My Dad just gave me several hardback books but they smell of smoke!!! What can I do to get the smell out?

Question

I have tried leaving them open for several days with different sections left open. But, they still smell. Does anyone know what I can do? I can't stand to read them they smell so bad!!

Answer 1

Here is some things that work.
1)The best thing I have found to remove odors from smokey books is cedar chips. You can buy these from your local feed or pet store. Place the book in a large zip-loc back together with a couple handfuls of the cedar chips. Place the bag somewhere dry and cool for a few days. It's done the trick for me many times and removes the smell of cigarettes, mold and mildew. And the cedar smells really good, too.

2)Place the books in a large plastic bag, sprinkle in some baking soda and close. After a few days the smell should be removed from the books. Just shake or dust off the baking soda.

3)start by wiping the pages with a dryer sheet your mom uses for laundry and then leaving the dryer sheet in the book. This just layers a pleasant odor over the smoke odor, but it might still be there. finally get rid of the smell completely with newspaper. put a sheet of newspaper one every page of the book and let it sit for two days. The smell should be completely gone.

For some reason some of the methods above work better than the others. I hope one of the above works for you

good luck

Answer 2

The best way to remove the smell without damaging the book (using Febreeze will smudge and warp the pages. Baking soda can damage the print based on the condition of the book). Here's what I did while working in my local library. You have two options: 1. Place the book in a clear plastic bag. Place a few fabric softener/dryer sheets in the bag along with the book. Place the book in a drawer or on the shelf of a closet. DO NOT place the book in the sun... it fades color and makes the paper brittle. Leave in the drawer for about 24 hours. 2. Place the book in an empty drawer along with, and don't laugh* charcoal briquettes. Yes, like the kind you use to barbeque. Place a paper towel in a corner far away from the book. This is where you place the briquette. Leave for 24 hours. Believe it or not, charcoal absorbs impurities, such as smoke and other odors. It's even use in water filter systems... Let me know if you're able to get rid of the smoke smell. Continue to read!

Answer 3

Baking soda is a good way to get rid of smoke odor. Now, this takes time because what you want to do is get a box of Arm & Hammer, dust the pages, and leave the baking soda to settle for a day or so. That will give it time to absorb some of the smoke smell and moisture around it. Then, shake it out and repeat the process a few more times over the course of a week. Use scented baking soda if you like. Oh, and a few sprays of perfume will do the trick just right also.

Answer 4

Joan, Tobacco was and still IS a sacred herb, used by American Indians in religious ceremony. It wasn't intended for people to smoke on a regular basis but ONLY in a religious setting. The problem developed with Sir Walter Raleigh, who upon seeing the "Indians" smoke it, acquired some and took it back to England with him. He smoked it in a pipe and did so FAR too often and became addicted to it. Other Englishmen simply followed his example and from that a multi-billion dollar a year business has developed and thrived on an addiction that was ORIGINALLY intended to be used ceremonially and only once in a while for ritual purposes. Sometimes you White people do the craziest things and for the wrong reasons too.

Raji the Green Witch

Answer 5

Slice Apples thinly with the peel still on.

Lay slice between paper, around where the books are laying around.

Get a small apple, cover it in cloves, wrap in foil. Enclose this in a cardboard box with the books for a day or 10 depending.

Hope you like the smell of cloves.

Good luck & bless

Answer 6

Try sitting them up, and spreading the pages apart in the sun. Maybe a light spritz of fabreeze will help also. But a good sunning, probably will do the trick. Don't you hate it, going to the library and bringing home a book smelling of smoke?

Answer 7

You could try putting them in a box with a few briquettes of charcoal, or if you are sure the box won't get knocked around, a small bowl of vinegar in the box might get the smell out. Good luck!

Answer 8

try placing the books into a box with baking soda and cedar chips for 48 hours this should clear the odor. Good Luck!

Answer 9

Mildew odours can be removed by placing the item in plastic and freezing for a few days. This also is supposed to work for also stinky shoes. It may work for Smoke. I would try it.

Answer 10

try some fabric softener sheets , put a couple in each book then put the books in a plastic bag and let them sit a few days, hope this helps.