How does one get the stink out of a book?

[Parrothead]

Especially the stink of cigarettes? And to compound matters it is as if the book was sprayed with some kind of something to mask the cigarette smell.

 

It is a paperback if that matters.

[prairiewindmomma]

I got a stinker from paperbackswap a few months ago. I placed it out into the garage for a week to air it out. I've also placed books into plastic shopping bags with an open box of baking soda that I then tied and let sit for a couple of weeks.

[Parrothead]

Good to know. I need to use if for planning this week. But will store it out in the garage until we need it again in the fall. I hope I don't forget where it is.

[sandellie4]

I've had some luck using fresh bedding that we have on hand for our pet rats. Also, though I haven't tried this personally, I've read that dryer sheets work. In either case, I'd suggest that you put the book in a sealed bag and prepare yourself for it to take several weeks or even longer, depending on the degree of damage.

[aggieamy]

I've stuck a few dryer sheets between pages, put it in a ziplock with a generous amount of baking soda, and the put it in the freezer for awhile. Still smelled a little after that but it was better.

 

That works only if the stink is physical and not in the writing. Some books are stinkers (*ahem* I'm looking at you Edenbrooke!) and no amount of freshener will help that plot line.

[kubiac]

Baking soda is great, but SUNSHINE is the best for smell removal.

 

Also if it has a shiny cover, wipe it down with a spray cleaner (409 or something less chemical) and get the grime layer off.

 

Good luck.

[LaughingCat]

I've also had good luck with just putting the book outside for an extended time (depending on how bad the smell is, it can take many days). If it's small enough I try to hang it (as if off a clothes line), if not then I set it down as open as possible, trying to expose the pages to the "fresh air". Of course you also have to make sure to bring it in before it rains .... :crying:

[GailV]

I've had some luck using fresh bedding that we have on hand for our pet rats. Also, though I haven't tried this personally, I've read that dryer sheets work. In either case, I'd suggest that you put the book in a sealed bag and prepare yourself for it to take several weeks or even longer, depending on the degree of damage.

 

Okay, I'm really curious -- what bedding are you using? We have rats, too, and there's nothing we use for bedding that would help with stinky books. Or would it? Hmmmm....

 

By the way, dd just mentioned to me yesterday that every time she gets out a certain history book that we purchased used, her eyes start to water and her nose starts to clog up. It has a perfume-ish smell to it, so that might be the problem -- I'm sensitive to perfume, and she might be, too. Or maybe there's an underlying mold problem.

 

Speaking of problems with perfumed books, do the unscented dryer sheets work for helping absorb odors? We never, ever, ever use the scented -- I can't stand the smell of fabric softener. (On a related note, I can smell the fabric softener on your clothing when you stand near me. And I judge you for using that much.)

[prairiewindmomma]

If it's mildewy, you can try 72 hours in the freezer. That will also kill book and dust mites.

[boscopup]

When our garage caught fire, the many books that were in my van (right next to the burning truck) smelled pretty bad at first. I left them all outside on our patio for several days... actually, I think it was a couple weeks or more (they were under cover). They no longer smell of smoke. Now that was burning truck smoke, not cigarette smoke, so I don't know if there is a difference.

 

Oh, and the restoration company had some type of wipes they used on the outside of books that were in the office in there, but I don't know what those were. They worked fabulously, but those books weren't exposed to as much smoke as the ones in my van were.