Book Moisture Absorbers to Combat Mould.
A while ago I ordered a second-hand copy of an out-of-print book. The book was published in 1969 and the marks inside show that it spent its life before it came to me in a public library. The public does not seem to have been too interested in this book – its visual appearance is very good, but it had a very strong musty smell. Fortunately, there were no visible mould stains.
However, even the smell is an indication of mould. Normally mould would be caused by actual water damage, but being stored in humid conditions for a long time (as this library book probably was) can produce the same effect.
We have all seen mould forming on food, but, provided there is a certain amount of moisture, it can grow on any organic matter, including paper. Therefore it can affect not only books, but many other items, which often have a high sentimental value, like photographs or your kids’ or grandkids’ drawings.
Mould spores are everywhere, the air around us contains billions of them, and there is not that much we can do about that, but we can influence the conditions they need to germinate, like humidity.
So, what did I do with my smelly book? I was fortunate with the weather we have experienced recently – warm, very low humidity and quite windy – and I just put it outside. Mould should if at all possible be removed outdoors, because you obviously want to get rid of the mould spores, not just recycle them inside your home. Air movement is essential as it dries out the mould spores. Should there not be enough air natural movement, you can increase ventilation with an electric fan. (Good tips on how to remove mould from books can be found here)
After having gone to all the trouble to remove the musty smell from your cherished books or other items made out of paper, you obviously want to keep them like that. It is important to store them in clean, dry and stable conditions. Should it not be possible to ensure good air flow, because the books are for instance in an enclosed cupboard, Pingi can help. Pingi Book Moisture Absorbers can be placed inside your cupboard, or if they are on a cramped shelf behind the books, will absorb the moisture in the surrounding air and thus keep the humidity in the immediate environment of the books at a low level.
Keep your books dry and mould free with PINGI Book Moisture Absorbers!
PINGI Book Moisture Absorbers come in three sizes.
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