# What are the best ways to prevent mildew if you've got several rooms of old books?
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-best-ways-to-prevent-mildew-if-youve-got-several-rooms-of-old-books/429694
**Category:** Cafe Society
**Created:** [December 12, 2007, 2:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-best-ways-to-prevent-mildew-if-youve-got-several-rooms-of-old-books/429694 "2007-12-12T02:17:09Z")
**Posts on this page:** 11
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Terrifel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terrifel)
#### Post date: [December 12, 2007, 2:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-best-ways-to-prevent-mildew-if-youve-got-several-rooms-of-old-books/429694/1 "2007-12-12T02:17:09Z")
Because I do. I’ve never really noticed any mildew before, but today I picked up a book and huzzah! Mildew. The other books on that shelf seem fine so far to my untrained eye, but I am still alarmed. Is there any sort of product that I can use to keep mildew from taking over, yet will not eventually cause my library to melt into fibrous toxic paste? (Such a product would also need to be relatively pet-safe; though I am perfectly willing to destroy my own health to keep my books safe, I suppose it’s unfair to ask the same of my critters.) Help help help, save our ship etc.!!
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### Author:  [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)
#### Post date: [December 12, 2007, 2:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-best-ways-to-prevent-mildew-if-youve-got-several-rooms-of-old-books/429694/2 "2007-12-12T02:58:45Z")
Climate control is the best way. AC or at least a dehumidifier.
There are some special cleaning methods for removing the mildew without damaging the books. Do a search on Mildew Books within the last year, and you will find some excellent detailed instructions from a librarian poster.
Jim
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### Author:  [@armedmonkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/armedmonkey)
#### Post date: [December 12, 2007, 4:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-best-ways-to-prevent-mildew-if-youve-got-several-rooms-of-old-books/429694/3 "2007-12-12T04:35:43Z")
**What Exit** is correct about climate control. I just wanted to add that if the rooms don’t suit themselves to electric appliances, you should put a couple of tubs of DampRid around, as a cheap and easy way to keep the area dry. You can pick them up at any hardware store.
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### Author:  [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)
#### Post date: [December 12, 2007, 4:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-best-ways-to-prevent-mildew-if-youve-got-several-rooms-of-old-books/429694/4 "2007-12-12T04:45:58Z")
Some dudes swear by an Ozone-generator, but that’s in a Bookstore, after hours. They can be dangerous to humans and pets.
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### Author:  [@Terrifel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terrifel)
#### Post date: [December 12, 2007, 1:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-best-ways-to-prevent-mildew-if-youve-got-several-rooms-of-old-books/429694/5 "2007-12-12T13:21:36Z")
[QUOTE=What Exit?]
There are some special cleaning methods for removing the mildew without damaging the books. Do a search on Mildew Books within the last year, and you will find some excellent detailed instructions from a librarian poster.
[/QUOTE]
I did this thing, and found [one thread about mildew](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=441337). The only instructions in that thread appear to be from… you… :dubious:
Please don’t mess with my head like this! I’m in a very vulnerable emotional state on account of my mildew crisis! I can only assume that this is typical of librarian humor?
Anyway: danke for the bleaching suggestion, although I don’t know if there’s any practical way for me to inspect each book for mildew-- there just aren’t that many hours left in my remaining lifespan. The AC information is mildly reassuring, as I generally prefer to maintain my domicile to the same standards described in H.P. Lovecraft’s “Cool Air” (and for much the same reasons).
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### Author:  [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)
#### Post date: [December 12, 2007, 1:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-best-ways-to-prevent-mildew-if-youve-got-several-rooms-of-old-books/429694/6 "2007-12-12T13:28:53Z")
Keep the books away from the damp walls that cause the mildew and read up on mildew and discover that it is a living organism that will leap from book to book. Without treatment one mildewed book will become a hundred mildewed books.
I had the misfortune to introduce mildew into a friend’s prized recipe book by having it touching the damp external wall (I didn’t know). It took me weeks and a few bucks to clean up one book to my/her satisfaction.
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### Author:  [@Orual](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Orual)
#### Post date: [December 12, 2007, 1:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-best-ways-to-prevent-mildew-if-youve-got-several-rooms-of-old-books/429694/7 "2007-12-12T13:49:35Z")
[QUOTE=Terrifel]
I did this thing, and found [one thread about mildew](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=441337). The only instructions in that thread appear to be from… you… :dubious:
[/QUOTE]
Hey! [sub]Maybe I didn’t give instructions, but I gave good _general advice_ …[/sub]
Anyways, I’m in agreement with the previous posters - the best thing you can do to prevent mildew is climate control. The cooler and drier you keep things, the better off your books will be.
It would probably be a good idea to spot-check the rest of your collection, at least in the area where you found the affected one, just to make sure it hasn’t spread. Mildew is pernicious. (I assume you’re keeping the mildewed book quarantined until it’s cleaned up.)
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### Author:  [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)
#### Post date: [December 12, 2007, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-best-ways-to-prevent-mildew-if-youve-got-several-rooms-of-old-books/429694/8 "2007-12-12T14:22:06Z")
[QUOTE=Terrifel]
I did this thing, and found [one thread about mildew](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=441337). The only instructions in that thread appear to be from… you… :dubious:
Please don’t mess with my head like this! I’m in a very vulnerable emotional state on account of my mildew crisis! I can only assume that this is typical of librarian humor?
Anyway: danke for the bleaching suggestion, although I don’t know if there’s any practical way for me to inspect each book for mildew-- there just aren’t that many hours left in my remaining lifespan. The AC information is mildly reassuring, as I generally prefer to maintain my domicile to the same standards described in H.P. Lovecraft’s “Cool Air” (and for much the same reasons).
[/QUOTE]
Hmm, I can’t find it either, just my own amateur cleaning method.
The closest I found was [http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?p=5382631](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?p=5382631). This one recommends alcohol on an eraser.
The poster \*\*cichlidiot \*\* included this useful bit.
> [@](#):
>
> 1. Clean: Vacuum with wipe visible mold from books or papers with a clean dry rag or a soft brush; bookbindings can be wiped with ethanol or vacuumed with a wet/dry vacuum cleaner; clean shelves, walls, floors, air conditioning heat-exchange coils, air vents, etc. with Lysol, Chlorox, X-14, or other mold-killing solutions; if you are dealing with a small quantity of books, you can set them out in the sun to dry out, otherwise use fans following the ethanol/vacuum cleaning.
Jim (My memory is a prankster.)
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### Author:  [@Terrifel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terrifel)
#### Post date: [December 12, 2007, 2:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-best-ways-to-prevent-mildew-if-youve-got-several-rooms-of-old-books/429694/9 "2007-12-12T14:30:40Z")
[QUOTE=Orual]
Hey! [sub]Maybe I didn’t give instructions, but I gave good _general advice_ …[/sub]
[/quote]
Sorry, I didn’t mean to slight your advice in that thread. But I’m already following your suggestion as best I’m able, in that I don’t store my books alongside my lawn equipment. Yes, admittedly there is a certain quantity of dirt and plant material in my apartment. What can I say, I’m not dating these days. I suppose I could vacuum more often.
> [@](#):
>
> Anyways, I’m in agreement with the previous posters - the best thing you can do to prevent mildew is climate control. The cooler and drier you keep things, the better off your books will be.
>
> It would probably be a good idea to spot-check the rest of your collection, at least in the area where you found the affected one, just to make sure it hasn’t spread. Mildew is pernicious. (I assume you’re keeping the mildewed book quarantined until it’s cleaned up.)
Alas, I deem that the affected book is beyond redemption (\*The Humanoids \* by Jack Williamson, Science-Fiction Classics edition [Grosset & Dunlap, 1950]. Oh well). Upon close inspection, the pages appear to have absorbed a bit of water at one end-- not hugely noticeable by itself, but obviously this is what promoted the mildew growth at that site.
The thing that really worries me is that this particular book was a relatively recent acquisition, one of a number of books that have since been distributed throughout the stacks. If any of the others were similarly damp, this could presage a major outbreak. This is why I’m trying to institute preventive measures.
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### Author:  [@well\_he\_s\_back](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/well_he_s_back)
#### Post date: [December 12, 2007, 2:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-best-ways-to-prevent-mildew-if-youve-got-several-rooms-of-old-books/429694/10 "2007-12-12T14:45:44Z")
Hi - If the good advice you’ve received already isn’t enough,
consider contacting a professional conservator. When I worked in museums I found the Northeast Document Conservation Center particularly helpful. They have printed info available as well as help finding a pro.
> **[NEDCC Preservation Leaflets](https://www.nedcc.org/free-resources/preservation-leaflets/overview)**
>
> Welcome to NEDCC’s Preservation Leaflets series! Click the Leaflet topic categories to begin your exploration of...
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### Author:  [@Terrifel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terrifel)
#### Post date: [December 12, 2007, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-best-ways-to-prevent-mildew-if-youve-got-several-rooms-of-old-books/429694/11 "2007-12-12T23:11:31Z")
[QUOTE=well he’s back]
Hi - If the good advice you’ve received already isn’t enough,
consider contacting a professional conservator. When I worked in museums I found the Northeast Document Conservation Center particularly helpful. They have printed info available as well as help finding a pro.
[http://www.nedcc.org/resources/leaflets.list.php](http://www.nedcc.org/resources/leaflets.list.php)
[/QUOTE]
Jeepers! That’s a heap o’ information! Thanks muchly.
Is there any kind of test that can determine if mildew spores are present before they visibly affect books? Some kind of ‘mildew swab’ that turns bright red or something along those lines? I mistrust my ability to recognize the early traces of mildew.