What should I do with this smoky smelly book?

[Melissa in New York]

I ordered a used book from Amazon marketer. The book was listed as "good". Today, I open the package and the book has stains and smells old and very smoky.

 

Is there a way to get rid of the smell, especially the smoke smell?

 

~Melissa, who wishes people would be honest and accurate about the product they are selling.

[akmommy]

You can try putting it in a paper bag with fresh clean kitty litter or I've also heard that dryer sheets work too (although I would think that this would just mask the smell).

 

HTH

[K&Rs Mom]

I've had luck with sprinkling baking soda among the pages & putting it in a heavy paper grocery bag, fold down the top and check in a week or so. This got a moldy smell out of a couple books from our attic.

[kalanamak]

I set mine upright with as many pages as possible fanned out in a large, sunny room. Takes awhile, but it works.

[bearnpurple]

I have heard you can stick newspapers between some of the pages....wrap it in a newspaper and put it in a paper bag for 1 week.

 

It wouldn't cost much to try......:glare:

 

I have used the dryer sheets on the musty smell in older books and that seems to help but it never really "goes away".

 

Good luck and let us know what you do and if it works!