and the edges of rugs, then empty the vacuum outside.
Cleaning is also the best prevention there is. Moths go for dirty fabric, so washing clothes before you put them away does more than any repellent, it's pesticide-free, and it costs next to nothing. The full routine is in our guide to getting rid of clothes moths naturally.
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Free, and you join The Sunday Ring: one useful email a week. Unsubscribe any time.Mothballs
Mothballs are small balls or cakes of pesticide, made from either naphthalene or paradichlorobenzene (PDB). They slowly turn from solid to gas, and in a sealed container that gas builds up until it kills moths and larvae.
They do work, and in an airtight trunk they can treat a problem cedar can't. But that's the only setting they're made for. Mothballs are registered pesticides, and the label requires using them in a tightly closed container with the clothes, never loose in a closet, attic or garden. Used any other way, the fumes end up in the room you're breathing in.
The downsides are serious:
- Toxic if swallowed. Mothballs look like candy to small children and get chewed by dogs. Naphthalene can destroy red blood cells, and cats are especially sensitive. See why mothballs are dangerous for pets.
- Harmful fumes. Breathing the vapor can cause headaches, nausea and dizziness, and both chemicals are classed as possible carcinogens. Our guide to whether mothballs are toxic to breathe goes into the details.
- A smell that lingers. The odor soaks into fabric, wood and plastic and can take weeks to clear.
- Environmental harm. Used outdoors, the chemicals can reach soil and groundwater.
- Single use. Once they've evaporated, they're gone.
If you use them at all, keep them to long-term sealed storage, follow the label to the letter, and air clothes well before anyone wears them.
Cedar balls vs mothballs, head to head
This is still the comparison most people come here for, so here it is on its own:
| Cedar balls and blocks | Naphthalene or PDB mothballs | |
|---|---|---|
| How it works | Natural oils repel adults; fresh oil kills young larvae | Pesticide gas kills moths and larvae |
| Where it works | Closets, drawers, chests and boxes | Only inside airtight containers |
| Treats an infestation | No | Partly, in sealed containers |
| Safe around kids and pets | Yes | No, toxic if swallowed |
| Smell on clothes | Light and woody | Strong and lingering |
| How long it lasts | Years, with a sanding every few months | Until it evaporates |
| Disposal | Compost or garden | Household hazardous waste |
So do cedar balls work as well as mothballs? Not as a treatment. Mothballs are stronger, and that strength is exactly why they're dangerous. As everyday prevention in clean storage, cedar is the better choice for most homes, and you can use it anywhere.
Which should you use?
For everyday closets and drawers
Cedar blocks or balls near the clothes, rings on the hangers of wool coats, and only clean clothes going in. Add lavender if you like the smell.
If you've found holes or larvae
Freeze or wash everything wool and silk, vacuum thoroughly, then put up pheromone traps to confirm the problem has gone. Bring cedar back once it has.
To find out whether you have moths at all
Pheromone traps, one per closet, checked monthly. They're cheap, safe and more useful than they look.
For heirlooms and long-term storage
Clean each piece, freeze it if you're unsure, wrap it in acid-free tissue and pack it in a closed chest or box with cedar. Our guide to packing clothes for long-term storage covers the details. Mothballs in an airtight container are the last resort here, not the first.
In homes with children or pets
Leave mothballs out entirely. Cedar, traps placed out of reach, and freezing and cleaning cover everything you need.
Mothball myths, and what is actually true
"Mothballs are just a strong smell"
Mothballs are pesticides. They are made of naphthalene or paradichlorobenzene, which turn straight from solid to gas, and that gas is meant to build up until it kills moths, larvae and eggs. In the US they are registered with the Environmental Protection Agency, and the label is the law: use them only in tightly closed containers, never loose in a closet, attic or garden.
"You can scatter them to keep animals away"
Using mothballs to repel mice, squirrels, snakes or deer is not an approved use, and it puts children, pets and groundwater at risk. It doesn't work well either, as we explain in do mothballs keep mice away?
"The smell airs out in a day or two"
The vapor soaks into fabric, wood and plastic and can linger for weeks. Clothes usually need airing and washing, and drawers and chests need cleaning too. Our guide to getting rid of mothball smell walks through it.
How to switch from mothballs to cedar
- Collect the old mothballs. Wear gloves, seal them in a bag or jar, and take them to your local household hazardous waste collection. Don't flush them, burn them or put them in the garden.
- Air and wash the clothes. Hang everything outside or by an open window for a few days, then wash what can be washed. Half a cup of white vinegar in the rinse helps with any lingering odor.
- Clean the storage. Vacuum closets, drawers and chests, wipe them down, and leave an open box of baking soda or activated charcoal inside for a week to pull out the last of the smell.
- Set up cedar. Put cedar balls or blocks in drawers, rings on hangers and a sachet in each storage box. Our guide to how long cedar balls last covers how many to use and when to refresh them.
Questions people ask
Can you use cedar and lavender together?
Yes, and plenty of people do. Cedar does the protecting and lavender adds a softer scent. Keep the cedar closest to wool and cashmere, and tuck lavender into drawers.
Do pheromone traps attract moths into the house?
No. The lure only works over a short distance, so it draws in males that are already nearby. Keep traps away from open windows anyway, and remember they catch males only, so they won't end a problem on their own.
How long does freezing take to kill moth eggs?
At least 72 hours at 0°F (-18°C) or colder. If your freezer runs warmer, or the item is thick, like a coat or a rug, leave it for a week.
What can I use instead of naphthalene balls?
For prevention, cedar. To kill an existing infestation, freezing, hot washing or dry cleaning. Our guide to alternatives to naphthalene mothballs looks at the natural repellents in more depth.
Sources: University of Florida IFAS Extension, "Mothball Facts" (PI289); Colorado State University Extension, "Clothes Moths". This is general guidance. Always follow the label on any pesticide product.
