So one of my old neighbors puts moth balls out to keep cats out of her flower beds. I’ve got some outside storage that I’m still trying to keep spyders out of. I tried the “Shell NO Pest” strip and it seems ineffective, however they don’t build webs on it. Anybody know of a negative,other than smell, on using the moth balls in a confined area with plastics like freight cars?
Hi Ric,
Here on Old Cape Cod we get lots of spiders, we use the MOTH BALLS in the basement and other area’s of the house to prevent spiders with much success. We also use them in the garden around the flower beds to keep the wildlife away.
Good Luck,
Ron
Ron,
Thanks for the reply. How about plastic, have you ever heard of any impact?
I could probably temporarily resolve the problem with a flame thrower and gasolene, but there may be a problem with the plastic, the cabinet and the house. 
Everything is a compromise.
I’ll report how it works. I’m surprized the “Shell NO pest strips” didn’t work. They do work with keeping the mud-dobbers out of the cabins and sails on the boats at the marina.
The sticky traps for mice / rats , do catch spiders . I did have a cat that liked to use the ballast on the layout for its own purpose , the moth balls did stop that , a lot of moth balls each time , but the cat no longer does it here .
Do not know about the plastic .
How do moth balls work against deer?
Ric,
I have put MOTH BALLs in the area where I store all of my rolling stock and I haven’t had any problems as yet and I have done it for about 3 years now.
Steve,
About 4 years ago I planted over 150 Impatient Plants on the top of a stone wall as a border and within 2 weeks all that was left were the bare stalks at ground level. The following year I planted the same amount of Impatients but added a quanity of MOTH BALLS just below the surface of the ground and the wildlife (skunk, racoon, etc.) including DEER stayed away.
Hope this is a help to you folks.
Happy Railroading,
Ron
Way cool! Thanks, Ron.
I just hope it doesn’t keep Sarah away!
Snicker.
SteveF
First couple of weeks of testing/trying this out has been very positive. Spyder webs are gone and there seems to be no impact to any of the rolling stock. Biggest problem is they don’t seem to last long. Hockey puck size gone in about 2 weeks.
Good Morning Ric,
Glad to hear that the MOTH BALLS are doing what I said they would do. I do hope that you noticed that I didn’t say how long they would last. What I do is put them in place about every 4 to 6 weeks and it seems to work out for me. I think it is one of those things that you have to try for your area. Again I say that I am glad they worked for you.
Happy RR,
Ron
Ron,
Do you find the Moth Balls in any way toxic to plant life?
Hi Steve,
I have not had a problem with plants dying from the MOTH BALLS. It has stopped the Racoons and Skunks from digging up the flower beds in the “TREATED AREA’S” and as I stated in one of the other posts I have used them in the flower beds and around shrubs that the DEER like to “DINE” on for about four years now without any problems. Hope this is a help.
Happy RR,
Ron
I’ve used them inside my boats during winter storage to keep small critters and bugs out. They work very well for that purpose and I haven’t noticed any problems with any of the plastic parts in the boat. Smells terrible in the spring, but no damage from squirrels or mice.
I’m surprised yours evaporate so quickly. I’ve been using the same box for several years in the boat. I store them in coffee cans with a plastic lids during the summer. We get small marble sized ones here.
JR
This came in a plastic holder like one of those toilet things. As I said, about the size of a hockey puck. Jan says she will look for the bag of marbles type. I wonder if temperature has something to do with it? 109 degrees in the county seat this afternoon, two counties south of us by Andy C.'s house.
Good morning Ric,
I have just read your last post and re-read the post from yesterday. After reading the both posts I am wondering if you have trapped high moisture or humidity problem which is causing the meltdown. I live right on the coast of the Atlantic and have the same results as Mr. Radder but I do use the marble size “BALLS”.
Ron
Ric Golding said:Try an old-fashioned hardware store. The ones I buy come in a box sealed with cellophane.
Jan says she will look for the bag of marbles type.
JR
Heat will make them sublime off faster. (That’s when a solid evaporates to a gas skipping the liquid stage.)
Tom Ruby said:I'm guessing that is how these work and create the "toxic" smell. If the little balls last better than the hockey pucks, it might have something to do with surface area or denseness. These experiments always take a lot of dedicated time. Put stuff in place. Drink coffee. Run trains. Check in two weeks. Gone - Bad. Still there - Good. Check again in two weeks. Right now all results are on hold as we get balls to replace the hockey pucks.
Heat will make them sublime off faster. (That's when a solid evaporates to a gas skipping the liquid stage.)
Ric,
You forgot one thing while you are waiting, you forgot to go out on the BOAT!
Hope it all works out for you.
Good Luck,
Ron
Wednesday, the thermometer at a high school two counties south of here registered 109 degrees. Many days around here over 100 degrees. Yesterday, front came through and we had a major change and break in the weather. 68 degrees as I write this at 0655. Hopefully we will get back to seasonal highs in the 90’s. I spend most free time in basement when temps are above 80 to 85 degrees.
Most of our customers are staying away, also. All the talk about Global Warming, sun spots or whatever. It is always hot here in July and August and we stay inside or travel north to Canada. Expect it to be cold here this coming Winter.
My wife, Jan, always states we have two sailing seasons, here. Spring and Fall. Winter and Summer gives us a lot of time inside.
Marble size moth balls were purchased at Commissary, yesterday and experimentation will continue. High moisture contact can be the problem in the one cabinet, so we’ll see what happens.
Good morning Ric,
We haven’t heard a word from you regarding the spisers, just wondering if they got you. How have you made out with the spider and mothball situation. Hope it worked for you as it has worked for me in the past.
Happy Railroading,
Ron