3. Make sure never to use chemically-treated dusting cloths, since this can cause damage. Any flat, heavy object may be used instead of a book. Do not try to remove stains on the printed surface of pages. The best books to use are hardcover textbooks and dictionaries. Place a sponge under one corner of the book to prop it up slightly. To clean page edges of an old book, wipe them with a slice of fresh white bread or with a natural bristle brush. Use care when trying the following methods. Be sure to check and make sure there is no growth in the pages of the book as well. With the book closed, stand it up on edge on top of the absorbent paper. This will allow water to drain out of the bottom. There are many ways to clean books and ephemera, but the more effective the cleaner, the more abrasive it may be, and the greater the risk that cleaning will cause damage. If you have leather bound books, dust them like you would any other book. Stains on the edges of the pages also have a good chance of removal. The excrement, or frass, impregnates the paper and is difficult to remove without damaging the book. If they’re still dirty, the Alabama Department of Archives and History recommends using a small amount of saddle soap and a clean, lint-free cloth to clean the leather. Valuable books, or books that are important to you, should be taken to a preservationist. Remove the book spine and outer covering so that only the pages remain. Hold the book closed tightly and use a soft brush to clear any loose soil from the page edges. You can also use a magnetic dusting cloth (which works well for your shelves, as well!) Moisten a soft cloth with the mixture. Squeeze out the cloth really well so that it is just barely damp. Hi, I have been posting here for a bit, and I have read comments several times regarding the sanding of book edges and cleaning them. Allow the book to stay propped up until no more water drips from it, and there is no water pooling on the pages when they are opened gently. Put a heavy book on top of the second paper towel. Closed books are best cleaned with an untreated dust cloth or a variable speed vacuum on a low setting. If the book is heavily molded, 1. Depending on how special the book is to you, make a paper bag outer covering or have it professionally re-spined and bound. Despite the well preserved front and back covers, mainly due to the plastic covers (thank you OC syndrome of book lovers! If it is on the cover of the book, you have a good chance of removing it, whether the cover is paper or leather. When I bought the first 39 books to jumpstart my quest, my high spirits were a little dampened when I saw the actual condition of the books. ), there were horrible dark stains on the top and side edges of the pages! There are a number of important differences between cleaning flat paper and paper as part of a book. If the stain was inside of a book, close the book with the paper towels inside and place a second book on top. 2. Holding the book closed, wipe the edges … ... Use this to ease dirt from such delicate areas as spines, edges, stamping and embossing. Care should be taken when cleaning books with deckled edges, fore edge painting, and those with brittle paper or fragile bindings. Cleaning old books and their aging paper can present a conundrum. Assess the stain's location. Next, mix one part bleach with 5 parts water in a small dish or bucket. This will only damage the book … Begin by giving the book a thorough cleaning using the methods in our guide How to Clean Books. I even have one book I bought off Amazon that is sanded – 1926 Prester John (at least I think it is based on texture). To ease dirt from such delicate areas as spines, edges, stamping and embossing to... 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