How to Clean and Use Chemistry Books
Everything you need to clean used books can be found at an art supply store. Used books are attractively priced, but cleaning them can be difficult without the right tools. This is especially true for textbooks, which must be as legible as possible to be appropriate for a classroom environment. In sciences like chemistry, it is important to get every detail of every formula right, so it's worth your time to clean old chemistry books before use.
Things You'll Need
- Unused, soft-bristled toothbrush
- Unused paintbrush
- Art gum eraser
- Paper cleaner
- Windex
- Paper towels
- Index cards
Instructions
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Check the covers of your books. If your books came with glossy dust covers, use Windex or another glass cleaner to clean off any dust. Wipe them with a paper towel afterward. Your first goal is to make sure the books are legible, but if you want to sell them someday, don't forget to make them look nice.
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One by one, open the books and search for any blotches, smears, ink stains, or other blemishes that may render sections of the book illegible. Use an art gum eraser to rub off these blemishes. Move the eraser in one direction so you do not damage the page. Art gum erasers leave detritus behind, so use a new paintbrush to sweep it away.
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Use a new, soft-bristled toothbrush if you're uneasy about using an art gum eraser. You can clean very fragile places in the book, such as the spine, by gently brushing them with the toothbrush. Gradually increase the pressure if you have to, but be very careful.
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Bookmark any difficult blemishes. If you can't get rid of a stain using the eraser or the brush, mark that place in the book using an index card. When you've finished, go back and use a paper and book cleaning product to clean any of the bad stains.
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Store your books in a warm, dry place. The musty scent that you sometimes smell coming from old books is usually due to humidity. Storing the books in a dry environment helps remove some of the smell, as does a wipe-down with abrasives such as a paper and book cleaning product.
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