Recently our mother was sent a box of papers, books, and photos after a relative's death. While she was pleasantly surprised by what the box held, it's all been sitting on the patio table because she's not sure what to do about the very strong musty smell.
We just read that if you place musty books in a plastic bag with baking soda, the miracle crystals will absorb the odors after a few weeks. We're planning to try it with the box of memorabilia (although we're not sure about the photos), and will report on the results of the experiment.
Well, it works for shoes, so why not?
It's quite alkaline: so a small bit in the bottom of the box with the photos out of direct contact (at the top of the pile as it were) would be fine.
view Alana in Canada's profile
I like crushing charcoal (the kind not pre-soaked in lighter fluid) as an odor-absorber. It's carbon and will suck the smell right out of the area.
I place the briquetes in a plastic bag and crush them with a hammer. I'd imagine that you could put the charcoal powder in a Solo cup inside the box, seal it up, and the smell should disappear.
view Kristel's profile
One of the reasons paper smells is because it's rotting. High levels of acidity in the paper means it is 'burning' - what conservators call 'slow fires'.
The paper needs to be checked. Anything that is brown will 'burn' any paper or photos next to it, and it will turn brown too and spread the 'fire' to the next item.
High acid paper is heading for the knackers. It is very expensive to de-acidify paper- it is only used when the item is of high historical value.
Damp paper has been infested with fungus - hence the smell. In Sydney (high humidity) you have under 48 hours to dry out paper before it is lost to fungus. (You freeze it! There's a special unit in Melbourne that can be flown around to save libraries & archives. The USA has several too.) If the problem is damp paper, then the box itself may be partly responsible.
If the items are of great family sentiment, you should consult a conservator before placing any kind of chemical in the vicinity.
If it can't be saved, then copy everything and toss the originals. I would probably photograph the originals to prove provenance.
It is very distressing. I am about to bin most of my library. Some books are now so brown they are illegible, fragile -- and smelly.
view Deb of Oz's profile
Crumpled up newspapers also work to absorb mildew-y smells, in books or furniture or whatever.
Not a conservation technique of course . . .
view guido's profile
If the books smell of mold or mildew, I'd want to do something about it. Otherwise, the smell of old books is a good thing. I know it means the paper is probably rotting or something, but I love the smell of old books. :)
view JyoJyo's profile