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Re: Remove "old book" odor

Subject: Re: Remove "old book" odor
by Morgan on 2012/8/17 8:05:53

Thanks for your reply, Khamul!

Yes, looking at these photos at Bookologist.com, I recognize the brown stains:

http://www.bookologist.com/cab/abu/y203/m03/bk0001/s03

As Craig Stark here points out,

Foxing requires a warm, humid environment to spread. Previously clean books stored in rooms at 60 to 70 degrees with a relative humidity under 50% will not develop foxing. Also, development of additional foxing in books already infected will be largely arrested.

Hopefully, then, my antiseptic treatment and the environment of my library will prevent any spreading of the infestation to other books.

I've kept the books and a dish of baking soda in a "box" made of two plastic bags for about 48 hours. I'll leave them another 48 hours, and if still smelly, I might repeat the treatment.