How to Get Musty Smells out of Books and Magazines

Get musty smells out of books and magazines with baking soda.

Books and magazines absorb odor and moisture quickly, especially when the books are stored in a damp, dark and/or humid area. The paper pages collect the smell and make the book seem unclean and unusable, making it important to incorporate a deodorizing routine that gets the musty smell out of the books or magazines. After removing the smell, remember to store the items in a cool, dry place.

Things You'll Need

• Baking soda
• Spray bottle
• Vinegar
• Cleaning rag
• Grocery bag

Instructions

1. Sprinkle the books and magazines with baking soda and place into a grocery bag. Tie the bag closed and let the items sit overnight. The baking soda naturally absorbs moisture and deodorizes the books and magazines.

2. Take the items out of the bags and shake off gently the next day to release the baking soda. Use caution when you have older books that could fall apart easily.

3. Fill a spray bottle with white vinegar and mist lightly over the covers and pages of the items. Let the vinegar air-dry, or blot a cleaning rag over magazine and book covers if they are hard surfaces that do not absorb the vinegar.

References

• Versatile Vinegar: Uses and Tips
• Keene State College: Green Cleaning
• Mrs. Clean USA: Odor Removal