Okay, I need your collective wisdom, DUers

[Modem Butterfly]

My partner and I are moving, and we found a number of nearly irreplaceable books to have water damage, such as mold and swelling. I do NOT want these things in our new house because my partner has allergies, but we do want these things preserved. We're thinking of putting them in climate-controlled storage while we figure out how to preserve them (thinking a lower humidity will help save them). But I'm wondering if these things can even be saved? What do you all think? Has anyone ever dealt with such a problem?

[purr]

1. Theres restoration companies that'll do it..

I saw this on tv and they showed how they even fix the items.

[Modem Butterfly]

2. Probably not an option here, mold's a real issue

The items are irreplaceable to us but have a relatively low value otherwise, and we have a large number of them (catastrophic leak, many old books, a good degree of mold)

[SOteric]

3. Maybe yes, and maybe no.

If it's just water damage and some swelling, it can be repaired. If it's book mold, not only can it not be repaired, but it will destroy any other book it comes into contact with. No book dealer worth his salt would even let you in the door with a book sporting book mold. One random spore and half his stock would have to be destroyed.

[Democrat 4 Ever]

4. Spritz a mild solution of bleach water thru the pages and let them

air dry completely. If you can find a place where the sunshine is pretty bright to let them dry, even better. Will help to get rid of the mold and mildew and the smell. This method is NOT for rare collectibles. Then stack them on top of each other to let the weight of the books flatten the pages as much as possible. If you are iffy, do a test book on a volume you can live without.

I have done this in the past (flooded basement) but maybe a professional book restorer or a librarian can give you better advice.

[Modem Butterfly]

9. It's really quite humid down here right now

It will stay humid until mid to late fall. We're thinking we might put them into climate controlled storage for now. We can't let them into our new place right now because of the mold, and we can't let them dry outside because they'll never dry down here!

[Richard Steele]

5. You need to kill the mold NOW or it will continue to grow.

Sometimes a good drying-out is sufficient, sometimes not.

I used Lysol, but none of my damp books were valuable (it stains)

[dajoki]

6. see a pro

there are restoration co's, i think that's your best chance. GOOD LUCK!!

[seriousstan]

7. I used a damp wipe of triple strength bleach and then a 20 ton press.

It worked beautifully.

[medeak]

8. yes.. had collectable jazz albums from the thirties

spread out on blanket in the sun (but live in arid environment) and mold was killed by UV rays.

light bleach spray works well too..

If worried afterwards use a "black lightbulb" and shine on books in the dark. Any mold leftover will appear

[Modem Butterfly]

10. How did you keep the albums from warping?

BTW, thanks for the blacklight tip!

[Zuni]

11. I used Lysol wipes to clean mold off of books that got wet

when I had a fire in my apartment last year. The books will be damaged, but I got most of the mold off of them.

A little bleach on a paper towel will kill the spores along the spine and sides of the book too, but be careful, cause you could damage the book more

[bettyellen]

12. if it's humid, after the bleach spray, use a blowdryer....

and if anythings very wavy warped. a light pressing with a hot dry iron.
you want to get as much moisture out as possible before storage. it's hard to get all the spores. and yes, keep them away from other books and papers.

[bettyellen]

13. and you can make a press out of boards and clamps....

any lumberyard should be able to help you do it cheap. i just asked my friend who went through this. he said everything came out pretty good w/ the bleach spray-- but test it first, and use 10% or less bleach.