Working as a medium in Cheshire is my passion. When I have some spare time though, I like to read and build up my collection of books; you could say I’m a bit of a bookworm.

However, the wonderful collection of books that has come to adorn my shelves has become what I can only describe as smelly! The musty smell that has become associated with my book collection annoys me to no end. After all, the author has taken time and effort to put these personal words onto paper; it makes sense to preserve the books in the best way possible.

In the past, I have strived to protect my Reiki books, spiritual healing books and my crystal healing books. Many of these, along with my various training manuals, are now out of print.

In the future, I will stop working as a medium and spiritualist healer, safe in the knowledge that I am to join my mother in a different world. When this time comes, I would like to make sure that my books go to a Spiritualist church in order to help those who are just starting on their journey; as I did years ago.

There are a couple of simple ways you can help ensure your literature is well preserved. For instance, discount stores often sell plastic boxes which are great storage solutions. It’s important to choose one large enough to fit a baking tray into the bottom. This nifty trick will lift your books up and away from the bottom of the container. If you are storing books in a large container, purchase some chicken wire and cut to size instead.

The most suitable boxes tend to be the ones with no handles or vents as these can allow air to get inside; hindering your preservation efforts. As for the odour of your books, it’s important to have some bicarbonate of soda handy. With this trick, the idea is to sprinkle some of the soda onto the bottom of the container, on top of the books and on the rack. Once this has been done, seal the box and leave it for a couple of days. The soda will have absorbed the smells and you should be pleased with the results.

Some of my older, most precious books, such as those about the lives of older mediums and my spiritual healing books, took a little longer to lose their smell than it did with many of the others; it’s important to be patient.

If your collection is relatively small, or you only have one or two books which carry a musty smell, you can sprinkle the soda onto the book inside a plastic bag. Once done, take time to brush away all of the powder.