Getting Smell out of Books

Is it possible to get pet smells out of books?

 

I have had some/limited luck by freezing them for about a week, suitably sealed in plastic, removed from the plastic IMMEDIATELY after they are taken from the freezer to avoid condensation.

 

Ok cool, I'll try that

 

Hi,
If that doesn't work, pour some cheap Kitty litter the clay kind in the bottom of a box and stand the books upright in the box and seal the box and wait a week. After a week the books should be fine. Throw the box and the litter out.
greg

 

Will keep that in mind if the kitty litter doesn't work

 

To kinda reiterate............Kitty litter, baking soda, carpet deodorizing powder, garden herbs, etc. Anything with a stronger than usual odor. Place on the bottom of a large plastic container. Place baking grids on top of powders. Place book(s) on edge, fanned open on top of grids. Cover and check back in a couple weeks. Repeat as necessary...............Works for musty, smokey papers. Mold is another problem.

 

Went to an estate sale yesterday...was horrified at how awful the whole house smelled of dogs.

 

Hi,
I went to one once and ran out. The place reeked of human urine, feces and body odor. It was rented to three high school drop outs.
greg

 

The best thing is ozone. Problem is it will take a very long time for natural ozone in the air to solve this book issue.
I have a professional ozone machine.
Ozone will kill the smell and that which is causing it. It will kill molds and any bugs.
Don't know if the small ozone machines are even available anymore but one of those might work if run OUTSIDE in a box with the offending item including record covers, clothes, whatever.
Ozone will kill you if you breathe enough of it. It will kill anything organic.
It won't solve mold stains/foxing.

 

Hi Milt,
I have one of those ozone machines also. Used to save material from the church fire in Brooklyn. They are very good, except few people have them anymore. We used them by sealing up several rooms in the rectory.
greg

 

I was watching for one for years. Got it for $10, like new or was new, at a garage sale! $300 unit! Yay!!!!
I had an unused office in the large shop across from my last home.
In there went everything just purchased for at least 24
hours. No smells, mold or bugs could survive that.

 

You can always put dried sage or rosemary or something like that in the pages. Make sure its not fresh, though, or else it'll ruin your pages!

 

I have had the books in a box with kitty litter for quite a bit. Seems to have worked.

 

Kitty's well read then?

 

The method I would recommend would depend on how you plan to use those smells once they are freed from the books.

 

Ha!!!!
I DO NOT want to know your recommendation on this...

 

Just resurrecting this thread.

I was wondering if anyone uses the ozone generators to get rid of mold smells in paper and how to do it safely

 

Hi,
Used the ozone to get rid of smells and mold in books and parchments etc. Store the books upright with pages spread and areas around the books. Do not stack them together.
greg