Can you get a mildew smell out of an old book, if so how?

[Mrs. Readsalot]

I recently purchased an old book I would like to be able to use for homeschool. It smells of mildew and some of the pages look mildewed. Is there any hope for this book. If so what should I do?

[KH_]

I'm not sure you can really get rid of mildew or mold in a book . . .I've heard of microwaving them for a bit to kill the mold, but it's really bad on the book bindings. Personally, I don't take chances on mildewy/moldy books - I don't want them to spread the mold to my other books, and so I won't keep them.

If books are just old smelling, there are a number of things that will help, and I think there are cases of spotting on old paper that isn't mildew. But if it does smell like mildew, it probably is . . .

[Tami]

but a help is to use dryer sheets tucked through the book. It helps a bit.

[sdWTMer]

I have heard this too.

[Lorna]

Newspaper also helps get rid of a mildew smell. But don't you kind off like the smell?

[nuthouse]

a copy center and copy the pertinent parts. Book mildew will spread to other books in your collection. (My folks had to throw out a lifetimes worth of books over a single "garage sale" find.) Don't risk it. No book is worth it's mildew. ;)