Getting rid of foul odors from used books

I bought some used books but a couple reek of cigarettes. Any ideas of how to get rid of the smell?

Thanks
Jeanne

Have you try to search tips through the internet? There are various ways to solve your problem.
I had tried to use crushed charcoal(new,fresh) made into manageable pieces, put in several unwanted stockings (depending on the amount of books), tied up the socks securely. Place these socks in a tight container or a big plastic bag with the books. Secure tightly the bag containing the books and socks.Leave them for several days, closed airtight possibly with the affected pages exposed.
You can also buy charcoal dehumdifiers or silica gel available from hardwares and photography stores to save time and hassle to make your own socks filled with charcoal.

Try

http://www.ehow.com/how_4853720_eewmove-cigarette-smoke-smell-book.html

Store them airily and the odour goes away after some time. That's what I have found. The worst is gone already after a few months, and after a couple of years they can be read without discomfort.

I haven't tried it for cigarette smoke, but for mildew you can place a few no-scent dryer sheets between the pages. The sheets absorb the odors - after a week or so throw the sheets away.

RE: dryer sheets

If you try that, be sure they are used dryer sheets.

From a friend of mine in the antiquarian business:

1) spray Febreeze in the air, and then fan the book pages
2) let the book sit open and covered in (clean) cat litter

Open up a teabag and empty contents-refill with Bi-Carb Soda-place the book and the teabag in a snaplock bag and leave for about 24 hours-should remove any odours. :)

My commiserations on your situation. Like anglemark I have used 'time' effectively. Sit the book upright and open with the leaves fanned for about 3 months. Tedious but effective. I have heard judicious use of walnut oil also works but I have not tried it. There are some other interesting ideas here already. Please let us know what you do and how it turns out; inquiring minds want to know. mtn

I've put baking soda in a plastic bag with the book - takes a while but the odor should eventually go away. (Just be sure that the book doesn't get into contact with the powder - it's tricky.

Edited for error

If I may add to this older thread:

I try to avoid acquiring any stinky books (especially ones smelling of cigarettes, but also ones smelling of perfume/air-freshener - so I'd avoid the Febreeze someone else mentioned earlier), but sometimes a few sneak in.

I sometimes do the 'book standing up with the leaves fanned open' thing for various smell issues, and sometimes instead laying the book open and turning a page once a day (the latter is usually more effective, but some bindings aren't conducive to laying open, even with a book stand). Either way takes months, and sometimes one round of daily page-turns isn't enough for the more stubborn smells and I've had to go through it again.

I recently learned that newspaper is surprisingly good at absorbing/removing smells. For a couple of stubborn books (one with cigarette smell) that were facing their third round, I wrapped them in a sheet or two of newspaper for a couple weeks, and they were finally 'cured'! I was also able to de-stink a perfumey shoulder bag, that had persisted through months of being propped open, by stuffing it full of crumpled newspaper and closing it up for a couple weeks.

>10 Opteryx: thank you for posting. I'm going to try your newspaper trick with my grandmother's old book set. Her cigarette smoke from long ago is affecting my entire library, and attempts to reduce the odor haven't worked over the years.

>11 aspirit: The stronger the smell, the longer it may take; if 2-4 weeks isn't enough, I'd suggest re-wrapping with fresh sheets of newspaper for the next few weeks, and repeat as needed. Good luck :)

But do remember that the ink can come off on your hands and on the book you are trying to save.

There is what is called “butcher paper” in Australia—large sheets of newsprint, intended for use in presentations. Newspaper without the printing.

>13 MarthaJeanne: Does that still happen. I know we used to get the butler to iron the papers before breakfast to dry the ink but it seems to be a problem of the past.

>13 MarthaJeanne: ooh, good point. The book covers aren't glossy and feel absorbent.

>14 haydninvienna: we have rolls of white paper for art projects. I'll try using that between each book and the newspaper.

>12 Opteryx: ~3 weeks, then sniff test. It's a plan!

FWIW, I haven't had any problems yet with ink rubbing off from this procedure, that happens from friction as you handle the newspaper, and there shouldn't be any handling after a few quick loose folds (which wasn't even enough to get any visible ink on my fingers, much less the book) until you check on it later. It's more of a potential concern if the book cover has a lot of light/white areas, but it wasn't a problem even on one of my experimental books that had a non-glossy light-beige cover; no guarantees of course.

Some newspaper publishers might use more or less smudgy ink than others; I know the recent newspapers in my area that I was using pages from don't seem to smudge nearly as easily as the ink used by the same papers decades ago did/does (I was just handling some vintage newspapers recently to reorganize the commemorative editions I keep, and my fingers were quite grey when I finished).

I have heard that some newspaper publishers - if they still have a printing plant in your area - are willing to provide pieces or rolls of un-inked leftover paper if you ask. I think butcher paper that I've had in the US tends to be thicker/tighter-woven than newspaper paper (thus possibly less absorbent? might still work given enough time), but evidently that varies too.

I've had a problem like this too, and I've used a method I haven't seen shared here: cat litter. Grab a lidded box big enough for your smelly books, fill it with a good layer of cat litter (bonus points if it has active charcoal in it, and is unscented), place the book in there, seal the box, and wait about 2 weeks. That should get rid of most of the smell (and be a pretty cheap and easy solution!). If it hasn't cleared up by the end of the second week, you can leave them in there longer, depending on the severity of the odor.

>18 BookDragons: etc

https://www.openculture.com/2020/11/powells-books-unveils-a-new-perfume-that-sme...

I have another success to report with newspaper, for a different media format... I usually don't have problems with secondhand DVDs picking up smells, but I got one a few weeks ago that had a bit of cigarette odor. I had to separately wrap the slipcover, cover insert, and plastic case, but the smell is completely gone now.

I did have a problem once with a stinky book – the most stinky I've ever had – that was so gross that I literally hung it up in the greenhouse to air. I brought it back in four months later and the smell had gone! If you're trying that, though, make sure it's not in direct sunlight.

. . . and away from areas that are watered or misted!!!!!

>22 ulmannc:: Indeed, hee hee!

I had to reread this thread to refresh my memory about possible solutions. I should have known better but I bought a reasonably cheap copy of L’Morte de Arthur 1990 facsimile with the Beardsley illustrations off of EBay. It looks ok with just a little chipping on the spine but before I got the box open the reek of cigarettes was overwhelming. Right now it’s swathed in dryer sheets but I may give these other suggestions a try in a few days.

The newspaper trick worked for me! My home library and my grandmother's books no longer smell like decades-old cigarette smoke.

Thanks again for the suggestion, Opteryx.

>25 aspirit:

I've been working on a mildew odor issue for several months now; did you just wrap them in newspaper or did you place the amongst the pages as well?

Opinions please. I found a book called Paris by Augustus J. C. Hare. The author was apparently a popular travel writer in his day. The only editions I have found of this book are two volumes but this seems an earlier version in a single volume. It was published in 1896 and is in remarkably good condition. It looks like it may have only been read once and put away. It has a musty odor. In the past Dryer sheets didn’t work for me, nor newspapers so I’m sealing this one up with baking soda to see what happens. Someone pressed a variety of flowers and leaves throughout the book. Considering that they may have been there for more than a hundred years I’m reluctant to throw them out. Do you think they would prevent getting rid of the smell or cause other damage?

>26 mortalalliance: I'm sorry! I remember responding to your question, so I'm also confused why my answer isn't here.

I only wrap the books in the paper. I've mostly been using printed paper that comes through the mail instead of the newsprint paper that can be purchased on a roll. I'd be concerned about the cheap ink transferring onto my book pages.

>27 varielle: I'm only guessing-- the dried flowers aren't likely to color or contribute mold to the pages as long as they remain dry. I've seen baking soda react to recently cut plants, but I don't expect any of the powder that gets into the book to react to those old cuttings.

Are the pressed plants contributing to the smell, though? Possibly. You might want to pull them out for sniff tests.

>27 varielle:

I have yet to get the baking soda trick to work for me...…. I had a couple books in a sealed Tupperware box for 2-3 months and with 4 boxes of baking soda and they didn't much of anything. I plan to try some combination of freezing, aspirits newspaper trick, and leaving the books outside on a nice sunny day for some UV baking.

Thanks for the advice. I’ll let you know how it turns out.

From an old thread in another forum, I got the lead to this product which, by all accounts, is most effective: book deodorizer.

<32 Glacier, I ordered some of the deodorizer. It didn’t come with any instructions. I guess you just seal it up with the book in a closed container?? 🧐

>33 varielle: There are instructions on the page at Glacerman's link (click on words 'book deoderizer' in his message, and scroll down).

Thank you! I should have remembered.

>32 Glacierman: thanks fir this. Just ordered from a U.K. company Preservation Equipment Ltd. I really hope this works. Received a couple of second hand books with a heavy mustiness odour and mould.

>7 kristyp71: The tea TEABAGS absorb moisture also...a friend who used to be a National Geo Photographer used to pack his camera gear when in high humidity areas of the world... I hav done the same for decades with cameras, yet with books it is not usually an issue but can be.