Q&A for How to Clean Old Books

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How can I remove dust from my book's pages?

Community Answer

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

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Question

How do I clean the page edges of a closed old book?

Community Answer

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.

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Question

My collection of children's stories has a white dust like mold on the hardcovers. It does not smell moldy. How can I clean these?

Community Answer

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.

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Question

How do I remove butter from a book cover?

Community Answer

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

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Question

How do I clean highlighter off of a book?

Charlize Barnes

Community Answer

You can try white out to cover it.

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Question

How do I glue a book binding?

Community Answer

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

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Question

How can I remove a sharpie stain from a rare book without damaging the pages?

Community Answer

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 .

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Question

How do I remove brown spots from the edges of a book. They could be the remains of a mite.

Community Answer

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).

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Question

Can I wash pages with water and some bleach?

Community Answer

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

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Question

How can I get the musty smells out of an old book?

Community Answer

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.

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Question

Can I remove brown spots from the pages of an old paperback?

Krizia Elciario

Community Answer

No, it can't be removed anymore. Having brown spots in the pages as well as turning it into yellow pages are part of the book aging. Paper is made from wood, and woods in the forest can get eaten by the termites and will collapse overtime. It's the same thing with your books. There is no other way to avoid this book aging and brown spots, no matter how much you take care that book.

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Question

My beautiful white book has yellowed. Can it be restored?

Community Answer

No, it can't be restored anymore. Because paper is made of wood, and it can get yellow overtime. There is no other way to avoid this thing to happen, no matter how much you take care that book.

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Question

How do I remove grass stains from the outer ages of a book?

Community Answer

If this is a rare or valuable item, do not attempt to remove the stain yourself. With that said it may be possible to remove the stain with very fine sandpaper (this will also scrape away some paper!) or using a dilute mixture of hydrogen peroxide (this will contribute to the paper oxidizing and deteriorating). Ultimately, you may be best served simply leaving the stain alone or giving the book to a professional book restorer.

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Question

A piece of hard candy has been smashed between two pages of a book. How can I remove it?

Community Answer

It may be possible to remove it with water and a microspatula (an index card or similar thin object might also work). Be careful as you risk ripping the pages or causing water damage (wrinkling).

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Question

After cleaning mold/mildew off old hard cover, no-jacket books, then placing them back in a safe, how do I prevent more mold and mildew? I have a warming heater and calcium chloride canister in the safe.

Torpi

Top Answerer

The heater is actually a bad idea. Books should not be stored above 75 degrees (and cooler than that is just fine). Humidity is the worst factor, and some heaters can increase relative humidity even in enclosed spaces. Adding airflow, if you can, will help decrease humidity (if the safe isn't in a damp environment).

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Question

How do I clean old leather books that have been smoke damaged?

Community Answer

I read an article that recommended "Absorene Book and Paper Cleaner." I haven't tried it myself, but the author of that article claimed that it is able to get rid of some of the symptoms of smoke damage. They also recommended Clean Cover Gel, which can be used on cloth boards and paperbacks, according to a product page I found for it on another site.

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Question

How do I get paint off books?

Community Answer

It depends what type of book and whether it's on the cover or pages. I've gotten paint-like streaks off a leather-bound hardcover with isopropyl (rubbing) alcohol (70%) and a cotton pad. But, something like that wouldn't work on a hardcover with cloth boards or a paperback. It also wouldn't work to remove paint from the pages. On a case-wrap hardcover, it's not out of the question that it could work, but take care if you try it. The boards are just covered with glossy paper and while this might repel some moisture, too much (from the cotton pad) could warp the cover or damage the cover's ink.

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