It’s time to tackle your overloaded bookshelves! Lack of circulating air around books encourages mustiness, mildew and silverfish….Ew! This is what you need to do…
Resist the urge to stuff your books into the bookcase, and instead give them a little room to breathe by limiting your books to one layer per shelf, with enough room to add just two or three more books—but don’t! Also avoid the lazy habit of laying books flat directly on top of shelved books.
To remove a musty smell: Place the book in a plastic bag, and then put it in a frost-free freezer overnight. In the morning, the musty smell should be gone.
To remove mold and mildew: If your favorite books have become moldy or mildewy and you have the patience to do a tedious job, try this remedy. Get a soft toothbrush, and gently brush off the mold or mildew from each affected page. Then sprinkle cornstarch or baking soda between the dirty pages, and let it stay that way overnight.
The next morning, gently brush out the cornstarch or baking soda (it’s good to use another soft, clean toothbrush). The book may not be as good as new, but it will be a lot better than it was and you will have stopped it from getting worse.
Bonus: Best Book Duster! Use a clean (never used) paintbrush to dust your books.
More easy ways to clean…
• Amazing Stain-Removal Tricks for All Around Your Home
