Smelly album covers

[fordiebianco]

Dear All,

I have managed to score a significant haul of classical vinyl from the fifties and sixties, but boy, do the album covers smell (mainly musky, smoke, neglect). They look actually ok, but the smell is enought to keep them in the shed at present. Any tips for removing the smell without destroying (the often beautiful) covers?

Many thanks.

 

[egellings]

All I can think of would be to get a rack that lets the albums stand upright, separated from each other so that air can circulate between them. Then place them in a fresh air setting and wait for the odor to dissipate.

 

[xray]

Maybe try one of those ozone deodorizers that auto detailers use to get rid of smells in cars.

 

[G|force]

Maybe try one of those ozone deodorizers that auto detailers use to get rid of smells in cars.

That is your best course. Ozone is the way.

 

[Chrispy]

Maybe take the records out of the cover and put the covers in sunshine/fresh air for a bit to have the radiation kill mildew, fresh air to dissipate odors, etc.

 

[BJL]

Maybe take the records out of the cover and put the covers in sunshine/fresh air for a bit to have the radiation kill mildew, fresh air to dissipate odors, etc.

This is great advice. Also, if you wipe the jackets with a damp (not wet) cloth first and then leave them outside in fresh air for some hours you will get rid of most of the mildew odor. Wipe with a damp cloth to remove spores as well as any microscopic fungus.

 

[HalSF]

I remember reading about proposed solutions to serious book and vinyl record odors several years ago. All kinds of dubious and zany Hints From Heloise nonsense came out of the woodwork, but the most convincing solution came from library and archival sources, involving putting the offending articles into sealed plastic storage containers together with a purpose-built non-destructive chemical concoction.

It might have been this method or something quite similar:

Stinky Books

Recently, a 12-volume set of Civil War histories was returned to the Library after being kept by a patron for several years. The books reeked of cigarette smoke. The odor was chokingly strong eve…

parkslibrarypreservation.wordpress.com

 

[fordiebianco]

Thank you all. I have cleaned them up and am currently leaving them get some cold air. Hope this helps.