r/papermaking • u/Merlyns_Craft • 8d ago

Should my paper pulp stink?

I’m making paper from cardboard scraps from the boxes I used to move into my new house. I’m following a rough tutorial and one of my housemates is also helping me since she makes paper. I’ve cut up the cardboard into little pieces and I’m soaking it in water in spare water/soda bottles I cleaned out. But since checking on them I’ve realised either the water or cardboard has this gross soggy smell (I know that sounds obvious because it’s literally soggy cardboard). I’ve only been soaking the cardboard for a few nights to a week. Is this normal?

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14

u/Chujo_Chhon 8d ago

Soaking for a few nights to a week is too long and probably why things are starting to stink.

14

u/molybend 8d ago

Don't let it sit for more than day or so. Cardboard is not sterile and bacteria love a moist environment.

3

u/WhippedHoney 8d ago

Everything has a smell. Wet pulp has a smell. Wet paper has a smell. Rotting pulp has a smell, a definate smell. So, yeah, smells are a thing. Strong smells are a sign of microbial action. If that's a bad thing, you may want to do something about it. Bleach or boil are easy. Is the water slippery? Replace the water. Keep a lid on it. Refrigerate it. Freeze it.

3

u/Best_Development_118 8d ago

Very likely that you've got some bad bacteria growing. Dump it and start over. You can try just changing the water but I'd personally recommend just starting a fresh batch. You should be soaking for hours, not days. And make less than you think you need. Cause it always ends up magically growing. Lol

1

u/raster 7d ago

I've let pulp go way too long that got a stink about it but once I made paper with it there was no smell. (Curious if other have the same experience or they just dump smelly pump before using it.)

2

u/Status-Mongoose-1689 4d ago

Historically speaking retting (i.e. fermentation) was used to break down Papermaking fibers before they were turned into pulp. Rags were soaked for months at a time before being rinsed and beaten. I’ve never worked with cardboard specifically, so I can’t speak to that. But in general, I wouldn’t be too worried about microbial action.