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There's a few tricks Isaac Send a noteboard - 16/10/2013 05:01:51 AM

View original postI 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.

I'll wing out the ones I know can work, apply common sense obviously.

Freezing books is very dependent on the problem, it's what I used when I dropped book in the tub. You have to have a freezer with an automatic defrost to really do this though. So if there's ice all over the inside of your fridge, don't bother, it simply inhibits mold growth then. If you have a defrost you will dehydrate the book, you're basically inducing frostburn by leaving the book exposed to the freezer open air (no plastic bag) and over a decent duration it will leach out the water.

Normal freezing inhibits mold growth but doesn't kill the spores, but freeze drying will, it takes weeks though. You can speed the process, or utilize it for a non-defrosting freezer, by packing it in a plastic bag with desiccant.

You can also microwave it, in several 15 second blasts, or stick it in the oven at 250 F for 1 hour. You can also use a UV wand, there like $20.

Easiest way though, take the book and stick it in a paper bag with some baking soda, give it an occasional shake, once or twice a day, and remove it in a week or two and dust off the baking soda.Freezing it then sticking it the bag probably isn't a bad idea either.

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Question on books with mildewy smell - 14/10/2013 08:57:45 PM 1033 Views
Probably not the answer you're looking for. - 15/10/2013 01:37:19 PM 922 Views
Could you keep them in a cupboard? - 15/10/2013 05:47:20 PM 897 Views
Freezing won't kill them but heat will - 16/10/2013 03:09:33 AM 900 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 701 Views
yep, sorry i just edited - 16/10/2013 03:17:10 AM 804 Views
also - 16/10/2013 03:31:35 AM 781 Views
Re: also - 16/10/2013 05:10:12 AM 846 Views
There's a few tricks - 16/10/2013 05:01:51 AM 861 Views
I like the desiccant idea. - 16/10/2013 05:20:25 AM 739 Views
Re: I like the desiccant idea. - 16/10/2013 05:56:46 AM 963 Views
Kind of a weird idea - 16/10/2013 11:34:42 PM 720 Views
It may work, but then spores are in your vacuum cleaner. - 17/10/2013 03:34:03 AM 759 Views
Buy a cheap crappy vaccum cleaner from a thrift store? - 17/10/2013 11:40:37 PM 833 Views
Maybe it would be worth contacting a library? - 29/10/2013 04:09:31 PM 765 Views

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