Did you know that your books can grow mold? I didn’t until I saw a viral TikTok video, and now I’m scared for my precious collection.
That’s why I am snapping up these Vacplus moisture absorbers from Walmart while they’re on sale for just $19 – saving $80 – to help prevent book mold on my prized volumes year-round.
Here’s why this humidity solution works to protect my bookshelves and gets rid of mold for good.
How to prevent book mold with moisture absorbers
These closet dehumidifiers use large calcium chloride particles to maximize air contact, which in turn speeds up the dehumidification process. This design ensures effective moisture collection, which is vital for reducing the risk of book mold.
Controlling humidity in a home is not always straightforward, and fluctuations are inevitable.
As an avid book collector, however, I don’t want to take any risks with my bookshelf ideas. That’s why this bundle of six moisture absorber packs from Walmart is such a good investment, especially while it's reduced by $80 on sale.
These absorbers passively draw in moisture using large calcium chloride particles, and will dehumidify the area directly around my books for up to 60 days each (with this pack of six helping to prevent book mold for up to one year). They also do not need batteries or to be plugged in, making them economical to run.
Better yet, they are leak-proof, so a sudden knock to my sleeves won't send a tsunami of water all over the pages I am trying to protect. It certainly helps that they tackle odor, too, helping to make a home smell nice at the same time as preventing book mold.
Because of their compact size, they will be easy to tuck behind books, too, so they won't make styling a bookshelf too difficult.
The stellar shopper reviews certainly make me feel better about the investment, with over 72% of shoppers giving these handy packs five stars.
Verified Walmart shopper Heather shared, ‘AMAZING! I can't believe how easy these are to use. It truly amazes me how much water they pull out of the air. I have used all kinds of humidity absorbers, and I have found these work better than the other ones I have tried.’
They can be used all over the home, too, as another Walmart shopper shares, ‘So far so good. I use these in my closets in the summer to avoid moisture. I was buying the individual bags that hang in the closet. However, I had a very unpleasant surprise when one of them burst and leaked all over my clothing. That is why I switched to these.’
What to shop
Want to ensure that your books last forever? These are the bookshelf essentials you should never be without.
Featuring a unique moisture-locking paper, Vacplus moisture absorbers prevent any collected water from spilling even if the box is accidentally overturned.
Want something with less waste? This small dehumidifier can sit on any bookshelf to continuously pull moisture from the air, with auto shut-off to prevent overflow. It does need to be plugged into an outlet, however.
I use book ends for any shelves of books that are not full to keep them upright and prevent damage to the covers when leaning.
The Damp Duster is great for bookshelves as it removes all dust, pollen, pet hair, and more. It's affordable, reusable, and conveniently sized, and, better yet, is easy to clean – simply wash the sponge with water to remove dust and grime.
Microfiber cloths are super soft, making them perfect for gently dusting the tops of books without snagging on the pages. They're reusable and wash well hundreds of times.
For decorative or delicate books, I use display stands to support them and keep them turned outward, turning the covers into art, while supporting the spines.
FAQs
How do you remove mold on books?
To remove mold from books, work in a well-ventilated area (or outside where possible) and start by gently brushing away the spores with a soft cloth.
You can then use a cloth dampened with hydrogen peroxide from Target to dab the area gently, placing some wax paper beneath the page to prevent the liquid from soaking into other pages. Allow the book to dry fully, open, before treating other areas or putting it back on your shelf.
Mold isn’t the only threat to your collections. Knowing how to identify and get rid of booklice is another essential skill for any self-certified bookworm.
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