How do I get the musty smell out of books?

[Nan in Mass]

My homeschooling library, what of it that hasn't gone for mouse nesting material, smells musty. Is there any way to get rid of the smell?

[Jane in NC]

Cat litter in the bottom of a brown paper bag will work for a few books. If you have areas that are prone to damp, I would invest in a product that hardware stores sell, Damp Rid. It is a calcium product, I believe, that absorbs water. You can dry it out in an oven and reuse it. Great for closets that get musty or near book shelves that are not always in a high traffic zone.

[Nan in Mass]

Thank you! I should have known that you would know how to deal with this, living where you do.

[She]

Just wanted to add something to this. (WAY past time). I bought an old used book recently that really smelled musty. We have a child with allergies so this is a no no. After trying several things I set it, with pages fanned out, in front of the air purifyer. Worked great!

[sharonTennessee]

You can try putting dryer sheets in between some of the pages.

 

Sharon

[LisaNY]

I don't have any advice for your musty books situation, but I just wanted to say,

 

HI, NAN! WELCOME BACK!

 

You were missed. :001_smile:

[Begonia]

My dh, a publisher and book collector, recommends that for a single volume the following procedure will get rid of a moldy odor, or mold itself, in a book: wrap the book tightly in a plastic bag and place it in the freezer for two to three months. The extreme cold will kill the spores that cause both the moldy smell and the mold itself. It will not, of course, remove any stains or discoloration caused by mold. Very valuable books should be professionally treated.