Help me save the special bedtime books..?!!

[FusionChefGeoff]

DD7 still loves a picture book bedtime story and has a large plastic box full of them from both her and DC10 baby / toddler days. Including some my Mum passed down from when I was young.

I've discovered today that DD must have spilt a glass of something in there at some point and not said anything / not noticed and the vast majority are now slightly mouldy along the bottom / on the insides.

I am GUTTED

Aside from wiping them all page by page ever so carefully with a slightly damp cloth then leaving to dry - any ideas on how to rescue them??

I'm wondering if sunlight / baking soda / random internet suggestion may help?? I've got the mould off the first few but they are still stained and smell disgusting

Given how special they are would you consider using a book restoration service?

I’d have a look and see if you can rebuy any of them on eBay tbh. I know it’s not the same as having the originals - especially the ones from your own childhood - but better than smelly mouldy books I’d imagine. I can only begin to imagine how gutted you must be.

I'm slowly working my way through - a couple can be saved but yes I think I'm going to have an eBay project for a while.

@Marblessolveeverything - The ones from my childhood yes I probably would consider a professional service - guess a quick Google would sort that out

If there are any car boots near you take a list of the ones you'd like to keep and see if you can buy replacements there, lots of kids books for very low prices generally.

I'd say a damp anti bac cloth and sunshine might so wonders though for some of them.

Good luck!

Seriously Op you can't keep stuff forever. A book restoration service will probably cost more than the books are worth.

At 7 she's probably right at the top end of the age range for them. And will out grow them fairly soon.

Books date, some worse than others but they do date.
At a push I'd replace her top 5 favourites if they are unreadable, but nothing beyond that. The next generation may not want really old kids books.

@Dinoteeth my experience is different - I LOVE the fact that mum kept my old books and they were wonderfully nostalgic to read with my kids

The kids (when they were old enough to understand) thought it was ace too.

Like you say, it's only the real favourites ie the ones we can recite basically

@terriblyangryattimes yes car boots is a great idea.