s/o Getting rid of mothball smell

[knitgrl]

Is it possible? My grandmother had this chest that has been in the family for generations. It would be lovely to be able to put blankets in it over the summer. Or extra pillows or things like that. But she put mothballs in it, because that is what everybody did in the 1940s and 1950s. And even though it has not had anything in it for over a decade, it still smells horrible.

[Arcadia]

Mothballs are toxic so if you want to try, take it out to an open space (backyard, front lawn) after sunset and wipe it down with diluted vinegar. I would use a N95 or equivalent mask though because the smell is really toxic. 

[HazelAnne]

(Disregard my suggestions- don’t think they’d actually help). However, I’m sorry to say, I tried these suggestions (and vinegar as suggested above) with an old trunk and was never able to get the smell out so I ended up getting rid of it. Hope you have better success than I did, especially with it being a family heirloom.

I’d carefully consider storing blankets in it. I’m currently researching how to get the mothball smell out of linens, as I was gifted some that had been stored in such a trunk, and haven’t had success getting the smell out yet. 
 

Are things still toxic if it’s been a decade since mothballs were used? Is the smell itself toxic?

Edited June 1 by HazelAnne
Don’t think my suggestions would work

[Arcadia]

3 minutes ago, HazelAnne said:

Are things still toxic if it’s been a decade since mothballs were used? Is the smell itself toxic?

The smell is toxic. It was commonly used in wardrobes and shoe closets when I was a kid in my country of origin. Then we got to know that it is more toxic than we expected and stopped using it. That is why it would not be advisable to air out the chest while it is sunny.

https://www.epa.gov/sites/default/files/2016-09/documents/naphthalene.pdf

"Acute (short-term) exposure of humans to naphthalene by inhalation, ingestion, and dermal contact is associated with hemolytic anemia, damage to the liver, and neurological damage. Cataracts have also been reported in workers acutely exposed to naphthalene by inhalation and ingestion. Chronic (long-term) exposure of workers and rodents to naphthalene has been reported to cause cataracts and damage to the retina. Hemolytic anemia has been reported in infants born to mothers who "sniffed" and ingested naphthalene (as mothballs) during pregnancy. Available data are inadequate to establish a causal relationship between exposure to naphthalene and cancer in humans. EPA has classified naphthalene as a Group C, possible human carcinogen."

[klmama]

Would sealing the inside surfaces contain the naphthalene enough to make it safe to use?