Thanks to all who sent me ideas on getting intense cigarette smoke out
of books. Thanks to Amy Gillespie, Ronda K. Foust, Joanne Ladewig,
Jacquie Henry, Jean Gustafson, Donnette Mickelson, Barb Fritz, Judith
Beahan, Holly Gillum, Janet Saczawa, Kay Goss, Colette Eason, Lisa
Jessup, Bonnie Rae, Mary Tichey-Staack, and Mary Taylor
Here are the suggestions!
A ziplock bag and a charcoal filter (the kind they sell for a litter
box)
always did the trick for us. Leave the book and the filter in there
for a
few days.
Put them in a box with a bowl of cut up apples.
Febreeze?
You might try putting them into a trash bag over a weekend with some
brickets like you BQ with. Supposedly the brickets take smells out of
stuff. I know it has worked on other things.
I think I would put some cat litter in the bottom of a brown bag and
then gently place the book on top and let it sit for a few days. You'd
have to dust it off afterward, but at least it wouldn't reek.
Place them in a large paper bag, and douse them with baking powder and
leave for a week or more. It may only take a few days, but I have
allergies to smoke so I wouldn't take any chances!
As a grad student, I got a chance to work for a short time in our
library's preservation dept. Though I didn't get to try this first
hand, one recommendation that we were given was to create a "chamber"
using a plastic bin with a lid and a metal rack (the kind that you put
in a closet to hold shoes), layer about an inch of kitty litter in the
bottom of the chamber, open the book and lay it on top of the rack and
seal it in. The kitty litter absorbs odors.
As far as the smoke smell in the books now, first try leaving the books
out
in the sun for a few hours, books standing up with pages facing the sun
(or
maybe a fan to blow away the odor?).
I have found that placing the standing splayed open in a plastic
garbage bag along with a bar of deodorant soap (in the box is fine),
works well. I usually leave them in there for a day or two.
I have put dryer sheets in smelly books before.
It is hard to get smoke smell out--I had some survive the fire, but
were full of smoke.
I have even tried a very fine mist of Febreeze and then allowed the
book to dry.
I just had a similar situation w/a 3rd grade student. I am more
concerned about her health breathing the second hand smoke of both of
her parents. She uses an inhaler!
I did talk to her regarding the books and she is going to try to keep
the books in her backpack in her room and read there where it is smoke
free.
I let them air on a top shelf for a few days. For severe cases, zip
them in a zip-lock back with baking soda - which can be kinda messy - or
kitty litter. Leave for a few days and try them later. I have been
known to discard severe cases - and I always smell my books before
checking them out in the public library. I'm allergic and it just kills
me. (I'm not one of those weird smellers, but I thumb/fan through them.
If it reeks, I'll smell it.)
If that doesn't work try some baking soda - put it into a shaker and
sprinkle it into pages lightly, then enclose the book in a Ziplock
bag.
Leave for a few days. Then shake book out. This will be a lot messier,
but
would probably work. I have also heard that newspaper absorbs odor.
Or
perhaps a very fine mist of Febreeze - but not enough to get it wet -
then
leave book fanned open to air dry.
Keep a large ziplock bag handy. Put several chunks of charcoal inside.
Seal the books in the bag for a few days. It should take care of the
problem.
Put the book and an unused dryer sheet into a Ziploc type bag.
I have used Frebreeze and it does a decent job. After spraying I stand
the
book fanned out to dry.
Big garbage bag, fill with crumpled newspapers. Insert book and remove
in a few days. The papers absorb the smell and all is well. Reuse the
bag, change the newspapers.
If they are as bad as you say, you may want to put a couple of sheets
throughout the book. Let them stay together in the bag for awhile; you
will discover how long they need.
You may find after a few days you need to put in new sheets.
Then, stand the book up in such a way to let it air out so it doesn't
reek of dryer sheets.
I think the more important question is how to prevent it in the future.
How is it possible the books are absorbing that much smoke smell? If it
is parents or siblings doing the smoking (or is it your borrower?! * a
junior high student? Chain smoking?) I feel really sorry for the
student's lungs!!! Can you imagine how much nicotine they are
receiving?! - Just as an aside, after a lung exam, a doctor asked me at
age 45 how long I had smoked * I had never smoked! Never! Yet my
parents were occasional smokers and my husband smoked (but not heavily)
for the first 5 years of our marriage. Of course, growing up in an L.A.
suburb before smog was reduced probably did some destruction too. Even
so, the doctor acted as if I wasn't being truthful. I have since begun
exercising and built up my lung capacity, and seem to be fine.
Anyway, I would consider getting some input from the school nurse or
principal about what you can say to the student about this on a personal
level. You can at the very least, talk to the student and tell them that
several books have been returned by them "in damaged condition." When
they are surprised, kindly mention to them about the smoke odor and ask
them if they have any way of preventing it in the future. Maybe reading
outside on the patio? (Assuming parents are smoking inside). In their
own room with door closed? Is it possible the parent is reading the
books and smoking while reading? If you can determine that the cause is
not the student's smoking while reading, then perhaps the student could
store the books in a large Ziplock bag at home while they are not being
read. I'm sure someone at the library can bring a clean one for home for
him.
Shelley Skaar
skaars@eastmont206.com
Library Media Specialist
Eastmont Junior High
905 N.E. 8th Street
East Wentachee, WA 98802
web page:
http://www.eastmont206.com/ejhs/html/library/newlibrarypage/librarymain.htm
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