A great way to deal with bad smelling books.7673
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 Collector
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michaelekrupp private msg quote post Address this user | |
| I recently received some books on eBay that stunk of mildew so bad that I wasn’t sure what to do with them. The seller basically said “I am no grader if comics so judge the condition from the pictures.” Well, the photo was not one of those scratch and sniff dealies, so I was a little surprised when I got the books and the smell of them was so strong I was afraid to even file them with my other comics for fear they would contaminate them! The comics had obviously been stored for years in a damp basement or a leaky shed. I only paid a small amount for the books and I really didn’t want to hassle with a return or slam the seller with negative feedback, deserved or not. The reason I am posting is because I actually found an effective way to deal with this problem, which some of you may find helpful if it ever happens to you. What I did was place a dryer sheet inside each of the comics. The first day I placed them inside the centerfold. The second day I moved them to inside the front cover and the third dayI moved them inside the back cover. By the third day, most of the mildew smell had been eliminated. Definitely a useful trick if you ever come across any comics that have been stored in a musty basement. | ||
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 Collector
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MR_SigS private msg quote post Address this user | |
| Any chance we can get an update after some time has passed? I'm curious how well it lasts. | ||
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 Collector
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pepejsb1 private msg quote post Address this user | |
| I would try using baking soda to help absorb the bad odor. | ||
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 Captain Accident
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the420bandito private msg quote post Address this user | |
| http://bookrepairsupply.com/shop-2/book-deodorizer/book-deodorizer/ | ||
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Collector
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michaelekrupp private msg quote post Address this user | |
Quote:Originally Posted by MR_SigS |
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Collector
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MR_SigS private msg quote post Address this user | |
| I read the scented kind help deter mosquitos too. Is the sheet you used scented? |
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 I don't believe this....and I know you don't care that I don't believe this.
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GAC private msg quote post Address this user | |
Quote:Originally Posted by michaelekrupp Presumably the short time of dryer sheet exposure will have little to no effect on the comic itself? |
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Collector
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michaelekrupp private msg quote post Address this user | |
| Don’t know if it makes a difference or not but I use free and clear dryer sheets. | ||
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Collector
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SpiderTim private msg quote post Address this user | |
Quote:Originally Posted by pepejsb1 I was thinking the exact same thing! Quote: Originally Posted by the420bandito Nice tip! |
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I don't believe this....and I know you don't care that I don't believe this.
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GAC private msg quote post Address this user | |
| Is this restoration talk? I don't know if it is but I know they don't like that kind of talk around here. | ||
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Collector
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pepejsb1 private msg quote post Address this user | |
| Dryer sheets may leave oily residue behind depending on brands and how long it's left in the books. Tread lightly... | ||
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 Collector
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RRO private msg quote post Address this user | |
Quote:Originally Posted by GAC A lot would depend on one's definition of restoration eh? Mildew can be pretty nasty to the sinuses too ~ beware. |
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Collector
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JMR private msg quote post Address this user | |
| I have found that putting two or three sheets of micro chamber paper between the pages helps to absorb a lot of odor. You can actually smell the transfer odors on the sheets after only a week or so... | ||
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Collector
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michaelekrupp private msg quote post Address this user | |
| I doubt it would be considered restoration if cleaning and pressing are not considered so. I also doubt I would try it on a high value book. It’s just something I tried to solve a problem that I had and it worked out better than expected so I thought I would share. Also appreciate hearing the solutions that the rest of you have come up with. You guys are full of great ideas! | ||
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 Collector
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BabaLament private msg quote post Address this user | |
| I've run into this a couple of times. I have a cigar humidor that I never used for tobacco. I can take a musty book, stick it in there for a couple of days, and it comes out without offensive odor. | ||
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 Collector
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andy49 private msg quote post Address this user | |
| any suggestions for a smelly cigarette-smoke slab and bag? | ||
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 -Our Odin-Rest in Peace |
Jesse_O private msg quote post Address this user | |
| I've heard that putting a comic (or any book) in a sealed bag of fresh kitty litter will remove any urine odors. I believe it takes a couple to three weeks to work. | ||
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 I bought a meat grinder on amazon for $60 and it's changed my life.
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kaptainmyke private msg quote post Address this user | |
| Just let the book air out for a week. No chemicals or acids. | ||
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 Beaten by boat oars
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Studley_Dudley private msg quote post Address this user | |
| Have you tried peeing on it? It asserts dominance over the odor. | ||
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Collector
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michaelekrupp private msg quote post Address this user | |
| Just a quick follow up: I removed the dryer sheets from the books a few days ago and the funky smell did not return. There is no oily residue on the pages, but I did use free and clear sheets, so the ones with additives may give a different result. The books still have a very faint smell if you hold them directly under your nose, but considering i was looking at returning them or flat out throwing them away, I am pretty happy with the results. | ||
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I bought a meat grinder on amazon for $60 and it's changed my life.
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kaptainmyke private msg quote post Address this user | |
| Awesome glad it worked out. I bought a EC Horror Book, Vault of Horror I think, and it had a horrible acidic smell to it. I let it air out for a week and it went away on its own. Unscented dryer sheets or paper towels can do wonders. | ||
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