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Won't an hour in the oven ruin the book? I'm assuming massive browning of pages, etc... Tom Send a noteboard - 16/10/2013 03:16:26 AM

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I have about three books that I really, truly like that smell sort of mildewy ("old book smell"). I have heard that freezing will destroy the smell but "not the spores". My library is very dry - humidity is probably around 25% - but I don't want spores all over it. I already have the spots for the books in places where they will have limited exposure to other books, but am I running a risk? Is there anything else I can do? I've read about this on the Internet but haven't gotten any definitive answers.

Look up the process of autoclaving (sterilizing lab materials). It's usually done with moist heat when possible (30 min @ 121 C), but if you can only use dry heat (assume you'd have to with books), go with 400 F for an hour in your oven.


Political correctness is the pettiest form of casuistry.

ἡ δὲ κἀκ τριῶν τρυπημάτων ἐργαζομένη ἐνεκάλει τῇ φύσει, δυσφορουμένη, ὅτι δὴ μὴ καὶ τοὺς τιτθοὺς αὐτῇ εὐρύτερον ἢ νῦν εἰσι τρυπώη, ὅπως καὶ ἄλλην ἐνταῦθα μίξιν ἐπιτεχνᾶσθαι δυνατὴ εἴη. – Procopius

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Question on books with mildewy smell - 14/10/2013 08:57:45 PM 1248 Views
Probably not the answer you're looking for. - 15/10/2013 01:37:19 PM 1270 Views
Could you keep them in a cupboard? - 15/10/2013 05:47:20 PM 1116 Views
Freezing won't kill them but heat will - 16/10/2013 03:09:33 AM 1115 Views
Won't an hour in the oven ruin the book? I'm assuming massive browning of pages, etc... - 16/10/2013 03:16:26 AM 919 Views
yep, sorry i just edited - 16/10/2013 03:17:10 AM 1021 Views
also - 16/10/2013 03:31:35 AM 1004 Views
Re: also - 16/10/2013 05:10:12 AM 1028 Views
There's a few tricks - 16/10/2013 05:01:51 AM 1101 Views
I like the desiccant idea. - 16/10/2013 05:20:25 AM 951 Views
Re: I like the desiccant idea. - 16/10/2013 05:56:46 AM 1190 Views
Kind of a weird idea - 16/10/2013 11:34:42 PM 945 Views
It may work, but then spores are in your vacuum cleaner. - 17/10/2013 03:34:03 AM 988 Views
Buy a cheap crappy vaccum cleaner from a thrift store? - 17/10/2013 11:40:37 PM 1067 Views
Maybe it would be worth contacting a library? - 29/10/2013 04:09:31 PM 984 Views

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