4Real Forums: Removing odors from books

Oh, Dearest Mother, Sweetest Virgin of Altagracia, our Patroness. You are our Advocate and to you we recommend our needs. You are our Teacher and like disciples we come to learn from the example of your holy life. You are our Mother, and like children, we come to offer you all of the love of our hearts. Receive, dearest Mother, our offerings and listen attentively to our supplications. Amen.

Active Topics || Favorites || Member List || Search || About Us || Help || Register || Login

Tea and Conversation
4Real Forums : Tea and Conversation

Topic: Removing odors from books

Author

Message

<< Prev Topic | Next Topic >>

SeaStar
Forum Moderator

Joined: Sept 16 2006
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 9068

Posted: Aug 03 2007 at 6:12pm \| IP Logged

I have bought many used books on line over the years with no problems... but the last two I bought just.... stink! One has a smoke odor (supposedly from a smoke-free home) and the other has a very odd flowery scent that gives me a headache.

Is there any way to "de-scent" a used book?

__________________
Melinda, mom to ds ('02) and dd ('04)

SQUILT Music Appreciation

JennGM
Forum Moderator

Joined: Feb 07 2005
Location: Virginia
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 17702

Posted: Aug 03 2007 at 6:18pm \| IP Logged

I get so mad when I get malodorous books! I usually demand that they return my money and take the book back. But sometimes the smoke is only from the shipping, like UPS or post office. Annoying.

I've tried several methods, but mostly for musty books, so they won't all apply.

I'm sure other people will come up with some better methods. One I don't like is putting a fabric softener sheet, but that's because I hate the smell of those things! It's just putting another perfumy scent on top of the smoke.

The one that has worked for mild smoke odors: Place your books in a large plastic bag and then add lots of crumpled newspaper inside the bag. Close it up, then change the paper. The paper is supposed to absorbe the odors.

__________________
Jennifer G. Miller
Wife to

& ds1

'03 & ds2

'07
Family in Feast and Feria

CatholicMommy
Forum All-Star

Joined: Feb 07 2007
Location: Indiana
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 1254

Posted: Aug 03 2007 at 7:21pm \| IP Logged

I do what Jen does - I wrap each book in newspaper or other paper, sometimes with some sheets in between pages, stick it in a paper bag though with wads of more paper and roll up the top so it's all sealed. Change up the paper as often as needed. The trick is that the paper you use can't be too old either!

When I'm really desperate, I'll add baking soda throughout - I don't really know if it works or not, but it feels like I'm doing something more and I've never had it NOT work.

Jamberry77
Forum Pro

Joined: Feb 15 2005
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 243

Posted: Aug 04 2007 at 12:41pm \| IP Logged

Along the same lines....
I once cut up newspaper into rectangles a bit larger than the pages. One was inserted between every page of the book. The book sat on a bookshelf for three months. Odor was gone.

(It was a book from the Bantry Bay series, bought used, and I had to fix the odor since it's such a good book!)

__________________
Kelly, mom to 9th and 5th graders

SeaStar
Forum Moderator

Joined: Sept 16 2006
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 9068

Posted: Aug 04 2007 at 6:52pm \| IP Logged

Thanks for the newspaper tip. I had to leave one book outside last night on the screened porch just to get it out of the house. That did help somewhat. Hopefully the newspaper will finish the job.

__________________
Melinda, mom to ds ('02) and dd ('04)

SQUILT Music Appreciation

Erin
Forum Moderator

Joined: Feb 23 2005
Location: Australia
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 5814

Posted: Aug 05 2007 at 3:26am \| IP Logged

I once lent a hs book to a new mum who lived with her mother who smoked

I stuck the book outside on a table (not where it could get rained on) it took a few days for the smell to disipate but it did

I don't know that I would recommend it though as the pages weren't quite so flat afterwards, know what I mean?

__________________
Erin
Faith Filled Days
Seven Little Australians

Karen T
Forum All-Star

Joined: Feb 16 2005
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 927

Posted: Aug 05 2007 at 9:42am \| IP Logged

I got a book last year that was really smoky also. I left it out in the carport for 2 weeks with no improvement. Then I bought some activated charcoal from the aquarium section at the pet store and put the book and the charcoal in a ziploc bag together. Within a week the smell was gone.
Karen

SeaStar
Forum Moderator

Joined: Sept 16 2006
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 9068

Posted: Aug 05 2007 at 1:19pm \| IP Logged

Good old activated charcoal! Can't believe I forgot about that.

__________________
Melinda, mom to ds ('02) and dd ('04)

SQUILT Music Appreciation

If you wish to post a reply to this topic you must first login
If you are not already registered you must first register

[Add this topic to My Favorites]

Printable version

Forum Jump

You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot create polls in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum

Hosting and Support provided by theNetSmith.com