{"id":172888,"date":"2025-08-24T23:25:12","date_gmt":"2025-08-24T23:25:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/172888\/"},"modified":"2025-08-24T23:25:12","modified_gmt":"2025-08-24T23:25:12","slug":"why-are-people-putting-secondhand-books-in-their-freezer","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/172888\/","title":{"rendered":"Why Are People Putting Secondhand Books In Their Freezer?"},"content":{"rendered":"

When you bring home secondhand books, you probably have one of two goals: either you\u2019re dying to crack them open, or you\u2019ve scored some gorgeous covers that will look just right on your shelves or coffee table<\/a>.<\/p>\n

What you don\u2019t plan on bringing home? Any unexpected hitchhikers \u2013 yep, the creepy-crawly kind.<\/p>\n

Books, whether old or new, can be prime real estate for bugs and their larvae. The plant-based paper, cardboard, cloth and leather covers make the perfect cosy little environment for uninvited guests to settle in. And when you buy secondhand, you\u2019re basically offering them a free ride straight into your home.<\/p>\n

What to Read Next<\/p>\n

Flipping through every page to check for signs of life? Not exactly realistic, especially when you\u2019re thrifting on the fly. Luckily, there\u2019s a surprisingly simple hack making the rounds on TikTok<\/a> that will stop the problem before it starts. <\/p>\n

Why are people putting thrifted books in the freezer? <\/p>\n

Lindsey Chastain, home expert and founder of The Waddle and Cluck<\/a>, knows a thing or two about secondhand treasures \u2013 she\u2019s an avid collector of thrifted books from garage sales, used bookstores<\/a>, and antique shops<\/a>. <\/p>\n

She says freezing can be especially useful if a book hasn\u2019t been stored in the best conditions. \u201cFreezing can get rid of booklice, silverfish<\/a> and bedbugs<\/a>,\u201d Chastain explains.<\/p>\n

Since most bugs can\u2019t survive freezing temperatures, tucking your finds into the freezer takes care of both the pests<\/a> and any larvae hiding in the pages. It\u2019s a simple, affordable and chemical-free way to freshen up your books before giving them a spot on your shelf.<\/p>\n

How to freeze books to kill bug larvae \"old\"pinterest\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Nassima Rothacker<\/p>\n

If you decide to freeze your secondhand books after getting them home, make sure you do it as soon as you walk in the front door. Letting them sit in your home could give any bugs or larvae an opportunity to spread outside of the pages. <\/p>\n

Books should be frozen for at least 48 hours to make sure any bugs or larvae are eliminated, but don\u2019t just throw them in the freezer. Put them in a plastic bag first, and not just because you don\u2019t want the old pages mixing with your food.<\/p>\n

Chastain says, \u201cPut the books in a sealed plastic bag to keep condensation from warping the pages after you take them out.\u201d<\/p>\n

Keep them in the plastic bag as you thaw them out post-freezing.<\/p>\n

When you shouldn’t freeze secondhand books <\/p>\n

Chastain does have one caveat to the freezer hack: it\u2019s not for every book. If you collect antiques with delicate, fragile pages, you\u2019ll want to skip this method. \u201cFor older, rare books, it\u2019s best to consult an expert and not try to DIY a solution,\u201d she explains. \u201cIt\u2019s easy to cause damage to the book with freezing.\u201d<\/p>\n

Will freezing books also kill mould? <\/p>\n

There\u2019s a common misconception floating around that freezing thrifted books will kill mould<\/a> \u2013 but unfortunately, it won\u2019t. Freezing only puts mould spores on pause, keeping them from spreading temporarily. Once the book thaws and warms back up, the mould can come right back.<\/p>\n

If you do find mould hiding in the pages, the better fix is hands-on: gently brush it out, vacuum with a HEPA filter, and spot-treat the area with a little denatured alcohol to sanitise. Let the book dry completely, and as long as you store it somewhere dry and not too humid, the mold shouldn\u2019t make a return appearance. <\/p>\n

\"Headshot<\/p>\n

Heather Bien is a Washington, DC-based writer covering home, design, entertaining, and travel for the likes of Martha Stewart, Southern Living, Virginia Living, and more. She is an avid antiquer and novice gardener who spends much of her free time tending to the rose garden and the ever-growing list of projects at her cottage,\u00a0Rosehill Cottage<\/a>, which is located on the Rappahannock River near Urbanna, Virginia.<\/p>\n