4Real Forums: Removing odors from books

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Topic: Removing odors from books

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SeaStar
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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?

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

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JennGM
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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.

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Jennifer G. Miller
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CatholicMommy
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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
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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!)

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Kelly, mom to 9th and 5th graders

SeaStar
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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.

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

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Erin
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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?

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

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

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

SQUILT Music Appreciation

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