Q&A for How to Clean Old Books

Use a very soft paint brush, preferably with natural bristles. Gently sweep the dust off the pages.

You might try using very fine sandpaper. Close the book and set on a hard surface. Using very light stroke, move the fine sandpaper vertically down the outside. If this produces good results, do the tops and bottom in the same fashion, but move the sandpaper horizontally.

Use a soft, natural bristle brush to remove the white dust. Do not reshelve them immediately. Pay close attention to see if the dust returns.

Use a hot damp cloth to wipe down the cover, but make sure to only do this on hard cover books.

You can try white out to cover it.

Get a glue gun and glue the binding back on the book with three lines of glue on the inside.

No, Vaseline will not protect books from moisture damage, mold, or mildew. It may cause further damage to glossy pages and various types of covers.

Place a clean, dry cloth between the affected pages to absorb moisture and press the book under a flat, heavy object for a day. Use a hairdryer on a low, cool setting to gently dry the pages, and place wax paper between the pages to iron on low heat through a cloth. Be careful not to overheat the paper.

Yes, it is generally okay to gently sand off inactive mold from the edges of a paperback book, but you must do so carefully to avoid spreading spores or damaging the book. Use fine-grit sandpaper or a similar abrasive tool and work in a well-ventilated area, preferably outdoors. Wear a mask to avoid inhaling any spores, even if the mold is inactive. After sanding, clean the book edges with a slightly damp cloth and dry them thoroughly to prevent further mold growth. If the mold issue is severe, consult a professional book conservator.

Use rubbing alcohol on a paper towel or clean cloth to gently lift the sticky residue from the page.

Use a soft, slightly damp cloth to gently wipe the cover, avoiding scrubbing. If dirt remains, add a tiny drop of mild soap and clean in circular motions. Wipe off the soap with a clean damp cloth, then dry immediately. Be gentle to avoid damage, as the cover may be fragile.

Try using soap and water first. If that doesn't work, use vinegar and baking soda and scrub gently.

Wear gloves and a mask for protection, gently remove the droppings with a soft brush or tweezers, dispose of the old box and use a new one, air out the comics in a well-ventilated area, lightly wipe the edges with a damp cloth being careful not to get them too wet, and store the comics in acid-free bags or boxes. For extra caution, consider consulting a professional conservator.

Blot the area with a clean cloth to soak up excess WD-40. Use a damp cloth with mild dish soap to gently blot the stain, then rinse with a cloth dampened with water to remove the soap. Let the pages air dry or use a fan. If the stain remains, consult a professional conservator.

You can use a combination of baking soda and vinegar with a sharp tool like a knife, but proceed carefully.

If the pages are only partially stuck together, try to carefully separate them with a thin spatula. If you hear ripping, use a damp cloth or paper towel to gently dab the back of the stuck pages. Be careful not to soak the pages, as this can cause more damage. Let the book air dry in a warm, dry place and repeat the process until the pages are unstuck.

To clean a sticky paperback cover, gently wipe it with a damp cloth. If needed, add mild soap to the water and clean the cover. Use a soft white eraser to remove sticky spots. Dust with cornstarch or baby powder for oily residue, then wipe it off. Be careful to avoid damaging the cover.

To remove soot from fire-damaged books, gently brush off loose soot with a soft brush, use a white eraser on stubborn marks, and sprinkle cornstarch on soot, then brush it off. Wipe the cover with a damp cloth to remove marks and let the book air dry in a well-ventilated area. For severe damage, consider professional help.

Using shoe stain could help restore color, but be cautious. Test on a small area first, apply lightly to avoid over-darkening, and buff gently for a slight shine. If the magazines are valuable, consider professional help to avoid damage.

To remove yellow stains from paper, gently rub the stain with a soft white eraser, dab the area with a cloth dampened with water and mild soap, sprinkle cornstarch or baking soda on the stain and let it sit before brushing it off, or place the paper in indirect sunlight for a short time to fade the stain. If the stain doesn’t go away, consider professional help.

The gray lint or dust near the spine of your new book could be from printing or binding residue, excess glue, packaging materials, or shedding from lower-quality paper. You can gently wipe it off with a soft cloth or use a lint roller. If it's excessive, consider contacting the seller for a replacement.

There might not be a definitive way to fix it, but you could try reheating the cover and reshaping it.

Sandpaper could tear the pages. Professionals who restore books typically use special guillotines designed to handle hundreds of pages, so you might have to live with the marks.

You can use UV Coating, a liquid solution that is cured using ultraviolet and infrared lights. This will give your book cover a shine and protect it from curling.

Any method to remove the stain may further damage the paper. It's best to inform the librarians and explore your options. You might be able to buy the book from them or provide a replacement copy that's cheaper than their replacement fee.

Foxing isn't caused by mold or mildew. The exact causes aren't well understood, but it may involve oxidation of components or chemicals in the paper pulp. It's only cosmetic and doesn't spread, so it's not as concerning as mold or mildew.

If it's on the pages, there is simply no way to do it. If there was, rare-book dealers would be making a huge profit by removing stamps from all of their "library marking" books. If it's on a leather or cloth cover or a paper cover coated in plastic, see Remove Sharpie .

That's probably "foxing", which can be removed by diluting 1 teaspoon of hydrogen peroxide in a litre of water and dabbing the stains with a cotton bud soaked in the solution. Be careful because too much water will actually damage the pages (while foxing is just cosmetic).

No. Bleach and water will both damage pages, whether they're paper, card, "glossy" magazine material or something else like vellum.

You can use baking soda by placing the book and a good quantity of the baking soda in a ziplock bag. This should then be placed in the freezer for around a week. The baking soda will absorb odours and the freezing temperature will kill the mould causing the smell.