How to Spring Clean a Library

Your books may be some of your most prized possessions, except when it’s time to clean them. Suddenly, you may find yourself wondering how many of them you can just get rid of. Most of us give our books a quick once-over with a dust cloth during regular cleanings. But spring-cleaning is the time to provide your cherished library with the thorough care it deserves. It's easy to do and it gives you a good excuse to spend a little time with your books.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Vacuum cleaner with soft brush attachment
• Cotton dust cloths
• Furniture polish or window cleaner
• Two chairs or portable tables

1. Gather your cleaning supplies. Place your supplies on a chair or small table near the bookcase.

2. Take books off the shelves and place them on a second chair or small table near the bookcase.

3. Clean the shelves. Start with the top shelf and work your way down. The force of gravity will pull the dust toward the floor. Dust and polish wooden shelves with your favorite furniture polish. Use window cleaner on glass shelves. Shelves should be completely dry when you are finished cleaning them.

4. Clean one book at a time. Remove the jackets from hardcover books and clean them with a soft, dry cotton cloth. Attach the small, soft brush to the end of your vacuum hose and vacuum all sides of the books. Using a slightly damp cloth, remove any grime from the front or back covers.

5. Replace the jacket and put the book back on the clean shelf.

6. Vacuum paperback books, then wipe the covers gently with a slightly damp cloth, one side at a time. Let the damp side dry completely before wiping the other side. Be sure the books are completely dry before stacking them again or they will stick together and/or mildew.

Tips & Warnings

• To remove a musty smell from a paperback book, put it in a sealable bag and place it in the freezer for a week.
• To remove a musty smell from a hardcover book, place it in a closed container. Place that inside another closed container that has a layer of odor-absorbing material, such as cat litter, on the bottom. Do not remove the book for about a week.
• This is a good time to get rid of books you don’t plan to read again. Sell them or donate them.