How to Remove the Musty Odor from Antique Books
Save and Preserve Old Paper and Ephemera for the Future
Sep 19, 2009
The smell of used books can be simply the warm smell of old paper or the musty smell of mildew and rot. There is a way to save those antique books from the trash heap with a little ingenuity and patience.
Avoid the Musty Odor in Books
According to Barbara Milo Ohrbach, in her book Antiques at Home, the ideal humidity level for books is "... between 55 and 65 percent," with temperatures "between 60 and 70 F."
All it takes is a little dampness and paper can become infected with mildew. So it's advisable not to store books in cardboard boxes in a damp basement or garage. Mold grows and continues to grow inside the pages of books. If a musty book is placed on the book shelf, other books will become infected. If a book is found to be musty, it's best to take immediate action to prevent further damage.
Wipe Away the Mold
Some books are very mildewed with visible signs of mold that show up in powdery stains, easily brushed away with a finger. Take the book outside on a dry sunny day and gently wipe away the powdery mildew from every page with a soft cotton cloth. Let the book air in semi-shade for an hour or so, while you prepare for the next step.
The Odor Killer Box
You will need:
- A lidded air-tight plastic storage box large enough to fit the book or paper item to be deodorized.
- 2 or 3 boxes of baking soda.
- A screen or rack fitted to the inside of the box. It must be something that allows air to flow around the book or other paper item.
Instructions:
- Empty the baking soda into the bottom of the box and level it out.
- Place a couple mugs upside down on the bottom to hold the small rack.
- Place the book closed on the rack and leave it. After a couple of weeks, begin opening pages and leave it again. This could take months. Keep checking every week or so, until all signs of the musty odor have gone. It may help to replace the baking soda at some point.
Prints, old magazines and other paper items can all be saved using this proven method.
Buying Musty Books
Musty antique books are usually found cheaply. They seldom get many bids at auctions and they are hard to sell at markets and yard sales due to the smell. Some collectors do buy these musty books because they know they can be deodorized and saved. If the price is good, the collector could have a treasure. Learn to purchase books based on the content and ultimate value rather than the smell. The smell can be removed.
References
- Antiques at Home, Barbara Milo Ohrbach, Clarkson Potter, 1989
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