Karenciavo... Question about old books...

[yvonne]

Hi Karen,

I know you love old books, as do I, so I was wondering if you've come across any good ways to clean soiled pages? Pencil marks are easy enough to erase, but it seems that crayon and ink marks are there for good. What about just plain dirt or stains? Is there any way to make them fainter?

Also, do you know of any way to clean covers that are made of what seems to be almost a fabric. Hm. I'm not sure what exactly it is. The old Thornton Burgess books, for example, have a dj and those fabric-like covers. Is there any way to clean those up?

And, just one more... Do you just abandon any book with mildew stains, even if it doesn't smell mildewy?

Thank you so very much for any ideas!!!
yvonne

[Karenciavo]

Hi Yvonne,

I really don't try to take on the ink and crayon stains. For dirt, both inside and out, I use Absorene Paper and Book Cleaner (http://www.biblio.com/details.php?dcx=146013329&aid=frg). It takes away a little of the smell too. I've heard some people use Wonder Bread (or other cheap white bread,) to clean their books. Absorene works on cloth too, I think it was originally a wallpaper product.

I try not to buy the moldy and the musty, but if I do wind up with a musty book I use cat litter or baking soda. I put the book in a Rubbermaid container, cover with the litter or baking soda, seal tight with container cover and let sit for a few days. After I take it out I brush it clean, sometimes even vacuuming with the brush attachment.

For leather, I use 1 part denatured alcohol and one part water and with a damped cloth I gently clean. Then I follow up with leather conditioner.

I do stay away from books with mildew stains, as much as it pains me sometimes, because I don't want to take the chance. My ds14 has so many allergies. :(

Karen

[yvonne]

Thank you so much, Karen! I knew you'd have some ideas! I've never heard of Absorene before. Can't wait to get it and try it out. Where do you find out these things? If you've seen any exceptional books on cleaning/keeping old books in good shape, please send me the title!


>>I do stay away from books with mildew stains, as much as it pains me sometimes,

LOL I can relate to that! Now, if I find a book with signs of mildew, however much I'd love to have it in my library, I resist buying it because I just can *not* part with it once I have it in the house.

I was so excited yesterday... I just found out that a large library nearby is keeping a collection of "antique" children's books, "antique" meaning anything before 1960! Maybe that'll help curb my desire to collect them before they disappear into the landfills!

Thanks, again, for your help, Karen!

yvonne

[Pam "SFSOM" in TN]

Also, do you know of any way to clean covers that are made of what seems to be almost a fabric. Hm. I'm not sure what exactly it is.
yvonne

These are actually cloth bindings.