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Won't an hour in the oven ruin the book? I'm assuming massive browning of pages, etc... Tom Send a noteboard - 16/10/2013 03:16:26 AM

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I have about three books that I really, truly like that smell sort of mildewy ("old book smell"). I have heard that freezing will destroy the smell but "not the spores". My library is very dry - humidity is probably around 25% - but I don't want spores all over it. I already have the spots for the books in places where they will have limited exposure to other books, but am I running a risk? Is there anything else I can do? I've read about this on the Internet but haven't gotten any definitive answers.

Look up the process of autoclaving (sterilizing lab materials). It's usually done with moist heat when possible (30 min @ 121 C), but if you can only use dry heat (assume you'd have to with books), go with 400 F for an hour in your oven.


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ἡ δὲ κἀκ τριῶν τρυπημάτων ἐργαζομένη ἐνεκάλει τῇ φύσει, δυσφορουμένη, ὅτι δὴ μὴ καὶ τοὺς τιτθοὺς αὐτῇ εὐρύτερον ἢ νῦν εἰσι τρυπώη, ὅπως καὶ ἄλλην ἐνταῦθα μίξιν ἐπιτεχνᾶσθαι δυνατὴ εἴη. – Procopius

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Question on books with mildewy smell - 14/10/2013 08:57:45 PM 1384 Views
Probably not the answer you're looking for. - 15/10/2013 01:37:19 PM 1398 Views
Could you keep them in a cupboard? - 15/10/2013 05:47:20 PM 1241 Views
Freezing won't kill them but heat will - 16/10/2013 03:09:33 AM 1255 Views
Won't an hour in the oven ruin the book? I'm assuming massive browning of pages, etc... - 16/10/2013 03:16:26 AM 1052 Views
yep, sorry i just edited - 16/10/2013 03:17:10 AM 1147 Views
also - 16/10/2013 03:31:35 AM 1116 Views
Re: also - 16/10/2013 05:10:12 AM 1158 Views
There's a few tricks - 16/10/2013 05:01:51 AM 1252 Views
I like the desiccant idea. - 16/10/2013 05:20:25 AM 1068 Views
Re: I like the desiccant idea. - 16/10/2013 05:56:46 AM 1320 Views
Kind of a weird idea - 16/10/2013 11:34:42 PM 1068 Views
It may work, but then spores are in your vacuum cleaner. - 17/10/2013 03:34:03 AM 1123 Views
Buy a cheap crappy vaccum cleaner from a thrift store? - 17/10/2013 11:40:37 PM 1234 Views
Maybe it would be worth contacting a library? - 29/10/2013 04:09:31 PM 1125 Views

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