Collen, might I suggest one step at a time, small amounts at a time. If you can find a metal box a little bigger than one group of your papers, start with just one small group.Alternatively, a sealable cupboard. First, to remove any absorbtion of humid air, put a small number of your papers or books on small blocks to lift them above the flat base. Then get some silica gel in little gauze bags (so you can see the crystals and the silica gel can absorb any moisture) the silica changes from blue to pink. Pink crystals may be reconstituted by heating in an oven, when it again turns blue, and can be used again. Keep using the silica gel (reconstituted) until it no longer absorbs water and stays pink. Of course, your metal box/cupboard needs to be sealed from the air by using masking tape or similar around the lid/door, etc. After a few re-treatments with silica gel, probably taking several days, the second step would be replacing the silica gel bags with bicarb soda in similar gauze bags, very loosely half-filled. Make sure the bags are never in contact with the paper being treated Step 1. should take away threats from humidity and reduce some of the mustiness. Step 2. should absorb smells After that, it is best to store the materials in cupboards which would be treated for humidity and continue to have silica gel bags replaced regularly within. Hope that helps. Regards Ada Colleen Robinson wrote: > To anyone on the list. > > I have joined a local, fairly new, Heritage Group. > > We have a collection of old newpapers, and clippings. > > They have that very musty smell common to newspapers that have not been > cared for. > > Does anyone have any clues of what we should do to their storage box/boxes > to eradicate this odour.