by Elizabeth Mckibben

Created on: January 23, 2007   Last Updated: April 18, 2007

Removing mold from old books is best done by trained professionals.
There are a great deal of different types of paper and inks used, depending on where and when the book was printed. If you have a valuable book, I recommend finding a professional in your area. If you have several books that need help, and can't or don't want to go through the expense of hiring a professional, there are a few things you can try.

Wear a partical mask as you do not want to transfer the mold to your lungs. Also wear cotton gloves to protect the book from your skin oil. Work outdoors if the weather is good or indoors with good ventilation, protect your table top with a layer of vinyl covered with newspaper or wrapping paper (not tissue),

Make sure the book is completely dried, if not leave it open at the wettest area, place unbleached coffee filters, or soft/fine cotton cloth in between the pages. press lightly to transfer as much of the moisture as possible, then stand the book upright, with the pages fanned open with the cover no more than 45 degrees open, occasionally fluff through them carefully. The point is to not cause more damage than has already occurred.

Next you must kill the mold that has developed.

Start with a blank page, using a cotton swab dab a bit of hydrogen peroxide, in one spot, an orange oil base cleaner in another spot, and a bit of shower cleaner at 1/4 strength (cut with water, or with the hydrogen peroxide). Let it dry, then test to see if your page has been made cleaner without causing brittleness or any other undesirable effect.

(Some people use bleach, but I would not recommend that, due to it's caustic nature.)

Next the scary part is to test the ink, make sure your solution does not dissolve or blur the ink, (I would test it on a mold spot located on a page number, or some other location that would not distract the reader.)

If the damage is old, and the mold is no longer growing simply airing the pages will get rid of some of the odor. You may try using a white, soft erasure or erasure cleaning sponge gently, carefully, with caution to remove the stains.

Be patient, this process takes time and TLC, otherwise call in a pro.

Learn more about this author, Elizabeth Mckibben.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.