My 40 dollar short box turned into a 200 dollar money pit

I snagged a beat up long box at an estate sale for $40 thinking I'd just store my current pulls in it, but it had a musty smell that wouldn't go away no matter what I tried. Turns out there was a small patch of mold inside from an old leak, and I had to throw away about 15 comics that got damaged before I noticed. Has anyone else found hidden damage in old storage boxes, or do I just have the worst luck?

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samward4mo ago

Damp rag with vinegar is exactly what worked for me too. I had a long box that smelled like an old basement and the vinegar trick cleared it right up after a couple rounds. Had to toss a few comics that were already too far gone though, really stings when you find them

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the_wade4mo ago

Musty smell that wouldn't go away" - man, that's the worst. I had a box from a flea market that smelled like cigarettes mixed with basement. I tried baking soda, those little moisture absorber packs, even left it outside for a week. What finally worked for me was wiping the whole thing down with a VERY slightly damp rag with a tiny bit of vinegar, then letting it dry in direct sun for two full days. But yeah, the hidden mold thing is the real nightmare. You think you're getting a deal on storage, but that mold can spread to other comics if you're not careful. I keep all my boxes separated now just in case one gets infected again.

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