How to Disinfect Books

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By Nessa
User-Submitted Article

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Books can be cleaned of some marks, squished bugs, and grunge by using a cleaning compound found in library or some art supply stores. If a book is moldy or smells terrible, it may be wise to discard it rather than try to disinfect it. However, you can try the method below if you can't bear the thought of tossing a book out.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

Well ventilated work area
Padded work surface
Cotton swabs
Soft cotton cloths
Tissues
Book cleaning compound
Rubbing alcohol
Palette or case knife

Step 1

Absorene

If you need to remove dust, dirt, and smoke residue from jackets, edges, paper, and book edges, use this putty-like product or the eraser. Follow instructions on product for use.
Step 2

Rubber Cement Pickup

Do not scrub, but rub gently in one direction. When using alcohol on gummy or sticky residue, make sure the swab is lightly dampened and use a dabbing motion to prevent absorption of the alcohol into the page. Rubber cement erasers also work well on sticky residue.
Step 3

Start with the outside of the book, then work on the inside. Start with the spine edges, then the cover edges, and lastly, work on the back, then front covers. Work on your padded surface, particularly if you are working with an old, fragile text.
Step 4

To remove mildew or mold from a book, place it in a large freezer bag or wrap in white butcher paper and place in freezer for a day to kill mold. Remove from freezer and wrapper and take cotton swab or cloth lightly dampened with alcohol and gently rub (in one direction, not back and forth) and dab away the mildew. Next, place the book out of doors under indirect light to help remove the smell. UV rays can damage pages, so do try to avoid placing the book in direct sunlight.