Old book smell

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I just got a box of old books.love my books! But as usual, they have that musty smell.And I'm allergic to molds.So,anyone know how to "de must" a book? I'm thinking fumigation in a garbage bag, like I do my plants when they come inside,But can't think of what to use.Any Ideas?

-- sharon wt (wildflower@ekyol.com), November 29, 2000

Answers

my mother would wipe the books down with a damp vinegar rag, would get rid of most of the smell and keep the others from picking up the smell

-- STAN (sopal@net-port.com), November 29, 2000.

When I store books in a box for long periods of time, I pack them with dissicants and a box of baking soda to control moisture and musty odor. Have also packed musty ones in a garbage bag with a box of baking soda for two weeks to eliminate the smell.

-- Jay Blair in N. AL (jayblair678@yahoo.com), November 29, 2000.

Also, try putting them in a garbage bag stuffed with newspapers.

-- Christina W (introibo@address.com), November 29, 2000.

I have heard -- but not tried -- that wrapping them up in plastic with ground coffee for a while will over-write the odor, if you don't mind your books smelling of coffee. My mother eliminated a similar musty odor from old furniture by wiping it out with first vinegar, and then a rag with vanilla extract on it. It sure did smell better after that.

-- Julie Froelich (firefly1@nnex.net), November 29, 2000.

Sharon I had to laugh because I love the smell of musty old books! We have this 100 year old library in town that I just dearly love because of the assault to the senses! Just weird I guess!...Kirk..P.S. course I'm not allergic

-- Kirk Davis (kirkay@yahoo.com), November 29, 2000.


If any of these are valuable books, I think I'd try to find some resource on the web about how to conserve books. If they're just reading copies, try some of the suggestions.

I had several pieces of old furniture that had that stinky old wood smell (pieces in daily use don't seem to get this for some reason). I had success by putting lavender buds in the drawers, and bunches of lavender in the wardrobe. Maybe lavender would work for the books too. You can get essential oil of lavender. I would try dabbing it on, or if you get a room spray (real lavender, not some synthetic thing), spritz them with that.

-- Joy Froelich (dragnfly@chorus.net), November 29, 2000.


I put them in the microwave and zap the booklice and mildew spores. Then I fan the books open and atomize spray them with vinegar and then put them in paper bags with borax, with the top of the bags folded down. When I get around to it, I take them out, dust them off and put them on the shelf. It works for me.

Whenever you have the moisture for that "old book" mildew smell you probably have booklice. they do the most damage to books.

-- Laura (gsend@hotmail.com), November 29, 2000.


Baby powder?

-- kathy h (ckhart@earthlink.net), November 29, 2000.

Boy-thanks everyone for the suggestions.You all are just a wealth of knowledge.Kirk-that old library would do me in, but you enjoy!

I'm going to try the microwave & borax method first.The books were my dad's and probably not of value but are for my own enjoyment.The coffee and vanilla sound good to me too.Lavender,vinegar and baby powder are out,for me, because I'm allergic to them too.

One time Nick brought home some fancy soap from a hotel where he'd stayed.Well,there it was in the shower stall,so I washed with it.Afterwards,I started getting awfully itchy.So I asked Nick to see what was going on and he told me it looked like I had a rash.Turns out everyplace I washed with that soap, I broke out in a rash.And I mean EVERY place! Need I go into the details? Anyway,it seemed the soap had lavender in it and I apparently reacted.That left an impression.No more fancy soap for me.Almost as bad as the time I got poison ivy all over,and I really mean ALL over.Could not for the life of me figure out how I got it down THERE! Ah well.

Anyway ,thanks, for everyone's input.

-- sharon wt (wildflower@ekyol.com), November 29, 2000.


COOK THEM! I cook the books in the oven. 100 degrees for 15 - 30 mins. Bindings down or they will fall apart. I fan to different pages as it cooks. I do this with all my son's musty school books. Works every time.

-- Dee (gdgtru@goes.com), November 30, 2000.


I guess I'm fortunate to be able to agree with Kirk--love the smell of old books. Sorry to hear about the allergies, they can be the miseries. Have grandkids with them and it's not a happy experience. Glad to see all these suggestions to pass on to our young'uns. Really learn some neat stuff here with you folks.

-- Clare Baldwin (clare_baldwin@hotmail.com), December 03, 2000.

Neat ideas!I love old books but can't breathe very well while I'm reading them. Hope to try some of these ideas myself. God Bless,~~Tracy~~

-- Tracy Jo Neff (tntneff@ifriendly.com), December 05, 2000.

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