The Book Doctor is In: How to Clean Books

In every sense of the word dirty books have been a concern of librarians since risqué pictographs turned up in the Library of Alexandria. Here though we’re limiting the discussion of off-color library materials to those that are marked, stained, or simply nasty from too much handling.

Some marks and stains can be missed, but sometimes what is written (or drawn) in a book needs to be removed. here are some common problems and tips on how to clean books.

You are reading: How to get stains out of books

pencil marks

Simply erasing the pencil marks is usually easy, as long as you use a good eraser that doesn’t smudge the marks or discolor the paper. some of the best erasers i know of are the pink carnation erasers. they will all generally do a thorough job of removing pencil, pastel, and charcoal marks.

It is never a good idea to use the built-in eraser on pencils as they may already be blackened from previous use or dried to the point of being hard. in both cases, the eraser tends to rearrange the pencil marks, but rarely removes them completely. Pink wedge erasers that sit on the end of pencils also tend to smear marks and discolor paper.

Never rub the eraser back and forth over the marks as this can easily wrinkle or tear the paper. move the eraser in one direction while holding the paper in place.

ink

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Removing ink from a ballpoint pen is almost impossible. a web search for “remove ink from paper” will provide you with some “you’ve got to be kidding me!” Suggestions like soaking the paper in nail polish remover or dousing it with bleach. Let’s stay away from toxic and dangerous chemicals and keep in mind that we want to get rid of marks, but not all the print on the page!

The bottom line is that you probably won’t be successful in trying to remove ink marks from your books. ink eradicator or nail polish remover can be effective on marks in non-printed areas, but if marks extend over printed areas, you’re probably out of luck.

If the marks are objectionable and render the book useless, you may try to find another copy of the book and photocopy the necessary page. then remove the marked page and tip in a clean replacement. this process can be tricky if the page is printed on both sides.

crayon

Crayon marks can be unsightly and distracting, but they are rarely so objectionable that you feel you have to erase them, as they are almost always made by young children who have not yet developed a propensity for drawing unpleasant pictures.

Still, it’s best to remove as much excess crayon as possible by carefully scraping it off with a knife. Then place paper towel on both sides of the marked page and warm it with an iron to draw out some of the wax to keep it from spreading to adjacent pages.

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If you also find crayon marks in your library, Crayola® has great suggestions for removing marks made by your products.

chewing gum and other unpleasant things

Over the years, I have come across many unusual, even bizarre things that are used as bookmarks and left there when the book is returned. I have even read claims that people have found forgotten bacon strips in books. however, that seems like such a rampant waste of bacon that I doubt those claims are true.

but nasty stuff gets inside books, so guidelines for dealing with things that leave a residue on books are helpful:

• chewing gum and anything else that has some bulk can often be removed by freezing and then gently scraping away.
• residual oil and grease can be at least partially removed with paper towels and a warm iron.
• some stains can often be improved with a kneaded eraser or absorene® book and paper cleaner. Knead a small amount of absorbene in your hand until smooth and lightly rub it in one direction over the dirty surface. as it picks up the stain or dirt, knead it again to refresh it. if there are any crumbs left, brush them off.

general cleaning of covers and page borders

• Cloth covers can usually be cleaned with Absorene or Demco Book Cleaner. Since Absorene is a dough-like product there is very little chance of it discoloring the cover but there have been complaints that residue can remain on books with rough covers. Demco Book Cleaner is an effective product for removing soil from cloth covers, but since it is water-based, it’s a good idea to test the cover in an inconspicuous place for color-fastness. Note that this product was formerly marketed for cleaning covers and pages, but is no longer recommended for use on book paper.
• Paper covers should be cleaned with a dry product, such as Absorene Book Cleaner or Dry Cleaning Sponges.
• Plastic covers are easily cleaned with Demco Book Cleaner and a piece of cloth or a sponge.
• Cleaning the page edges can make an amazing improvement in the appearance of a book and is easier than you might expect. Simply use a piece of fine sandpaper to quickly restore the edges of the text block to a like-new appearance.

As always, feel free to use the link below to post any comments or questions and I’ll get back to you. I can use your input in future posts.

Throughout this series, we’ll be referring to two demco resources. The Demco Collection Care Guide Booklet and The Demco Collection Care DVD are available to help you overcome your book repair challenges.

If you’re looking for information on quarantining books to help prevent the spread of disease, read “how to quarantine books in your school library.”

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