Refresh Musty Old Books With Cornstarch

I love old books — but not the accompanying musty smell. After being closed tight and bunched together for years, books are filled with dank scents that no one wants in any space, which is just so sad. And that smell sure doesn't encourage breaking any spines either. Here's how to refresh old books so they'll be welcomed into your home library and smell fresh when opened.

Grab a box of cornstarch and stand books on their sides slightly open over a length of parchment paper or on a large flat surface, allowing you to easily sweep up cornstarch to use again on other books. Now sprinkle the cornstarch over the book, fanning pages out to coat. Let your old books set overnight, then shake out the cornstarch. The result? Fresh books!