Say Goodbye To Musty Bookshelf Odors With This Clever Mason Jar Trick

Whether you're a huge book fan who loves to decorate your bookshelf or you just like to buy a few books per year, there's no denying that the fresh paper scent of novels can be addictive. However, some books develop a musty scent if they are kept in a humid environment for a long time or have gone moldy, which isn't nearly as pleasant to smell. This odor can then travel to other parts of the room the bookshelf is in and make the entire area smell unpleasant. Luckily, baking soda can help to fix the issue.

This unexpected way to use baking soda in your home will stop you from needing to throw away any beloved books that have an unpleasant smell (though it might be time to say goodbye to books that are visibly moldy, as mold spores can travel and have side effects such as cold symptoms, a headache, and rashes). By using baking soda to deodorize your bookshelf, you'll be able to save any books that are in less of a good condition from being tossed. As well as baking soda, you only need a Mason jar (or a glass jar equivalent) and an essential oil of your choice to carry out this hack.

To get started, grab a clean glass jar and make a few small holes in the lid. This will allow the scent to peek through. Mix ½ cup of baking soda together with a few drops of your preferred essential oil and pour the mixture into the jar. Replace the lid and screw it on tightly. All that's left to do is place the jar on your bookshelf where you want it! The way this hack works is that baking soda neutralizes strong smells by reacting with the molecules that cause odors.

Note that some essential oils, including peppermint, cinnamon, and citrus amongst others, are toxic and harmful to pets. Because of this, we don't recommend using this method to banish a musty bookshelf smell unless you're certain the essential oil is pet-safe. You could also skip the essential oils part and just add the baking soda, but then the jar wouldn't give off a relaxing scent in addition to banishing bad smells. Still, this hack is a great alternative to using air fresheners and will mask any odors for a longer period instead of just temporarily.