How and how to clean books from dust, stains and smell

With the advent of the digital format, paper book lovers are becoming smaller, but for some libraries from their favorite volumes still remain an important part of the interior. Books are very aesthetically pleasing, but over time they become dusty, an old smell and other troubles appear. Let's figure out how to clean books from dust and maximize their life.

Dry cleaning

Dry cleaning of books from dust is carried out very carefully, as the pages may tear. There are three methods:

1. Just shake the book. Some do it on the street / balcony.
2. Substitute pages under a gentle stream of fan.
3. Use a brush or dry cloth.

Most stains from book pages and bindings are removed without the use of water. How to clean a book from dirt, tricks of the hostesses:

1. Traces of pens and pencils are erased by an eraser. All movements are carried out in one direction so that the pages do not tear.
2. Water-resistant glossy covers can be wiped with tea tree essential oil. The product disinfects and eliminates unpleasant odors. In the same way, adhesive traces of price tags from thick covers are removed.
3. Large outgrowths of dirt are carefully cleaned with fine sandpaper.

How to remove a greasy stain from a book page:

1. Pour salt or talcum powder onto the paper. Granules absorb fat well. After 15-20 minutes, brush it off, repeat if necessary.
2. Put blotting paper on the dirt, heat the iron slightly and walk on the stain with the sole. The paper absorbs grease under the influence of heat.

Clean at home in good daylight. For sticky and other non-standard pollution use special library means.

Tip
purity.bigbadmole.com/en/ recommends trusting professional services to clean old and antique copies.

How to wash books

Water-resistant binding is easy to wash with clean water or a soapy solution.

Wipe the leather cover with a damp sponge or a rag, fix the result with a dry cloth. Use soft cotton fabrics.

After washing the books, make sure they are completely dry. Humidity is the enemy of paper.

The book is damp: what to do

Returning the original appearance to the pages in this situation will not be easy. Lay sheets of filter paper between pages, or sprinkle with talcum powder. Close the book and build a press. Cornmeal will also help prevent mold. You can use a weak hairdryer or a vacuum cleaner with a narrow nozzle.

Important
What you can’t do is dry books on batteries, in direct sunlight, with a hot iron.

Eliminate odor

There is a simple but effective method to eliminate the smell of dampness of book pages:

1. Take regular baking soda.
2. Fill the pages of the book.
3. Close and leave for a few days.
4. Shake out the soda with your hands / hair dryer / vacuum cleaner.

Soda is known for its ability to absorb unpleasant odors, it is often used to refresh rooms, for washing and cleaning various items, including books.

Storage recommendations

The way the books are contained largely determines their condition. The storage location should not be wet. Recommended parameters of temperature and humidity: 18-22 ° C and 50-60%.

Books should not be exposed to direct sunlight. Store them in closed shelves upright. Do not place them too tightly and on top of each other - the pages should “breathe”.

Remember to rinse the shelves on which books are stored. Return everything to its place only after the cabinets have completely dried.

Cleaning is important not only for the safety of books. Some people are allergic to paper dust. Having picked up a copy, instead of the pleasure of reading, they get streams from their eyes and nose. Take care of the proper storage of books and the well-being of people in the house, and then the library will become your pride.