The Book Doctor is In: How to Clean Books (2024)

Donna Pooley April 26, 2016 @ 7:59 am Reply

I’ve found the best solution for removing ink from book pages is a Venus 605B Typ-E-Rase Eraser. It can still remove the print from the page if not careful, but it is great for erasing ink between the print and in the margins as it can be sharpened to a point. Unfortunately, this item is becoming difficult to find.

• John Ison July 24, 2016 @ 8:24 am Reply

  Donna,

  Thanks for your suggestion. You are correct that these erasers are difficult to find though I did locate a limited number on Amazon.

  John

  • Dylan August 18, 2021 @ 11:32 am Reply

    How to get rid of small food stain at the fore edge of a book?

Ashley June 23, 2016 @ 2:17 pm Reply

I have a grease stain on my hardback, how can I clean it off?

• John Ison July 24, 2016 @ 7:52 am Reply

  Ashley,
  That’s a tough one since there’s a very good chance that you will remove some of the color from the cover along with the grease. I would suggest that you place some paper towel on the stain and weight it down for a few days. That may draw some of the grease out. If the stain is still objectionable, you could try gently working some diluted dishwashing liquid into the stained area. Since that could remove some of the color from the cover you might just be trading one problem for another. You should test for colorfastness in an inconspicuous place first. Along the bottom edge or inside the book where a bit of cover cloth is exposed would be good.
  I checked on line and found other suggestions like rubbing alcohol and auto brake cleaner but I’ve never tried them and they sound risky to me as there seems to be a good chance of further marring the cover.

  John

ashley September 4, 2016 @ 12:56 am Reply

my book was bent and it left a mark how can I fix it

• John Ison September 8, 2016 @ 3:47 pm Reply

  Hi Ashley,
  Can you give me more information? Was this a paperback or hard cover book? Was only the cover bent or did the entire book somehow get bowed? Was the mark you mentioned a line from folding or something else.

  Please let me know and I’ll see if I can help.

  John

Donna Hiestand September 20, 2016 @ 2:22 pm Reply

I have a book that has a few blood spots at the bottom of a couple of pages from a nose bleed. Could you please tell me if there is something I can use to remove the spots. It was a new book.

• John Ison September 28, 2016 @ 3:35 pm Reply

  Donna,

  Removing dried blood can be tricky so I’ve cribbed some information from the WikiHow website and copied it below. Since hydrogen peroxide can be strongly acidic, I recommend that you apply a small amount of baking soda to both sides of the pages after the hydrogen peroxide dries to help prevent future staining from the acid.

  Hope this helps …

  Erasing Blood Stains
  1
  Soak up as much blood as possible with a clean, dry cotton ball or a paper towel. If the stain is not your own blood, exercise caution and use gloves for this and all subsequent steps. Some bloodborne pathogens can remain infectious for days outside the body. Dispose of all soiled cleaning supplies with care.

  2
  Moisten a cotton ball with cold water and carefully dab at the stain just enough to wet the area. If possible, chill the water in a bowl with ice cubes. Never use warm or hot water to clean blood! If you do, the heat may set the stain and make it permanent.

  3
  Mop up the moistened stain with a dry cotton ball. Carefully dab the area until dry. Tamp gently up and down. Do not dab at a dry stain, as that may damage the paper.

  4
  Repeat steps 2-3 until blood fails to come off the paper onto the cotton ball. This will likely need to be done a few times. If the stain was fresh, this may be all that’s necessary to remove the stain. If the stain persists, go on to the next step.

  5
  Buy 3% hydrogen peroxide solution. Repeat steps 2-3 using hydrogen peroxide instead of water. Repeat as necessary. Do not be tempted to use bleach on a blood stain! Bleach can break down the proteins found in blood, leaving behind an unsightly yellow mark.

Kathy December 4, 2016 @ 1:46 pm Reply

Hi John ,
I was happy to find your link. Perhaps you have a solution for me. I have an older hardback book with some water stain. The binding is the web/cloth type. I am using it for a project. I am going to use fabric paint to renew the binding. I need to clean it first. Do you think alcohol, nail polish remover, peroxide or vinegar would be good to use? I read in my research that alcohol may work. Thank you in advance.
Kathy

• John Ison December 12, 2016 @ 11:05 am Reply

  Kathy,

  I think your research is correct in that rubbing alcohol is the best as you are mainly interested in removing any oils that may cause your paint to not adhere well. Rubbing alcohol is only mildly acidic with a pH of 5.5. Both hydrogen peroxide and vinegar are much more acidic and could potentially cause long-term damage to the binding.

  Just apply a bit of the alcohol to a clean cloth and gently rub the cover to remove any oils.

  John

  • Scott E O'Keefe July 16, 2020 @ 8:30 pm Reply

    John,
    My wife has a book that has a water stain from a glass, see attached photo. I tried my Staedtler Mars plastic eraser with no improvement.
    Would you have any suggestions please?
    Thanks for your helpful insights.

    

  • Paul August 21, 2022 @ 8:02 am Reply

    Hello John, I have a book that my children put in the backseat of my car and then drinks all over and it did several pages. Is there any way to clean that up? Thank you for your help

Matt December 11, 2016 @ 2:49 pm Reply

I spilled paint on my book. I don’t know what type it is, and it has dyed the page. Any advise?

John Ison December 12, 2016 @ 11:15 am Reply

Claudia Person January 2, 2017 @ 12:02 am Reply

• John Ison January 10, 2017 @ 11:42 am Reply

  Claudia,

  Thanks for sending the photos. They made it much easier to determine the cause of the edge damage to your books and I think we’re dealing with two related problems: acidic paper and loose bindings.

  A bit of background on acidic paper: Before the mid-19th century book paper was made from primarily cotton stock but manufacturers switched to wood-based stock because it was easier and cheaper to obtain. The manufacturing process allows acidic lignin from the wood to remain in the paper and books printed on that stock invariably become discolored and brittle as the acid destroys the paper. After pressure from librarians and others, manufactures began adding buffering agents to book paper in the early 1980s and life of books was greatly lengthened.

  The books you are dealing with were published around 1906 and the photos show edge damage caused by brittle paper being broken due to normal handling. As a reader would turn a page, the weakened paper would simply break due to lack of flexibility. There is nothing you can do to reverse the damage.

  I also suspect that the bindings on your books have become loose over time and that has allowed some sections of pages to protrude more than others which has resulted in some groups of pages showing much more damage than others.

  I’m sorry I don’t have better news about your books, but to extend their life as much as possible, you will need to limit handling and be as gentle as possible with them.

  John

Sheral February 16, 2017 @ 12:47 am Reply

How to get rid of cooking oil from books

John Ison February 16, 2017 @ 2:13 pm Reply

Steve Oliver March 27, 2017 @ 5:02 pm Reply

• John Ison March 31, 2017 @ 7:28 am Reply

  Steve,

  Pelikan (pelikan.com) produces an ink eradicator that could possibly remove the marker. Without testing it’s not possible to say if that would also remove the color from the paper. If your objective is to remove the name without regard to whether or not the yellow-orange is changed you might give it a try.

  Other than that, I think removal is not possible and you might simply obliterate the name with a marker or cover it with an opaque tape.

  John

• Laura Krenz April 19, 2021 @ 9:06 am Reply

  Hi, John,

  My mom sent me a box of books that have been in her basem*nt for years. They are books that belonged to me and my little sister when we were small children. Some are around 30 – 35 years old and the rest are probably 15 – 20 years old, mostly the flexible paperbacks typical of children’s books.

  My parents have cats and a dog. How do I get rid of the pet dander and other allergens that result from basem*nt storage? There’s nothing visible on the books, but they do have a distinct smell.

  Thanks

  • John Ison May 12, 2021 @ 9:58 am Reply

    Laura,

    Since the books have been stored in a basem*nt be on the lookout for signs of mold. That can be hazardous and difficult to deal with so you might want to consider how important to books are to you.

    If there isn’t mold present the old book odor can often be reduced by closing them in a container with baking soda for a time. It can help if you can open the books slightly rather leaving them packed tightly together.

    Pet dander, ect. can be removed with a vacuum cleaner with a HEPA cleaner.

    John

Jane May 8, 2017 @ 12:31 am Reply

Hello I bought a used book that had pen markings on the bottom of the book. Not on the pages but if you close the book and stand it up there were lines drawn from front cover to back in ink. Would the nail polish work in this situation or maybe something else? Thank you for your help.

• John Ison June 27, 2017 @ 11:24 am Reply

  Hi Jane,

  First I must apologize for this response being so tardy. Somehow our system overlooked your question until now.

  Your best option for removing the ink marks is to use a fine sandpaper as mentioned in this blog post. Lay the book flat at the edge of a table so you can open both covers without damaging the book—the text block would be flat on the table. Wrap the sandpaper around a small wood block or similar item and firmly stroke along the edge of the text block. Unless the ink has penetrated deeply into the paper this will eliminate the marks.

  I don’t recommend using any sort of eradicator or nail polish remover as you risk either damaging the paper or moving the stain deeper into the pages.

  John

Vickie Estler June 9, 2017 @ 8:34 pm Reply

I recently purchased an 1893 book in Nuremberg in its original box. Upon purchase and when showing the book to several friends arriving home in S. Fl, no residue came off. I just gave it to my son in Raleigh and when he took the book out of its box, his hands were covered in thick black residue. I took a paper towel and gently wiped over the outside cover and the paper towel was solid black! How can we treat the book or clean the cover to prevent this from happening? Thank you.

• John Ison June 12, 2017 @ 11:08 am Reply

  Vickie,
  No doubt the mold spores were present on the book cover when you bought it but the book had probably been stored in a dry environment. When you book was handled in the South Florida humidity and then re-sealed in the box those spores had the moisture they needed to start growing.

  Mold on books is a serious problem as it can easily spread to other organic surfaces as well as cause health issues so please leave it closed in the box until you are ready to treat it properly. I’m not expert in this area but have located some very helpful information from Cornel University at https://www.library.cornell.edu/preservation/librarypreservation/mee/management/mold.html

  If you prefer not to deal with this on your own you can go to the American Institute for Conservation of Historic and Artistic Works at http://www.conservation-us.org where you will find a locator for book conservators in your area.

  You should deal with this as quickly as possible as the type of mold you describe can cause serious damage to the book cover.

  Thanks for contacting us,
  John

Kayla June 16, 2017 @ 11:37 am Reply

My son spilled pediasure on a very important book of mine ? its a paper cover. Pediasure has a very thick consistency, as if a mix between milk and syrup. It smells very bad. Please help me!

John Ison June 21, 2017 @ 6:14 am Reply

Liz June 22, 2017 @ 3:38 pm Reply

Hi,
I have some bibles that were stored in a box and a Florida palmetto bug got stuck in the box and “sprayed or pooped” on the end of the pages. Is there anything that will remove this disgusting brown stain? The books are otherwise in great shape. I tried some fine sandpaper, but it is only working on the light stain. I appreciate your help. Thanks.

John Ison June 27, 2017 @ 11:03 am Reply

Vickie Deal August 3, 2017 @ 9:40 am Reply

I have a family Bible my mother received in 1972. It was a white cover (I don’t think true leather) but it has yellowed and darkened through the years. Is there anyway to remove the yellowing and restore the cover without damaging it?? Thank you for any suggestions you may have.

• John Ison August 19, 2017 @ 4:40 pm Reply

  Vickie,
  Without knowing for certain what the cover is made of I can’t hazard a guess as to what might restore the whiteness. You could try contacting the publisher to see if they can provide information regarding the cover material although it’s a long-shot on a book so old.

  Frankly though, regardless of whether it’s genuine leather, some sort of manufactured leather, or another material it’s unlikely that you can whiten it without risking damage. You might take it to a book restorer if you can locate one nearby so they can examine it to determine if restoration is possible.

  Otherwise look upon the yellowing as a sign of it gaining character with age.

  Sorry I don’t have an easy answer for you,
  John

Sunanda August 12, 2017 @ 8:41 pm Reply

Hi sir just help me to remove correction pen whitening marks from paper.my son unknowingly applied on important paper.if the written farmet under whitener applied place vanishes also OK .we have to remove that whitner part from paper .without damage..help me with ur sugession

• John Ison August 19, 2017 @ 5:20 pm Reply

  Sunanda,
  I have been researching your question for some time and have not found a certain solution. Take comfort in knowing that you are not alone with this problem as many others are searching for a solution.

  Be aware that correction fluids from various manufacturers may behave differently. It would be best for you to check the website of the company that produced the specific product in question to see if suggestions are available there.

  If that doesn’t work out you may wish to try some of the remedies I located through my searches. I have tried none of these so can’t vouch for results. Since there does not seem to be one can’t-miss solution here are the most commonly suggested remedies I have found with those most frequently offered listed first:

  1. Gently bend the paper backwards–perhaps around your fingertip–and scrape the correction marks off with the edge of a coin.

  2. If #1 doesn’t work use the edge of a knife blade in place of the coin. Be very careful not to cut the paper–or your finger.

  3. Heat the stain with a hair dryer to soften the fluid and flake it off.

  4. Some people claim to have had success dampening the marks with rubbing alcohol and then flaking them off as in #1, above. Perhaps this loosens the chemicals in the fluid–I don’t know. Be very careful not to tear the dampened paper.

  5. While holding the paper bent backwards as in #1, use a very fine sandpaper to remove the marks. (I feel it’s likely this would also affect the print under the correction but you indicate that is acceptable.) Do not do this long enough to wear a hole in the paper.

  Perhaps other readers can offer additional suggestions.

  John

Sunanda August 20, 2017 @ 5:55 am Reply

Thank u sir I applied mild acetone with ear buds and left it for a night.then slowly started rubbing on it. By using blunt end of spoon now I can able to see the writing partially .still the mist of correction pen remains….thanks for prompt response .hope so u will suggest right solution one day.thank u so much sir

Fizza August 27, 2017 @ 2:16 am Reply

Hi sir
My book pages got bent. I pressed the book under a heavy object which made the pages fine but there are marks of bending on the pages.Also i have ball pen marks on the book how can i solve these problems?I cant buy the book again as it is very expensive and i have to use it for next three years

John Ison August 30, 2017 @ 7:57 am Reply

esperanza September 14, 2017 @ 11:06 pm Reply

i have a wall map 6ft by 6ft that is from 1930 that i stored in garage.it seems to have gotten moisture or possibly oil stain,cant really differentiate,as paper is a brownish color.its a map of San fFancisco,and i really want to recondition this map if possible.will using dish soap or whatever chemical you recommend ruin the ink on map/ ty esperanza

• John Ison September 20, 2017 @ 5:04 pm Reply

  Please don’t use anything containing water on the map as that would most assuredly ruin the paper. There is nothing you can do that will remove the discoloration from the map.

  Since your map was printed in the 1930s it is very likely printed on paper with a high level of acids. Over time these acids will cause the fibers in the paper to break down and will react with oxygen and pollutants to turn the paper brown. While there is no way to reverse the damage and discoloration, products are available to neutralize acid remaining in the paper to prevent further deterioration. I am familiar with Bookkeeper Deacidification Spray which is available from Gaylord Archival (part of the Demco family of companies). This is a link to that product:
  http://www.gaylord.com/Preservation/Book-%26-Pamphlet-Preservation/Repair-Tools-%26-Supplies/Other-Tools-%26-Supplies/Bookkeeper%26%23174%3B-Deacidification-Spray/p/PT22

  You may wish to contact a customer service representative at Gaylord Archival to review instructions for this product and determine how much you might need for your map.

  If you continue to store your map please keep it rolled in a protective sleeve. Acid-damaged paper becomes brittle and will break along fold lines if folded repeatedly. If you wish to display the map you may be able to locate someone near you who can laminate or dry mount it to provide protection from further damage.

Marsha September 21, 2017 @ 11:54 am Reply

How can I clean the cover of a set of Encyclopedias that have a brown
Stain from being exposed to cigarette smoke for years?

John Ison September 25, 2017 @ 11:04 am Reply

Wendy Major October 13, 2017 @ 2:50 pm Reply

Our law library is getting a facelift and the book covers need to be cleaned. What is the best product to use?

• John Ison October 22, 2017 @ 6:16 pm Reply

  Wendy,
  Please refer to the section in this post headed “General Cleaning of Covers and Page Edges”. The information there is the best I have available but I would like to add that dry cleaning sponges are also effective on cloth covers and leave no residue.

  Please feel free to contact me again if the information in this post does not work well with your specific books.

  John

Leann Coffman October 17, 2017 @ 7:28 am Reply

• John Ison October 22, 2017 @ 6:00 pm Reply

  Leann,

  I don’t think you can successfully remove nail polish from paper. Any type of remover will likely be even more effective on the ink than the nail polish so you will simply cause more damage to your books. Replacing the books or living with the damage are the only options I am aware of.

  Sorry,

  John

Richard Frias October 17, 2017 @ 7:32 am Reply

what is the use of vinegar solution in ink stain?

• John Ison October 22, 2017 @ 6:06 pm Reply

  Richard,
  Many people say that an overnight soaking of cloth with ink stains in a mixture of two parts milk and one part vinegar will remove the stain. Obviously that option isn’t available if you are dealing with in stains on paper. I’m not aware of any method of removing ink from paper that uses vinegar.

  John

Harry October 19, 2017 @ 3:44 pm Reply

Hi John,
I’ve received an art book with nice glossy pages except for two which were stuck together somehow. I’ve managed to peel them apart carefully but there are tiny specs of glue on the two pages which give the pages a varnish feel. Do have any advice for getting the adhesive off without further damaging the pages.
Thank you for your time.

• John Ison October 22, 2017 @ 6:27 pm Reply

  Harry,
  Since only two pages were stuck together it seems likely that something was spilled on one of them and then the book was closed. What you are feeling is either residue from the spill or some of the coating that was used to gloss the pages. If you can live with this I think it’s best not to attempt to remove the specs.

  If, however, you do want to try to remove the specs you could insert a sheet of paper towel that is only slightly dampened between the pages. Slip a sheet of waxed paper on the opposite side of both pages so no moisture can migrate to adjoining pages or you’ll wind up with more stuck together. Close the book for several minutes so the damp towel can soften the specks and you might be able to brush them off. Be sure to leave the book open until the pages dry completely. It’s possible they will wrinkle slightly so you may need to iron them.

  I can’t guarantee this procedure will work for you so, again, your best option may be to just do nothing.

  John

David October 23, 2017 @ 10:49 am Reply

Hi,
I just received a paperback book from Amazon that has a gross, rubbery feeling texture on the cover. Aside from the unpleasant tactile experience, it seems to collect microscopic grit. I’ve tried scrubbing a spot on the back with a few different substances such as alcohol. So far, nothing works. Any suggestions? I could put a paper cover on the book, but I really enjoy the graphics on the cover, and I dislike paper covers. Is there anything you know of that will eliminate that weird feel? Anything I could spray on it that wouldn’t crack or peel? Any way to neutralize it? I know this all may sound like much ado about nothing, but reading an actual book that one holds in one’s hand is a great pleasure and the rubbery feel puts a huge dent in my enjoyment.

• John Ison October 29, 2017 @ 9:47 am Reply

  David,

  Since we have no idea what is on the cover my first thought is to return it to Amazon and hope a replacement copy arrives without the same rubbery feel on the cover.

  If you don’t want to go to the trouble of returning the book I can’t say whether cleaning it with a book cleaner as described at the end of this post would help but you might consider applying a clear laminate over the cover. There are many types of laminates available as described in the following blog post:

  https://ideas.demco.com/blog/book-doctor-series-protecting-softcover-books/

  Rather than order a pack of covers since you’re dealing with only one book you might visit your public library to see if they would sell (or give) you a suitable laminate.

  John

Aja November 15, 2017 @ 7:51 pm Reply

Hello, mineral spirit was waisted on my Bible what method can I use to remove it and the smell? Thank you

• John Ison December 30, 2017 @ 1:36 pm Reply

  Aja,
  I’m truly sorry about the lengthy delay in responding. Demco has been making some upgrades to the information system and the blog was off line for an extended time.

  I’m afraid there is little you can do to remedy the situation as I know of nothing that would remove the mineral spirits since the oils have no doubt permeated the paper. You might have some success in decreasing the odor if you place the bible in a sealed container with activated charcoal. The charcoal should, over time, absorb some of the odor. Try placing the charcoal in a cloth bag that will let air pass but will contain the charcoal particles. You don’t want to get the charcoal on the bible!

  Good luck,

  John

Kaiden November 23, 2017 @ 1:51 am Reply

Hello, I had gum in the bottom of my bag and my book was in there too. The book scraped against the gum and the colors from the wrapper made marks on the bottom of the book that I don’t know how to get off. Is there anything that I can do to get it off or make it less noticeable? If it helps, the colors are pink and blue.

• John Ison December 30, 2017 @ 1:53 pm Reply

  Kaiden,

  I’m truly sorry about the lengthy delay in responding. Demco has been making some upgrades to the information system and the blog was off line for an extended time.

  If the marks are on the edges of the pages you can use a piece of fine sandpaper to remove them. (See the description in the General Cleaning section of this blog.)

  If the marks are on the edges of the cover try using a small amount of dishwashing detergent in water on a cloth to scrub the area but be sure not to get the cover very wet. If that doesn’t work Demco Book Cleaner (product number WS16789100) probably will. Again, see the last section of this blog post for more information.

  John

Rita Hester February 21, 2018 @ 1:48 pm Reply

For removing oil stains from cloth or paper, I have used some sort of powder (talc, baking soda, baking powder, corn starch, very fine flour, etc.). Place it on the item and rub in lightly. Allow it to sit for a while to soak up the oil. Occasionally stir the powder and rub in again to refresh dry powder to the area involved. It should have soaked all it can within 12-24 hours. Then brush off the powder into the trash. Sometimes a second treatment can be tried, but most of what will come out does so with the first treatment.

Sheila May 24, 2018 @ 8:33 am Reply

Hi John,
Newer, glossy books and pages: Where does that odor come from?
The odor drives me a little batty not knowing what is making it. Is it the gloss on the paper, or the ink, or something else? There is no sign of mold or mildew, and I usually find the scent coming from children’s science books, hardcover and paperback, from our local libraries. The current books in question were published/printed in the early 1990s. Any ideas of chemical names?
Thank you for your time and consideration,
Sheila

• John Ison May 30, 2018 @ 6:52 am Reply

  Sheila,

  Book paper is treated with a large number of chemicals in the manufacturing process. More chemicals are added when books are printed and bound. All of these chemicals combine to give books their distinctive odor and as those chemicals break down that odor can change. Traditionally, a white clay called kaolin has been used to gloss paper but numerous other substances can also be used. Such coatings must be bound to the paper using any one of a number of binders such as latex or starch based chemicals. Each of those will add to the co*cktail of odors coming from any given book.

  It is impossible to say what is causing the odor you ask about but since it seems to be limited to glossy pages from 20-30 years ago it is likely that you are sensitive to some chemical being released from either the glossing agent or the binder as it ages.

  John

Alivia May 30, 2018 @ 4:24 pm Reply

Red Oil Pastels melted in my bookbag and got all over my Civics textbook. It’s all over the bottom of each page edge crease at the bottom of the book. Please help! What do I do? please is there away to get this out or at least some out without damaging the book any further?

• John Ison June 10, 2018 @ 11:57 am Reply

  Alivia,

  If the color is only on the bottom edges of the pages you should be able to remove it using a fine sandpaper. Open the covers so the sandpaper doesn’t damage their edges and gently use the sandpaper along the bottom edge of the text block until the color is gone. If the oil has soaked into the paper away from the edges there is probably nothing you can do to remove it, though.

  If there is also color on the bottom edges of the covers, try using a little rubbing alcohol on a cloth to remove that.

  John

Emily May 30, 2018 @ 7:52 pm Reply

Hi, I bought a used math book and the prior owner put in plastic paper clips along the long edge. The pages are creased. I have the book under heavy weight right now to see if that reduces the creasing. Any other ideas? Thanks!

John Ison June 10, 2018 @ 12:07 pm Reply

Everett T. August 6, 2018 @ 8:24 am Reply

Just curious if anyone knows how to repair cleaning agent damage of books. I have an extremely rare book. That took some damage during move. I had it stored in a tote with a jug of green soap. The soap was closed tightly, but managed to get a hole and leaked. The soap is now on the bottom of the pages of the book. All pages are soaked at bottom. They are wavy. If anyone knows how to repair this, any advice would be greatly appreciated.

• Liz Bowie August 9, 2018 @ 8:52 am Reply

  Here’s what John had to say:

  Everett,
  I have searched for methods to remove soap or detergent from book paper but am unable to find anything that might help with your problem. Extensive rinsing with clear water could conceivably remove the soap, but you would be left with a soggy book to deal with. Most likely the book is ruined, and any monetary value, if it was truly a rare book, is gone.

  Sorry not to have better news, but perhaps someone reading this post will offer a solution.

  John

Jim B. September 1, 2018 @ 6:48 pm Reply

The owner of my apartment did a poor job of painting built-in bookshelves. Not realizing this, I put an Encylopedia Brittanica set and the Great Books of the Western World on these shelves (many years ago), and the edges of the bindings of all these books now have paint stuck to them. Any ideas for cleaning them? Thanks much.

John Ison September 7, 2018 @ 10:56 am Reply

Shelly September 8, 2018 @ 11:15 am Reply

Do you have any suggestions on how to get colored pencil out of book pages? My 5 year old colored in a book my 10 year old borrowed from his teacher. Thank you!

John Ison September 11, 2018 @ 9:31 am Reply

Azure Bradford October 28, 2018 @ 9:24 pm Reply

Hi so i accidentally spilled a blue drink on my library book the pages with the words are fine just a few pages from the front and the back of the book have it on it. It’s dry now but i need help to try and get the color out. please help!!!

John Ison October 30, 2018 @ 6:43 pm Reply

Jeanie January 7, 2019 @ 8:46 pm Reply

Hi, I have a set of 10 vintage real cloth books from my childhood. I want to clean them for my granddaughter, but I’m not sure how. Any suggestions? Thank you!

John Ison January 15, 2019 @ 12:12 pm Reply

Yolanda January 24, 2019 @ 8:06 am Reply

HI John,
I love your demos and blogs on this website. They have helped me in our library so many times. How do we get a copy of your Demco Collection Care Guide?

• Liz Bowie January 25, 2019 @ 1:41 pm Reply

  I’m glad you’ve found this information helpful, Yolanda! Here is where you can find the Demco Collection Care Guide.

  Best,
  Liz

Alexa February 1, 2019 @ 9:05 am Reply

Hello. I left a textbook of mine in my backpack without realizing the damage it was causing to the bottom. Now the bottom edge of the book is very dark from what I assume are graphite stains that cannot be removed with an eraser. The fact that the book has suffered water damage before I received it doesn’t help. The surface covering the book is also starting to peel a bit. Is there any hope? Thanks in advance.

John Ison February 2, 2019 @ 2:47 pm Reply

Shelby March 1, 2019 @ 1:36 pm Reply

Hi, I’ve been looking around to find out how to clean certain covers. I’ve read you can use acetone to clean off sticker residue but those certain books are damaged because of the acetone wiping the color off. All of these books are paperback, so I was wondering what I should use to not only clean off any dirt but sticker residue as most of these books I get preowned or former library books.

• John Ison March 29, 2019 @ 12:54 pm Reply

  Shelby

  You’re correct that acetone–or many other liquid cleaners–may damage paperback covers. Two safer methods that often work are to rub the residue with an ordinary pencil eraser or to warm it with a hair dryer.

  When using an eraser run in one direction only and be careful not to rub too hard. Doing this will often make the residue roll into tiny balls that you can pick off.

  The hair dryer should soften the residue so you can use your thumb to gently roll it off of the cover.

  If neither of these techniques works well on a particular book you may need to try a non-acetone nail polish remover or some Goo Gone. Apply with product to a bit of paper towel or cotton ball, not directly on the cover. Test a small inconspicuous area first to be sure you won’t remove the color.

  John

Dave March 25, 2019 @ 5:04 pm Reply

• John Ison March 29, 2019 @ 1:11 pm Reply

  Dave

  Good to know that the sandpaper worked well for you.

  Since your book doesn’t seem to show signs of dampness I’m guessing that the odor is caused by the paper breaking down due to its own acid content. If so, there’s no permanent fix short of treating the entire book to neutralize that acid. That can be an extensive, and expensive process.

  You may be able to temporarily remove the odor using baking soda or activated charcoal. The charcoal likely would be more effective but you would need to be careful not to get it on the book. Perhaps wrap it in a porous cloth or make little bundles using coffee filters.

  Find a container–even a cardboard box–so you can stand the book on edge and fan the pages open so they are exposed to the air. Place the soda or charcoal in the box and close it up for a few days. You should find that the odor has decreased considerably but it will return very gradually as the acid continues to degrade the paper. There’s no harm in repeating the process if the odor becomes objectionable in the future.

  John

Donna Farley May 16, 2019 @ 7:27 pm Reply

Hello John, I have a beautiful new collector’s edition gold-stamped red cloth book, which I purchased in shrink wrap; only to find the price sticker inside the wrap was actually affixed to the book itself and is resisting removal. A friend who is an academic librarian asked the archivist at his institution about this for me, and I was told that they use Goof-off for such things. I can’t find it in my local stores and am leery of trying similar products without being sure they are okay. Can you please advise?

John Ison May 19, 2019 @ 7:25 am Reply

Gerardus (Gerry) Schoorl May 21, 2019 @ 2:51 am Reply

I was cleaning out a cupboard and found an old school atlas from 1957. Still in very good condition except for a couple of maps that I attacked with red and blue colouring pencils when I was about 10 years old. I tried to remove them with a “Mapad Softy rubber” but is is also removing the colouring of the map itself. Is there anyway this can be cleaned or, for historical value, would it be better to leave it alone. The Atlas showed maps of the netherland and countries around the world to which the dutch had laid claim. Like Newguinea, Indonesia, Sumatra and many more. I never realized I was so naughty.

John Ison May 23, 2019 @ 2:49 pm Reply

Ruth Gibbs May 30, 2019 @ 6:36 am Reply

John Ison June 1, 2019 @ 10:49 pm Reply

Fierce July 26, 2019 @ 10:59 am Reply

Small mark/line of Navy blue nail polish on white paper 🙁

John Ison July 29, 2019 @ 1:01 pm Reply

Try gently scratching it off. It may not have penetrated into the paper.
If it doesn’t come off it’s probably best to leave it as is.
John

Nina Schirmer August 23, 2019 @ 6:31 am Reply

John Ison September 2, 2019 @ 5:29 am Reply

George Botelho September 6, 2019 @ 10:53 am Reply

• John Ison September 11, 2019 @ 2:27 pm Reply

  George,

  I have no idea what caused the mark in your book. One possibility could be that there was some sort of impurity in the paper that has oxidized and discolored as the book has aged a bit.

  I can’t offer any suggestions for removing the mark. Since we don’t know what it is, there’s a chance that anything done to remove it would only make it more noticeable.

  John

Rob September 10, 2019 @ 6:50 pm Reply

Wow. I bought a library bound version of a collectible children’s book. It was in near-immaculate condition. I wanted to remove a few stray pen marks on the cover. I tried alcohol (91%) and actually started to significantly remove the ink! I use alcohol to clean a lot of collectible-related items and never had any issues with it. Not realizing the ink was lifting up, I got some of the cover’s dark blue ink on my hand and transferred it the back of the book. I wish I had left it alone (it looked barely used and had no check out card inside). I always thought library bound books took off the cover of the book and it was laminated in some way.

Wayne Kuechle September 29, 2019 @ 9:19 pm Reply

• John Ison October 4, 2019 @ 2:56 pm Reply

  Wayne,

  Thanks for including the photo; that’s a big help. I can see that the stain has spread a bit into the weave so it is some sort of liquid–most likely some type of ink. I doubt that there is any safe way to attempt to remove the stain. If you have access to a large library with a conservator on staff they may be able to offer some assistance. Otherwise my advice is to leave it as is.

  John

Catherine Gilliland November 7, 2019 @ 5:02 pm Reply

• Catherine Gilliland November 7, 2019 @ 5:03 pm Reply

  *Edges of pages*

  

John Ison November 8, 2019 @ 10:26 am Reply

Catherine Gilliland November 10, 2019 @ 1:26 pm Reply

John,
Thank you so very much! You are the best!

Tiana November 10, 2019 @ 9:41 pm Reply

Some green colored cleaner got spilled on the pages of my book and now some have a green tint on the parts that got wet. Is there any way to fix this?
Thanks in advance!

John Ison November 14, 2019 @ 4:58 pm Reply

Mrs. Marie Stanberry December 12, 2019 @ 11:12 pm Reply

I have an 1841 English Hexapla which has personal notes written with ink throughout. I tried covering the notes with Paper Mate Liquid Paper, with which I am not satisfied. The only thing that I can think of is to go over all the notes with a pen to try to at least make the notes unreadable. What do you suggest?

• John Ison January 2, 2020 @ 2:52 pm Reply

  Mrs Stanberry,

  I suggest that unless there is something objectionable in the notes (other than their presence in your book) that you do nothing more as any further attempts are nearly certain to be unsightly.

  That said, there are ink eradicators available that might remove or lighten the notes but their effectiveness depends on the characteristics of the ink in the notes. It shouldn’t be used in printed areas of the book as it may remove the printing ink and there is a strong risk of damage to the book paper as well. I don’t recommend that you try this.

  John

Mark January 1, 2020 @ 3:54 pm Reply

• John Ison January 2, 2020 @ 2:38 pm Reply

  Mark,
  You are most likely correct that your book warped because of environmental conditions. Hard book covers are made from several layers of different materials and a change in the environmental conditions–particularly humidity– where a book is stored can cause those layers to expand or contract at different rates, causing the warpage you see. Since you have seen some improvement with the book in your home I suggest that you continue to hold it at a constant cool room temperature and humidity of 40 to 50 percent. Placing a board with some weight (perhaps a brick) could help with flattening the covers as the moisture in the book stabilizes.

  If the book does not flatten sufficiently after an extended time you might try this procedure which has been recommended by The Library Binding Institute:
  Using clean tap water, lightly dampen the insides of the covers. It is essential that you protect the contents from moisture so place a sheet if impervious plastic film or aluminum foil between the pages and the cover. Place a board with a heavy weight (3-4 bricks equivalent) on the book for a day or two.
  I can’t stress strongly enough how important to be very sparing with the water; perhaps only spraying lightly with a spray bottle after covering the contents with the impervious moisture barrier.

  John

• Brian June 18, 2021 @ 4:02 pm Reply

  Another possible way is to invert the book outside covers facing down ( like a teepee) on a towel on your bathroom counter. Turn your shower to hot water so the humidity increases in the air. make sure you close your shower curtain. Close the bathroom door and leave it for 10-15 minutes. remove the book and sandwich between two heavy books. Try placing parchment paper between the two books so they do not have contact with your book. leave the books alone for at lease 24 hours. I have done this with great success : )

Helen February 2, 2020 @ 7:11 pm Reply

How can I disinfect books that have rodent droppings on them? I cannot use bleach because I am very sensitive to it. Thanks!

John Ison February 5, 2020 @ 10:13 am Reply

Danette Soelberg February 19, 2020 @ 12:25 pm Reply

I received a lot of donated books from another school. Inside the plastic tube the books were in, it looked like broken glass (ground and small pieces). It might have been plexiglass as it was clear, hard and could bend a little. What is the best way to clean the books so they can be checked out to students? I have a HEPA Vacuum that I plan to vacuum but I’m not sure how to get down in the spine are of the pages.

John Ison February 21, 2020 @ 8:19 am Reply

D February 23, 2020 @ 11:20 am Reply

I spelled orange cough syrup all over my book!! It’s mostly just the edges that are covered. Any ideas on how to remove it??

Marcia Whitacre February 23, 2020 @ 3:49 pm Reply

John Ison February 27, 2020 @ 7:20 am Reply

Nigel March 6, 2020 @ 1:50 am Reply

Hey, so I have a textbook and a pink sticky note was on one of the pages. It is the brand post-it and it is only the adhesive part of the note that seems to be on the page.

Ailen March 8, 2020 @ 6:19 am Reply

Hi. in today’s virus that is very prevalent in different countries, do you guys have some tips on how to disinfect library books without using harmful chemicals so our young readers will still be safe while enjoying the reading of their favorite books?

John Ison March 11, 2020 @ 3:37 pm Reply

• Dina March 21, 2020 @ 3:38 pm Reply

  Hello. Won’t alcohol remove the glossy layer of the book cover?

John Ison April 2, 2020 @ 10:03 pm Reply

Ellie April 13, 2020 @ 5:47 am Reply

I spilled whiskey on two of my new, out-of-print used (paperback) books, I am in TEARS. I rushed them to the kitchen and dried them with a paper towel as well as I could, it’s mostly the edges and rim of one, but the cover of the other had some serious stains on the edges already. The pages were already wrinkly-wavy. I wrapped the covers with paper towel and put them between two hardcovers wrapped with plastic, and put hardcover volumes 1-4 of the Harry Potter series on top of that to try and flatten them, but I worry the pages will stick together as they dry. I didn’t put paper towel between the other pages because that would be ALL of them. ANY additional help or advice would be wonderful.

John Ison April 16, 2020 @ 1:48 pm Reply

Sally Rowan April 17, 2020 @ 11:32 am Reply

I just found your column today, John, and hope you can give some good news.
We’ve lived off the coast of Maine since 2005 and have had many books pretty tight in bookcases. We are getting ready to move, and there is mildew/mold on the tops of pages, some unsmooth feeling on covers. The covers are easily cleaned, but the tops of the pages smell, and sometimes the interior also smells if I open it to check.
Should we get rid of all of these books, or the ones that smell inside?
And is there anything you can recommend to save journals from the past 45 years, which were put in the attic 10 yrs ago?

John Ison April 21, 2020 @ 11:12 am Reply

Nancy April 21, 2020 @ 7:06 pm Reply

• John Ison April 28, 2020 @ 7:50 am Reply

  Nancy,
  Start by using a dry cleaning sponge and Absorene Cleaner for a good overall cleaning. The darker stains in the photo look like they may have been caused by some sort of liquid. If so, the Absorene may not fully remove them so use Demco book cleaner on the cleaning sponge in that area.

  Here are links to those three products:
  Absorene dry cleaning sponges (https://www.demco.com/dry-cleaning-sponges)
  Absorene (https://www.demco.com/absorene-cleaner)
  Demco book cleaner (demco.com/demco-reg-book-cleaner)

  John

• Nancy April 28, 2020 @ 2:14 pm Reply

  John please answer the question from Nancy when you have time. It’s just above the one you just answered. Thank you!

Natasha April 27, 2020 @ 12:39 am Reply

Hi John,
I’ve come across your article because I’m in desperate need of your help. I have 3 rental books from college and they have some water damage. It’s a fairly small amount, but I would like to fix the problem to avoid being charged a fee again. The pages are a little bit wavy and there is a bit of a tide line stain from the water. Is there anyway to remove this stain? Is there anyway to make the pages straight again?
Any advice you have would help. Thank you.

John Ison April 28, 2020 @ 8:03 am Reply

Nancy April 28, 2020 @ 2:13 pm Reply

John please answer the question from Nancy when you have time. It’s just above the one you just answered. Thank you!

Miguel de Oliveira Pinto Ferreira May 8, 2020 @ 3:56 pm Reply

• John Ison May 27, 2020 @ 9:22 am Reply

  I’m very sorry that your question has been overlooked for such a long time. Somehow we missed it when it arrived.

  It appears that the dots could be either mold or insect droppings. In either case you should check the storage conditions where the book was located to be sure you don’t have similar issues with other materials.

  Since the dots appear to be only on the surface of the page edges you’re likely to be able to remove them with a bit of fine sandpaper. Just open both covers so you don’t damage their edges and sand the entire text block with the pages closed together. This is harmless to the book and should remove the marks.

  John

  See Also

  How to Safely Clean Your Books

Doug May 23, 2020 @ 2:36 pm Reply

John Ison May 27, 2020 @ 9:06 am Reply

ELLEN DREWS May 28, 2020 @ 4:14 pm Reply

I have a Singer sewing machine manual from 1912 that appears to be completely stained with oil. Is there any hope?

John Ison June 2, 2020 @ 2:26 pm Reply

Karine June 4, 2020 @ 2:56 am Reply

• John Ison June 5, 2020 @ 2:37 pm Reply

  Karine,

  You’re wise to be wary of using any water-based product on your book. From your photos I feel there is a very good chance that Absorene Paper and Book Cleaner would remove a great deal of the soil on the cover. Just take a golf ball size ball of Absorene, roll it in your hands to warm it, and gently rub it on on the cover. If necessary also using an Absorene Cleaning Sponge should remove additional soil. Any residue that remains on a porous cover can be brushed off after it dries completely.

  Both products are available at demco.com

  John

Kate Jones June 11, 2020 @ 4:06 am Reply

John Ison June 16, 2020 @ 8:01 am Reply

Katie Thomas July 15, 2020 @ 2:33 pm Reply

• John Ison August 1, 2020 @ 4:10 am Reply

  Katie,

  Thanks for including the photo. The goop on your book looks like it might be residue from some sort of insect but it’s difficult to tell. I think I’d isolate the book in a plastic bag and place it in a freezer to a few days to kill any insects. Then vacuum well to remove any loose material. If there is any staining you can remove it from the edge of the pages with fine sand paper. Just keep the book tightly closed and sand the stain away. Stain on the inner surface would probably be impossible to remove.

  Check how the book was stored an remove any source of moisture or insects.

  John

Amy July 26, 2020 @ 10:51 am Reply

• John Ison August 1, 2020 @ 3:50 am Reply

  Amy,

  This seems to be a minor stain on the back of the book. Your best option is to leave it as anything you might do to try to remove it is likely to look worse.

  John

brea July 26, 2020 @ 2:03 pm Reply

i left my straightener on top of my book and it created some burn marks in the cover, any hope of lighting the marks ? it’s a paper back

• John Ison August 1, 2020 @ 3:53 am Reply

  Brea,

  I don’t think there is anything you can do to remove the burn marks from the cover. Sorry.

  John

Michael Simon August 4, 2020 @ 12:00 pm Reply

John Ison August 9, 2020 @ 6:00 am Reply

Noah August 21, 2020 @ 10:45 pm Reply

John Ison August 25, 2020 @ 6:55 am Reply

Christine September 12, 2020 @ 8:15 pm Reply

What should I do about an accidental tomato sauce splash (not major) on the bottom paper edge (outer of the book – but the oil has slightly creeped onto the actual page). I dabbed it dry. What do you recommend I do about this situation? This book doesn’t belong to me, it belongs to a college library. Anything would be helpful.

John Ison September 14, 2020 @ 12:20 pm Reply

mark September 21, 2020 @ 6:10 pm Reply

John Ison September 23, 2020 @ 2:15 pm Reply

Safi September 25, 2020 @ 12:17 am Reply

mark September 25, 2020 @ 7:34 pm Reply

thanks for responding. much appreciate your time.

John Ison September 28, 2020 @ 2:19 pm Reply

• Safi September 28, 2020 @ 10:42 pm Reply

  Thanks John.
  It appears to be bird poop. I used some bleach in a water and wiped them with it and also added an alcohol based sanitizer.
  Then I covered them in parchment paper put them in preheated oven 140 F or roughly 60 Celsius for 15 minutes just in case they have roach eggs in them. spots are almost gone and I was just worried about the bird poop being pathogenic.

  Thanks for replying, you are doing good work here!

  

Bethel October 16, 2020 @ 2:57 pm Reply

Hi John,
I mistakenly poured oil on my book , many said I should use baking powder but I don’t know how to apply it .Is it wise to use baking powder??

• John Ison October 23, 2020 @ 2:43 pm Reply

  Bethel,

  I think you intended to ask about using baking soda (bicarbonate of soda) to absorb oil as baking powder does not soak up oil well.

  With the limited information you provided I can make only some suggestions. If the oil is on the cover you might have some success. If the book has a slick cover remove the oil with a cotton cloth dampened with a little soapy water. If you’re dealing with a cloth cover you can sprinkle a liberal amount of baking soda on the oil and let it soak for an extended time (2-3 days). Don’t rub the soda in as you might not be able to remove it completely. Remove the baking soda with a vacuum if possible. You will likely see the oil stain remaining but hopefully will have absorbed the excess so it doesn’t continue to spread.

  If the oil is on any pages insert blotter paper or thin cotton cloth between the pages to absorb the oil. This will not reverse the damage but should help stop it spreading. Let it soak for 2-3 days before removing the paper or cloth. Warming the book a bit (maybe to 100 degrees F) should help absorb as much oil as possible.

  John

Bianca M October 21, 2020 @ 6:31 pm Reply

How do I get a juice spot out of a these two books without damaging it even more

Bianca M October 21, 2020 @ 6:32 pm Reply

Bianca M October 21, 2020 @ 6:33 pm Reply

• John Ison October 23, 2020 @ 2:22 pm Reply

  Bianca,
  Thanks for including the photos; they are a big help.

  I’m sorry to say that I don’t think you will be able to remove the stains. The pictures show that the juice soaked into the paper and has now dried. Anything you might do now would most likely cause the stain to spread.

  Best to leave it as it is now.

  John

Joe October 24, 2020 @ 9:33 pm Reply

Maga October 26, 2020 @ 3:51 pm Reply

John Ison November 2, 2020 @ 9:32 am Reply

Iain November 27, 2020 @ 7:37 am Reply

John Ison December 2, 2020 @ 2:07 pm Reply

• Iain February 20, 2022 @ 1:52 pm Reply

  Thanks so much for your advice John, really appreciated

Frankie Ritacco-Sirianni December 7, 2020 @ 8:25 am Reply

• Frankie Ritacco-Sirianni December 7, 2020 @ 8:50 am Reply

  This is a photo of the unknown spill. Not sure if the color was pulled out of the red cover ?

  

• John Ison December 7, 2020 @ 2:41 pm Reply

  Frankie,

  I’m mystified by the fact that the black is not as pronounced in the printed areas as it is in the background red. It’s possible that the ink contained black pigment as well as the red and the red lifted more readily, leaving the black behind.

  Regardless of the cause, my opinion from seeing the photo is that it’s unlikely you will be able to undo the damage.

  Sorry not to have a magic cure.

  John

Ellie December 7, 2020 @ 12:54 pm Reply

John Ison December 7, 2020 @ 2:26 pm Reply

Ettima Ituen December 30, 2020 @ 3:47 am Reply

John Ison January 9, 2021 @ 7:52 am Reply

Taylor January 12, 2021 @ 1:05 am Reply

My mother has a very old, beautiful copy of Cinderella her cousin scribbled in with crayon years and years ago. Would love to try and fit it up for her. Any ideas?

• John Ison January 29, 2021 @ 11:26 am Reply

  Taylor,

  As you probably saw in the post above, the normal process would be 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.

  But, since the scribbling is very old, I doubt that there is any way to improve the appearance as the oils in the crayon have probably spread as much as they ever will. I any case, you won’t be able to remove the color from the crayon from the paper.

  John

Jimmy January 16, 2021 @ 9:54 am Reply

• John Ison January 30, 2021 @ 1:45 pm Reply

  Jimmy,

  There are two products that I recommend for cleaning hard cover books: Demco Book Cleaner and Absorene Book and Paper Cleaner.

  The Demco product contains both soap and washing soda (sodium carbonate) and is applied with a slightly dampened cloth.

  Absorene is a putty-like product that is normally rolled into a ball and used like an eraser to remove soil. It often leaves dry crumbs behind which can be removed with an Absorene Dry Cleaning Sponge.

  Both products work well but, since I’m always reluctant to use products containing water on books, I suggest you try the Absorene first and stay with that if it is satisfactory. It’s probably best to try to work around the gold printing to avoid lifting any of that.

  All of these products are available at demco.com under Library Supplies.

  You also mentioned that there is some scuffing on the covers. Since the covers appear to be textured paper applied over boards I don’t think there is any safe way to remove those marks.

  John

• Katherine October 25, 2022 @ 8:59 am Reply

  I use both of these products (library book repair) but when the liquid book cleaner is needed, I find it dulls the finish of the covers very badly. Any ideas on how to restore the shine? These are regular book cloth, with a very smooth somewhat shiny finish

Stephen January 22, 2021 @ 3:49 am Reply

• John Ison January 29, 2021 @ 11:33 am Reply

  Stephen,

  In the photo this looks like a padded cover. If so, you may be able to at least partially improve the dent by using a steam iron at the lowest temperature that will produce steam to gently dampen it. Place a sheet of paper towel between the iron and the book and watch closely that this isn’t discoloring the cover.

  If you don’t have access to a steam iron use a dampened piece of paper towel instead.

  Be very careful not to drip any water on the cover as that could leave a permanent mark.

  John

Laura Ferri February 11, 2021 @ 9:18 pm Reply

I have a canvas hard cover book. I lent it to a family member and its been returned with what seems to be a grease stain of some kind. Is there any hope? Or am I out of luck?

• John Ison February 20, 2021 @ 1:33 pm Reply

  Laura,

  It’s unlikely that you will be able to completely remove a greasy stain from a cloth covered book but you may be able to make it less noticeable. Fold a piece of paper towel in half and place it over the stain. Adjust an electric iron to the low setting and press it onto the paper towel for 15-20 seconds. Check the bottom of the paper towel and if you see that any of the grease has transferred onto it repeat the process on a fresh area of the paper towel until you don’t see that any more stain has transferred.

  Caution: To avoid damaging the cover don’t set the iron above low and don’t use the steam setting as the moisture would be harmful.

  John

Rana Lily February 20, 2021 @ 10:52 pm Reply

Hi, sir, I bought a used book that had pen markings on the bottom of the book. Not on the pages but if you close the book and stand it up there were lines drawn from front cover to back in ink. Would the nail polish work in this situation or maybe something else? Thank you for your help.

Blair Felgar February 21, 2021 @ 2:11 pm Reply

Hi John,
Just wanted to let you know how much I appreciate the time and energy you have put into this blog. I read it today, start to finish, and you have answered many of my questions and given me some great ideas to try on my vintage book collection. Kudos for what is so obviously a labor of love; so very much appreciated by those of us seeking answers to our book-related conundrums!
Thank you so much,
Blair

Pau Fermin March 23, 2021 @ 4:53 pm Reply

• Pau Fermin March 23, 2021 @ 6:38 pm Reply

  I’ve tried an iron to warm out the oil and see if there were any changes but the stain has remained the same. I have also placed oil blotting paper and it only produced very tiny spots.

John Ison March 30, 2021 @ 8:17 pm Reply

• Adekemi Seyi Kehinde April 6, 2021 @ 5:51 am Reply

  Thanks for this article. I received about 500 copies of my book and I discovered that there is a mistake on the cover, but it’s laminated already. Please how can I cover or clean the lines that I don’t need on the laminated book cover?

  • John Ison May 12, 2021 @ 7:12 am Reply

    Adekemi,

    Since the covers have been printed and laminated there is no way to remove the unwanted lines. If they are located so you can do so, you might be able to cover them with some sort of self-adhesive sticker.

    John

Michael Martin April 7, 2021 @ 5:12 pm Reply

Michael Martin April 7, 2021 @ 5:14 pm Reply

Here’s the second pic, John.

Michael Martin April 7, 2021 @ 5:14 pm Reply

• John Ison May 12, 2021 @ 7:17 am Reply

  Michael,

  Interesting message on the cover but there simply is no way to remove that nor the date stamps on the back without also removing the dye from the cloth covers. I think a large white area might be even less attractive than the markings.

  John

Helen May 1, 2021 @ 8:24 pm Reply

• John Ison May 12, 2021 @ 7:08 am Reply

  Helen,

  I know of nothing that would remove the blue ink lines without also destroying the paper.

  John

Hazel May 4, 2021 @ 6:40 pm Reply

Hazel May 4, 2021 @ 6:42 pm Reply

John Ison May 12, 2021 @ 7:05 am Reply

Darthtabby June 4, 2021 @ 12:48 pm Reply

I put a plastic bag that I intended to reuse in my backpack without realising there was still one of those little take out condiments containers in there. Now I’ve got little light brown (soy sauce) stains on the bottom corner of every page. I suspect there’s not a lot that can be done but I thought it might be worth asking just to see if you had anything that might work. Its a non fiction book but the paper seems pretty similar to the type you find in hardcover novels.

• John Ison June 8, 2021 @ 10:35 am Reply

  Darthtabby,

  You’re correct that there is little you can do to remove the stain from the faces of the pages.

  You can, however, improve the appearance of the edges of the pages by using a fine sandpaper. Open both covers and hold the text block closed. Gently work the sandpaper on the edges of the text block until the stain is gone.

  John

Damien June 16, 2021 @ 9:42 pm Reply

I got a dragon fruit stain that got dried on several pages of my textbook, how can I remove it without damaging the ink.

• John Ison June 20, 2021 @ 6:09 am Reply

  Damien,

  Liquid based stains like fruit juices will have penetrated completely through the book pages. Anything you attempt to lighten or remove the stain will undoubtedly cause irreversible damage to the paper itself. It’s best to leave the stain as-is.

  John

Brian June 18, 2021 @ 4:22 pm Reply

John Ison June 20, 2021 @ 6:28 am Reply

• brian woodward June 21, 2021 @ 2:22 pm Reply

  John

  All the items I stated to clean comic book covers are common materials used to clean them in the industry. I do use the Absorene and an eraser. But, if that is all that is available, I’ll keep using them. My main question was if you knew the types of ink they use to print the books.
  Thanks
  Brian

  • John Ison June 24, 2021 @ 7:54 am Reply

    Sorry Brian but I really can’t help with that question. You might contact a conservator at a large university or public library as they would likely have some knowledge of the types of inks used at various times.

    John

hana June 21, 2021 @ 3:09 am Reply

John Ison June 22, 2021 @ 7:13 am Reply

Julie Tran June 24, 2021 @ 2:36 am Reply

• Julie Tran June 24, 2021 @ 2:42 am Reply

  Hello Mr. Ison,

  I upload another clearer photo of the shiny/glossy spots for your reference.

  Thank you for your help.

  Best regards,
  Julie.

  

John Ison June 24, 2021 @ 7:50 am Reply

• Julie Tran June 24, 2021 @ 12:20 pm Reply

  Dear Mr. Ison,

  Thank you so much for your prompt response.
  I truly appreciate your time and sincere advices.

  After referring to the photos attached, should I be assured to identify that the glossy/shiny spots are the remaining tape residues left on the cover, not the ink from the cover got taken away by the tape?

  Moreover, I am too a bit wary about using solvent on delicate surfaces such as paper, and especially ink colored covers like these.
  Thus, would there be any other dry cleaning approaches that could also be effective in this case?

  For example, should I use hair dryer at low heat to melt the adhesive a bit before using the fingers to rub gently and firmly for them to bead up and roll off?

  And if solvents such as Un-du are the most viable options to consider, could you advise if there are any chances that Un-du would discolor or smear the paper material, if some of the excess solvent got onto the area that does not have adhesive?
  Please also share if you have had experiences using Un-du on paper with colors/inks such as photographs, or watercolor arts, posters, or colored book covers, etc…?

  Moreover, according to the photos, would it be possible that you could identify the material of the book dust jacket, and the ink printed (I assume they are laminated/finished with matte?).
  Would it be the same laminate/finish/ink as for example the hom*o Deus book (black cover – I have attached the photo – credit: Jakob Possert).

  When identified, what are the tools, chemicals or methods that would be effective and safe for such material?

  • Julie Tran June 24, 2021 @ 12:34 pm Reply

    I have also attached the photos of Pik-Up Rubber Cement Eraser by Speedball and Xyron Adhesive Eraser for your extra reference.

    I am very thankful as as I am living in Vietnam, and the concept of book and paper conservation is very unfamiliar in our area.

    Once again, thank you so much for your patience and thoughtful help.
    Hope you have a wonderful day!

    Best regards,
    Julie.

    

    

    

John Ison June 30, 2021 @ 7:29 am Reply

Barry July 11, 2021 @ 9:35 am Reply

John Ison July 15, 2021 @ 4:07 am Reply

Gupta August 1, 2021 @ 9:38 pm Reply

John Ison August 3, 2021 @ 9:45 am Reply

• Gupta August 4, 2021 @ 5:13 am Reply

  Thank you so much for your reply Mr. Ison. I cleaned the area and thankfully the damage was only on the surface. The interior is perfect so far, and i thought of returning it but sadly it’s the last one and decided to keep it, at least until i find another (more cheaper and in better condition) copy. Since it doesnt seem like it’s something dangerous then it’s all good. Thank you once again and Best Regards!

Dylan August 18, 2021 @ 11:34 am Reply

There is a small food stain at the fore edge of the book. How do I remove it completely? Thanks!

Dylan August 18, 2021 @ 11:37 am Reply

Is there such thing as water stain? and if so how do I get rid of it as well from the fore edge of the book?

John Bruce August 31, 2021 @ 7:16 am Reply

John Bruce August 31, 2021 @ 7:18 am Reply

Mia Watkins September 4, 2021 @ 8:16 am Reply

Hi, I have a ton of paper back as well as hardcover books that have sweaty finger prints on them, whats the best way to get rid of these? And is there a way to protect the books to prevent this from happening further?

Stonework September 21, 2021 @ 1:34 am Reply

I just finished reading your article and I wanted to let you know that it’s super helpful. This is a big problem in the library world and one we handle on a daily basis. You did an awesome job of laying out all the critical elements for solving this issue. Thanks for taking the time to share your knowledge with us!

Joey November 9, 2021 @ 7:07 am Reply

• John Ison November 12, 2021 @ 4:08 pm Reply

  Joey,

  You can remove the stain from the edges of the pages by opening the covers and using some fine sandpaper on the edge of the text block. In the photo it appears the covers are also paper so gently sand the stain from their edges also.

  If any stain seeped onto the surfaces of the pages you might be able to improve the appearance by cleaning with Absorene or Demco book cleaner. Just follow the directions on the jar.

  Baking soda should eliminate odors. Dust the affected area with the dry powder and seal the book in a plastic bag for a few days.

  John

Isabel B. November 20, 2021 @ 6:15 pm Reply

John Ison November 22, 2021 @ 3:50 pm Reply

Allen February 11, 2022 @ 9:09 am Reply

Hi my wife has pressed a flower between the pages of a book which has stained both pages is there anything I can do to remove the stains.
Thanks in advance

John Ison February 18, 2022 @ 8:51 am Reply

Nate March 10, 2022 @ 7:46 am Reply

Elizabeth March 14, 2022 @ 5:07 am Reply

Hello! I recently acquired a book from 1910, and the cover feels very sticky and tacky. I left it for a bit in hopes that it was just moisture from being in the package so long, but it didn’t go away. How would I go about cleaning the cover without purchasing expensive products (I live in a country where it takes roughly 3-4 months for packages to arrive)?

Sharon Maria March 22, 2022 @ 3:18 am Reply

Hi Mr.John, I’m wondering if you have any solution to what can be done to cloth/canvas bound covers of really old books. I’m interested in any ideas on putting materials/solutions on the cloth cover to restore it or lack of better term “moisturise” the rough sides. Would love to hear back from you.

Shane April 19, 2022 @ 12:43 am Reply

masonry repair April 29, 2022 @ 6:06 am Reply

Thanks for the great blog post on cleaning dirty books in the library! I can tell you’re passionate about this issue.

Judy May 21, 2022 @ 4:01 pm Reply

Charlie June 8, 2022 @ 9:30 pm Reply

Cookie Wells June 14, 2022 @ 12:57 pm Reply

zidane August 12, 2022 @ 2:38 am Reply

very clear and good article easy to understand. Thank you

Irene August 16, 2022 @ 6:05 am Reply

Hi John
Would there be a way to get dish soap off the page edges?

brian trosclair August 22, 2022 @ 10:23 pm Reply

brian trosclair August 22, 2022 @ 10:24 pm Reply

• Katherine October 25, 2022 @ 9:08 am Reply

  I heard about this cover — great find! I’d say it looks pretty good in the after picture, considering what it’s been through! If you plan to sell it, you should definitely include the details about the picture being scraped off in case the buyer isn’t familiar – that explains most of damage.

Aubrey October 30, 2022 @ 9:31 am Reply

Shennae October 10, 2023 @ 3:46 am Reply

Telkom University November 8, 2023 @ 1:07 am Reply

How can library users contribute to the preservation of a clean and appropriate reading environment, and what role can they play in reporting or addressing issues with books in the library?

Martin cain February 7, 2024 @ 7:05 am Reply

How can I clean bbq sauce off the bottom pages of the book