How to Clean a Book

Books can last a long time with care. Take a proactive stance; avoid possible damage to your books. Some marks can't be cleaned. Just think ink and felt tip markers. Very old books and collectables are risky. Leather books sometimes need a completely new cover. Knowing a few tips can go a long way.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Vacuum and soft brush
• Paper towels
• White plastic eraser
• Glass cleaner
• Dry cleaning pad
• Absorene

1. Vacuum the book with a soft brush. Turn the book upside down while cleaning the edges so that the dust falls downward, not back into the pages.
2. Clean grease or oily marks with a dry paper towel. For inside smudges place the paper towel between the dirty pages and close the book. Place a weight on top. Allow the paper towel to absorb at least 3 days before removing.
3. Press lightly with a white plastic eraser to remove pencil marks. Always erase toward the side of the page not back and forth. Vacuum the page afterwards.
4. Spray glass cleaner on a paper towel to clean a glossy dust jacket. Use only enough to dampen the towel then gently wipe the jacket.
5. Use a dry cleaning pad to clean non-glossy jackets. Go to your local arts and crafts store for this item. Pour a small amount of the cleaner from the bag onto the surface and finger rub the material lightly on the marks. This also works with certain pencil marks.
6. Take extra care in cleaning cloth bound books. It's tricky and can cause further unsightly markings. Absorene, stocked by art and craft stores, is recommended. It's malleable. Lightly rub it across the book's covers then vacuum as necessary.

Tips & Warnings

• Routinely vacuum all books on the bookshelf.
• Never hold or read a book with dirty hands.
• Avoid placing any kind of drinks near a book. It's easy to accidentally knock the can or glass over onto the book.
• Never keep books in damp places. If they are in a basement use a dehumidifier so that the books don't absorb musty odors.