How to Kill Mustiness on Books and Paper

Odor-Absorbents

• 1

  Place musty books and paper in a plastic container. Place a lid on the container.

• 2

  Place the book-filled container inside a larger plastic container.

• 3

  Pour an odor-absorbent material into the large container until it is at least two inches deep. Use charcoal, baking soda, kitty litter or talcum powder. Avoid pouring the absorbent on top of the container holding the books.

• 4

  Remove the lid from the smaller plastic container. Cover the large plastic container with a lid.

• 5

  Allow the lidded container to sit, undisturbed, for at least one week. There is no set time in which a musty odor can be removed from books and paper. It may take more or less than a week to deodorize the items.

Book in a Bag

• 6

  Open the front cover of the book.

• 7

  Sprinkle cornstarch on the front page of the book. Flip a few pages and sprinkle more cornstarch in the book. Continue adding cornstarch to the book every few pages until you reach the back cover. Spread a small amount of cornstarch to the back cover of the book and close it. If you are removing a musty smell from paper, sprinkle every piece with cornstarch.

• 8

  Seal the cornstarch-dusted book or papers inside a plastic bag for about one week.

• 9

  Brush the cornstarch out of the book. Repeat Steps 2 and 3 if a musty smell remains on the book or paper.