Q&A for How to Dry a Wet Book

Use paper towels. Stick them on both sides of every wet page to pick up the moisture with minimum damage.

No. They fall apart! Stick paper towels in between each page. Depending on the book size, rip the towel in half.

If it is only on one of the corners, it should be fine. After you get it wet, close the book (without making any sort of folds, and with all of the pages flat), and set other books on top of it. Let it sit like this for a while until the pages are fully dry.

There is no way to fix smudged ink. If the words on the page wash off, the best thing to do is buy a new copy.

No, the moisture and humidity will act like water and the book will freeze, creating even more wrinkles.

You can put a very little amount of ice on it for a few seconds and see what happens; you can also try to erase it gently with an eraser.

Stack heavy objects on top of the book and leave overnight. If the pages are still wrinkled, press the book for more time.

You either have to find a way to restore it to its previous condition or pay for a new book.

There isn't a way to do that, unfortunately.

I would recommend using a fan, but make sure to keep it on a low setting, or else the pages will fall out.

It depends on how wet it is. If it doesn't stand up on its own, you should just stick some paper towels in it and let it dry flat. If that doesn't work, you might just need to buy a new one.

Just keep the book compressed under something heavy until it flattens.

If only some pages are wet, gently separate them and blot with absorbent paper or a towel to soak up moisture. Avoid rubbing, as this can damage the paper. Allow the pages to air dry by fanning them apart in a cool, dry area. If the pages are stuck together, gently separate them once they start to dry. Be patient and avoid direct heat or sunlight.

Yes, you can use bond paper or any absorbent paper to help dry a wet book. Place the bond paper between the pages to absorb moisture, and change the paper regularly as it gets wet. Be gentle to avoid damaging the pages, and place the book upright on a flat surface in a well-ventilated area, but avoid direct heat or sunlight.

No. The heat and movement could damage the pages and binding. Instead, dry the book by gently blotting the pages with absorbent paper, fanning them apart, and letting them air dry.

No, it's not recommended to put your book in the dryer, as the heat and movement could damage the pages and binding. Instead, dry the book slowly by gently blotting the pages with absorbent paper, fanning them apart, and letting it air dry in a cool, dry space. If necessary, you can place a heavy object on the book to keep the pages flat as it dries.

Gently press them flat without tearing. Place absorbent paper between the pages to soak up moisture and keep them flat. Change the paper regularly. Let the book dry slowly, flattening the pages as much as possible. Once mostly dry, place a heavy object on the book to keep the pages flat. If the book is valuable, consider professional help to avoid further damage.

Hanging a book to dry is not recommended, as it can damage the pages and spine. Instead, place the book upright with pages slightly fanned apart on a flat surface to air dry. Use absorbent paper towels between the pages if they are very wet. Avoid direct heat or sunlight, which can warp or discolor the book.

To dry a book that’s been in water for 12 hours, gently blot the pages with paper towels and fan them apart to allow air flow. If pages are stuck, freeze the book for a few hours to help separate them. Place the book upright in a well-ventilated area with a fan on low speed, and keep it in a cool, dry spot away from direct heat or sunlight. Change the absorbent paper between the pages regularly. If the book is very valuable, consult a professional for help.

Putting a book in a clothes dryer is a terrible idea and could be a fire hazard. To speed up drying, place your book in a sunlit room with good airflow.

Yes, a hairdryer is a good option. You can also leave the book in a cold space or under the sun for effective drying.

Try leaving it out in the sun or placing it in the fridge or freezer for about an hour.

If the pages are "glossy", unfortunately there is nothing you can do. You could try using a letter opener or nail file to pry apart the stuck segments, but there's no guarantee it will work. Misting the pages will exacerbate the problem.

Be sure to flatten the pages after the book is completely dry. You can do this by placing the book under something heavy and allowing it to rest under that pressure for a week or so. Be sure to make it so that none of the pages are folded before putting the book under a heavy object so that the pages aren't permanently creased.