To get rid of musty book smell, don't add any liquid — deodorize dry. Air the book out in a dry, shaded spot for several days, then seal it in a bin or bag with an open container of baking soda, activated charcoal, or unscented clay cat litter (not touching the pages) for days to a few weeks, and keep it somewhere cool and dry afterward. The smell comes from past or present mold and mildew activity plus trapped humidity, so moisture control is the real fix. Never spray water, fabric refresher, or perfume on a book.
Published June 2026 · By Josh Eldred, New Mexico Literacy Project
Why books smell musty
That damp, sour, basement-y odor is mostly the signature of mold and mildew — the microscopic organisms give off musty-smelling compounds whether they're currently active or long dormant. Add the humidity books soak up in basements, garages, and storage units, plus the slow chemical breakdown of old paper, and you get the classic musty box. (The pleasant "old book smell" is the gentle breakdown of paper compounds; the sharp musty note is the moisture-and-mildew part you want gone.) Because moisture is the root cause, the cure is about drying and absorbing — never adding more liquid.
The methods that actually work
1. Air it out
Stand the book upright with the pages gently fanned open, somewhere dry and airy but out of direct sun (sun fades and warps). A few days of fresh air alone makes a real dent, especially for light odor.
2. Seal it with a dry odor absorber
Put the book in a closed plastic bin or bag together with an open container of baking soda, activated charcoal, or unscented clay cat litter. Keep the absorber near but not touching the pages. Seal it and wait — days for mild cases, a few weeks for stubborn ones. The absorber pulls the odor compounds out of the paper.
3. Keep it dry from now on
Odor returns if the book goes back into damp storage. Store it cool, dry, and ventilated (see the preservation & storage guide). In New Mexico's dry climate, simply moving a box out of a damp garage often helps on its own.
These methods are slow on purpose. Deodorizing a book is a patience game, and patience is exactly what protects the paper.
Musty vs. actually moldy
A musty smell isn't the same as visible, active mold. If you see fuzzy or powdery growth, that's a different situation — handle and isolate it carefully (see how to tell if a book has mold) rather than just deodorizing. And if the book got wet, the water-damaged books guide covers the drying steps that prevent musty odor in the first place.
Frequently asked questions
What gets musty smell out of books?
Dry methods: air the book out, then seal it with baking soda, activated charcoal, or unscented cat litter (not touching the pages) for days to weeks, and keep it dry afterward.
Can I spray something on a musty book?
No — sprays add moisture, which caused the smell and can stain the book or feed mold. Deodorize dry only.
Why do my books smell musty?
Mold and mildew compounds plus humidity absorbed in damp storage, along with aging paper. Moisture is the root cause, so drying is the fix.
Cite This Guide
Eldred, J. (June 2026). How to Get Rid of Musty Book Smell. New Mexico Literacy Project.
https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/how-to-remove-musty-book-smell
Licensed under CC BY 4.0.