Book odor can be a problem for:

• People who collect old or antique volumes
• People who buy used hardbacks, paperbacks or textbooks, particularly if purchased online without an opportunity to inspect them beforehand.
• Anyone whose possessions have been through flooding or other water damage
• Anyone whose property has suffered smoke damage or shared space with a smoker
• Anyone who stores their books in damp or poorly ventilated spaces such as an attic, basement, crawl space, garage or self-storage unit
• Bookstore owners

In any of these situations, eliminating unpleasant, musty, or smoky smells may be a problem. Books easily pick up odors such as smoke, and they are also quite susceptible to musty odors from being exposed to moisture or humid conditions.  

That musty book odor can make you sneeze, cause your eyes to water, or trigger other allergic reactions or asthma. Excess moisture will also eventually ruin your books.   Even if moisture and musty odors weren’t destructive to your health or your property, you’d still want to get rid of the smell because it’s just not pleasant.  

Fortunately, the solution to eliminating the odor of musty books is simple and economical.  DampRid Moisture Absorbers actually absorb excess humidity and odors using calcium chloride crystals.  DampRid will control the humidity in your air, helping to keep your books moisture free.

If your books have been exposed to flooding or water damage, spread them out in a room with one or more containers of DampRid Moisture Absorbing and Musty Odor Remover products, and the crystals will automatically dry out the cover and pages and prevent musty smells from occurring – but won’t over dry them.

DampRid makes a full line of moisture absorbers. These non-electric dehumidifiers absorb and trap moisture in the air, lowering the relative level of humidity to 50% or less. At these levels, moisture cannot flourish within the pages of your books. When excess humidity is gone, the musty odors are gone along with them.

If your problem is due to smoke rather than moisture, try Odor Genie. Simply place the product on the shelf with your books and it will eliminate smoke odors completely. 

Books are often valued possessions. Keep them safe and dry with DampRid, and they will give you many years of pleasure.