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Cleaning Up:  Getting Cigarette Odor Out of Second Hand Books  |
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Nigella
True Blue Farmgirl
386 Posts
Nigella
Chimacum
WA
USA
386 Posts |
 Posted - Jul 01 2008 : 09:11:54 AM
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| I wasn't really sure where to post this... but here goes. I recently purchased a used cookbook online, and I waited anxiously for it to arrive. When it did come however, it reeked like cigarette smoke so bad I couldn't even read it outside with out suffering a headache! I'm not trying to offend anyone who may be a smoker, but for us non-smokers this really can be a serious problem. I was so disappointed that I wouldn't be able to enjoy my new cookbook! After discussing it with my mom, she suggested that I try putting the cookbook into a bag of dried lavender that she had squirreled away. I opened the book up in about the middle and laid it down on top of the lavender and pressed down to get the lavender to release more fragrance and a week later PRESTO! The smell is gone, all that is remaining is a slight chalky smell so I put a few sprigs of fresh lavender throughout the book to finish up the job. Does anyone else have any solutions to this problem? I'd love to hear them! |
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Betty J.
True Blue Farmgirl
1403 Posts
Betty
Pasco
WA
USA
1403 Posts |
Posted - Jul 01 2008 : 09:16:54 AM
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I'm glad to hear you solved your own problem. Don't worry about offending smokers. I smoked for about 15 years and my children were the ones who got me to quit. I've been smoke-free for 23 years now and I don't like the smell of a smoker either.
Betty in Pasco |
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quilt8305
True Blue Farmgirl
409 Posts
Mary
Spokane
WA
USA
409 Posts |
Posted - Jul 01 2008 : 10:00:13 AM
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Fabric Softener sheets work too.
Mary
Peace cannot be kept by force. It can only be achieved by understanding. Albert Einstein
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abigailc1973
True Blue Farmgirl
85 Posts
abigail
orlando
fl
USA
85 Posts |
Posted - Jul 01 2008 : 9:25:43 PM
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| As an ex smoker myself, I can totally sympathize. I can't stand stale smoke smells in anything. The fabric softener sheets do work great. I buy pattern books online all the time and one seller took the time to put a 1/4 of a fabric softener sheet in each book, so when I opened the package everything smelled clean and fresh. I really appreciated that effort. They work great for all kinds of stuff. My sister is a total yarn and fabric stasher. When she packs the stuff up in labeled totes, she adds fabric softener sheets so it doesn't get that musty storage smell and when she's ready to use it everything is fresh. A little goes a long way. |
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StitchinWitch
True Blue Farmgirl
2247 Posts
Judith
Galt
CA
USA
2247 Posts |
Posted - Jul 01 2008 : 10:34:42 PM
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I used to work in a library and when smoke-saturated books were returned we put them in a covered container of kitty litter and baking soda. It works and is inexpensive.
Happiness is Homemade |
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Nigella
True Blue Farmgirl
386 Posts
Nigella
Chimacum
WA
USA
386 Posts |
Posted - Jul 02 2008 : 07:01:28 AM
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| Wow, great ideas ladies thanks! |
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kissmekate
True Blue Farmgirl
890 Posts
Kate
Delano
Minnesota
890 Posts |
Posted - Jul 02 2008 : 9:43:43 PM
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I had this problem with a dryer, it smelled like a damp basement, which stinks just as bad in my opinion. I threw in crumpled news papers and would stir them up a bit once a day, and shut the door. It took the smell away after a week or so. The dryer was only three years old when I received it, but hadn't been used in two years, and sat in a vacant home, hence the damp-basement-smell.
I smoke, but can't stand the smell of it. (I know, that doesn't make sense) So no worries about offending a smoker or two. My car smells, so I leave the windows rolled down a bit whenever I can.
I will quit one of these days.
Don't miss out on a blessing, just because it isn't packaged the way you expected. ~MaryJo Copeland |
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Aunt Jenny
True Blue Farmgirl
11381 Posts
Jenny
middle of
Utah
USA
11381 Posts |
Posted - Jul 02 2008 : 10:04:27 PM
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I have a big patch of an herb called Costmary (or Bible leaf) it has a soft minty smell and dries really really flat if you put a leaf (about as big as four quarters lined up) inside a book. I always put several fresh leaves inside a smelly book..works well and they make neat bookmarks too. It was called bible leaf as a nickname because it discourages bugs in books...or so I have heard. Mine started with one tiny sprig...and comes back big time each year...I love it.
Jenny in Utah
Proud Farmgirl sister #24
Inside me there is a skinny woman crying to get out...but I can usually shut her up with cookies
http://www.auntjennysworld.blogspot.com/ visit my little online shop at www.auntjenny.etsy.com |
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Nigella
True Blue Farmgirl
386 Posts
Nigella
Chimacum
WA
USA
386 Posts |
Posted - Jul 03 2008 : 08:57:29 AM
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| Oooo Aunt Jenny I'll have to look for Costmary, I've never hear of it and I adore herbs! |
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JenniferJuniper
True Blue Farmgirl
359 Posts
Jennifer
New Hampshire
USA
359 Posts |
Posted - Jul 12 2008 : 05:30:11 AM
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Try using some plain BBQ charcoal in an old pantyhose leg, to prevent a mess (or newly purchased pantyhose leg, if you're like me and revolted on hosiery years ago and never looked back).
Farmgirl Sister #204 |
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Cleaning Up: Getting Cigarette Odor Out of Second Hand Books |
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Getting Cigarette Odor Out of Second Hand Books
