musty smell out of vintage books

please someone help me get this musty smell out of my vintage books. when i bought them at the thrift store i knew they smelled so i put them in a cardboard box hoping the cardboard would absorb the smell but they are still smelly! so any inexpensive ideas besides just letting them sit in cardboard longer??? thanks

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7 replies since 7th April 2010 • Last reply 7th April 2010

Reply #1:

Unfortunately the odours have permeated into the paper so it will be difficult. You can vacuum the edges only to get rid of some dust. Flap them open to get rid of dust between pages. The only thing I can think of to get rid of the smell is to mask it with another. I would probably use a fragranced stick that isn't too highly perfumed. Sandlewood or gardinia are fairly plesent to live with. Can't think of anything else Happy

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Reply #2:

someone also told me to put them in front of an air conditioner for 3 days to suck out the moisture, then put them in an air tight container with an open box of baking soda, i guess if baking soda absorbs smell in the refrigerator it might work for books too??

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Reply #3:

that might work

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Reply #4:

I love the smell of old books, that's the best bit about owning them lol

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Reply #5:

I checked my book about this but I found nothing...I think you should try the baking soda,maybe it will work!

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Reply #6:

yea Laurel, i really don't mind the old smell, but i want to use them in some crafting and also gifts for my book loving friends and some of them are REALLY musty

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Reply #7:

The baking soda should work. or maybe laying them in the sun opened to clear the smell

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