Various types of bad smells

Books come in all shapes and sizes, sometimes with various smells. Undesirable odors are usually caused by either the books being exposed to the elements, improper storage, pests, or human interaction. Depending on the nature and severity of the smell, the courses of treatment vary. Some of the methods might surprise you or even go against common sense.

Mold

Mold is by far the most common cause of bad smell in books. Fortunately, there is a way to get rid of the problem. In case the mold is not active, the musty odor will diminish over time if the book is exposed to cool environments with 35-55% humidity. To get rid of the odor completely, the Library of Congress guide to Collection Emergencies recommends the following in case of mold:

• Maximize the surface of the paper exposed to the air
• Place the book in a closed container with activated charcoal or baking soda for several days, but try to prevent the pages from coming into direct contact with the charcoal or baking soda.
• Inspect the book periodically to make sure there is no mold growth
• Briefly expose the book to sunlight, but only if the possibility of fading/discoloration/yellowing is acceptable.

From our experience, the second step is only required if the problem is very pronounced. In most of the cases we came across, books were fine with no sign of mold regrowth by simply following the first and the last step. If the mold is active, the book should first be sterilized before proceeding.

Smoke

Tobacco smoke is notoriously hard to eliminate. The procedure for neutralizing smoke odors is fairly similar to the previously mentioned but is somewhat more time-consuming. Experts at ibookbinding suggest doing the following:

Preparation:  Carefully dust the object and remove surface dirt with a clean, soft cosmetic brush. Open the book and allow the pages to fan open.

Heating: Leave the book under the sun or use a hairdryer or a heat gun carefully and from a distance. Sunlight can damage the paper and cause discoloration, so remember to check on the book and do not allow the book to be exposed to light for too long in continuity.

Use absorbing agents: Several agents work better than others in the context of removing unpleasant odors from books. These include baking soda, unscented kitty litter, charcoal/activated carbon, and cedar chips. If you plan on using some of the aforementioned agents make sure to leave space between them and the books so that they do not come into contact with the paper.

As an additional measure, you may fill the rest of the container with crumpled newspapers or some other porous paper that would help to absorb the smell faster. Leave the books for several days in a closed container. Don’t forget to check and change the absorbing agent from time to time. Repeat the process until you are satisfied with the result.

Do not use air fresheners, perfumes, coffee beans, etc. to replace the smell. The goal is to remove the cause of the problem, not to replace the smell with another one.

Other unidentified smells

The Iowa State University Library Preservation Department has suggested following these easy DIY remedies that work in most situations:

• Leaving the book fanned open, under a fume hood for a few weeks to air out.
• Leaving the book outside in fresh air to air out.
• Interleaving the book with paper towels and then putting it in the freezer.
• Sealing the book in an airtight container along with an odor-absorbing compound (such as unscented clay kitty litter, charcoal briquettes, or a proprietary odor remover) for up to a month.

It is worth noting that freezing books is also an effective way of getting rid of worm eggs and larvae that tend to infect books.

In case the problem persists or you are unable to perform any of the interventions without the risk of damaging your book, you should consult a professional. Stay tuned for more tips and thank you for reading.