How to Clean Old Books & Remove Tough Stains

Old books are a charming link to the past but can also be quite fragile. Dust, mild stains, and pencil marks are fairly easy to remove. More serious damage from insects, acid, or dampness is difficult but not impossible to repair. However, if your book is a valuable antique, you may want to place it in the hands of a professional. We’ve compiled a few tips to help you keep your books clean and bug-free. Read on to learn more about caring for your book collection like a true bibliophile.

Cleaning Old Books

Clean leather covers with saddle soap, fabric covers with a gum eraser, and paper covers with a dry cloth.
Spot-clean grease with paper towels, sticky residue with oil, and smudges or pencil marks with an art gum eraser.
Dust books every few weeks to prevent grime build-up, so you don’t have to deep clean as often.

Section 1 of 7:

Cleaning Book Covers

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Dust your books with a microfiber cloth or dust wand. Keep your books clean by regularly wiping away dust with a dry microfiber cloth about once a month.^{[1]
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Research source} This prevents dust from building up and combining with humid air or oils from your hands to become grime.
- A feather duster or dusting wand is also effective for removing dust.
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Clean leather-bound books with saddle soap and a soft cloth. Mix a small amount of saddle soap with water and apply it to any stains with a lint-free cloth.^{[2]
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Research source} Test on a corner of the book first to ensure it doesn't remove any ink. Wipe off with a clean cloth after you've removed the dirt.
- Saddle soap is designed to clean dirt and grime from leather saddles, so it’s perfect for leatherbound books.
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Use an art gum eraser to clean fabric books.^{[3]
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Research source} Excessive dirt may require a cloth dampened with fabric softener, but be aware this increases the risk of damage or mold. Make sure the book is fully dried before storing it.
Paper book covers can be just as delicate as the pages. Liquids – even plain water – and other cleaners can damage the surface or remove the ink. Always use a soft, dry cloth or sponge to clean them.^{[4]
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Absorene is a soft, pliable putty that removes grime and smoke residue from pages and fabric bindings. Just roll it gently over the grime to pick up the dirt.^{[5]
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Wipe with a slightly damp cloth as a last resort. This is only recommended on glossy paperback covers and waterproof dust jackets. Do not use this method for valuable antique books. You can also try this on especially stubborn dirt if you accept the risk of further damage. Here's how to minimize this risk:
- Take a cloth made from microfiber or another lint-free material.
- Rinse the cloth with hot water, then wring it out thoroughly.
- Wrap a dry towel around the cloth and wring it out again. Remove the cloth, which is now only slightly damp.
- Carefully wipe away dirt from the cover and very lightly from the page edges.
- Buff with a dry cloth immediately afterward.

Section 2 of 7:

Spot Cleaning Books

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Remove sticky glue residue with baby oil. Label adhesive and other types of sticky residue on glossy covers respond well to a little baby oil or cooking oil on a piece of cotton wool.^{[6]
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Research source} Press firmly and work in until the glue lifts. Remove the oil with a clean piece of cotton wool.
- Only use oil on non-porous covers, as it may cause stains on some materials. If you’re unsure, test on a corner first.
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Remove smudges and pencil marks with an art gum eraser. Art gum erasers are softer and less damaging than rubber erasers but use them carefully to avoid tearing the paper. Work moving the art gum eraser in only one direction to minimize the possibility of damage.^{[7]
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- Art gum erasers also remove sticky residue from porous surfaces like fabric and paper.
Ink is next to impossible to remove from paper. We recommend leaving the mark if it’s over a printed section of the page. Attempting to remove the ink mark may remove the printing along with it. Try an ink eradicator or carefully dabbing the ink with a cotton swab dipped in nail polish remover.^{[8]
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Lay clean paper towels flat on the front and back of the grease-stained page. Close the book and place something heavy on top of it. Leave it to sit under the weight for a few days. The paper towels absorb the grease, to remove it from the page.^{[9]
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Section 3 of 7:

Cleaning Page Edges

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Be aware that the pages of older books are often fragile at the edges, so be very careful when brushing or vacuuming. Use a vacuum cleaner with a mesh cloth or soft brush attachment on the nozzle to weaken the suction and protect the pages.^{[10]
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Gently rub stained page edges with fine-grit sandpaper. Hold the book tightly closed to clamp the pages together. Cut out a small piece of sandpaper that is small enough to fit between the edges of the book cover but comfortable to hold in your hand. Carefully sand the debris or discoloration.^{[11]
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- This can also remove gilding or color from dyed edges, so proceed with caution if you want to preserve the original look of the edges.
- Only use sandpaper on sturdy edges that show no signs of deterioration.

Section 4 of 7:

Removing Insects from Books

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If the book is full of tiny holes or bits of paper flake off when you move it, it could be infested with book mites or other paper-eating pests. Seal the book in a freezer bag with the air squeezed out to prevent further damage. Place the bag in the freezer for several weeks to kill off insects and eggs.^{[12]
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Lavender is thought to be a natural insect repellent. Place a small drop of lavender essential oil on your bookshelves to help keep pests away from your books.^{[13]
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Research source} Or place a small drop on your palms and rub it in. Then, smooth a piece of paper or paper towel between your hands. Place the paper somewhere in the pages of your book.

Section 5 of 7:

Removing Mold from Books

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Any book with warped binding, wet or stuck-together pages, or obvious water damage is also at risk of mold.^{[14]
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Brush off the visible mold with a soft-bristled brush.^{[15]
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Research source} If you’re cleaning a fabric cover, place a used dryer sheet over a vacuum cleaner nozzle before passing it over the book. Use a cloth dampened with denatured alcohol to remove mold from the surfaces of paperback books and leather book covers. Make sure to wipe off any excess alcohol with a clean microfiber cloth.
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Freeze the book to deactivate mold and then brush mold from surfaces. Put the book in a sealable bag and freeze for 24-48 hours to deactivate the mold. When the mold is no longer active, vacuum or brush spots with a soft brush.^{[16]
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- Always wear a mask and gloves when removing mold from books and work in a well-ventilated area.^{[17]
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- Dispose of paper towels, disposable masks, and gloves in an outside trash bin.
- Wash microfiber cloths in hot water as soon as possible.

Section 6 of 7:

Removing Odors & Moisture

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Put the book in a container with baking soda, cat litter, or rice. Pour a ½ cup of baking soda into a sealable bag or airtight container.^{[18]
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Research source} Place the book inside and seal it. Other options are a sock filled with cat litter or rice or placing the book on newspaper dusted with talcum powder.^{[19]
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- Placing the sealed container in sunlight is the most effective method to remove odors, but it can cause fading. Try dappled shade to reduce color fading.
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Dry water-damaged books slowly and carefully. Use an airing cupboard or place the damaged book next to a radiator or a sunny window. Open the book to allow the air to circulate and gently turn over a few pages regularly to prevent sticking. Once dry, press beneath several heavy books or use a warm iron to flatten pages and restore the appearance.
- Don't be tempted to use a hair dryer, oven, or fan. This can easily damage pages and loosen them from the spine.
- Try drying out a book by standing it on its end and fanning the pages or soaking up moisture by placing paper towels between them.
- When flattening pages with an iron, place the page on a firm, flat surface and make sure the steam setting is off and the temperature is low to prevent additional damage.

Section 7 of 7:

Making Book Repairs

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Repair the binding by attaching loose pages and tightening the spine. If your book is damaged and not a priceless treasure, you can sometimes fix it yourself.^{[20]
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Research source} Glue in any loose pages and repair the binding or make a new one.
- While repairing a book isn’t difficult with practice, it's best to leave repairs of rare or valuable books to a professional book conservator.^{[21]
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- Ask a librarian or rare book dealer if you aren’t sure whether the damaged book is a valuable or antique book. If so, consider hiring a professional archivist to make the repairs.^{[22]
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How can I remove dust from my book's pages?

Community Answer

Use a very soft paint brush, preferably with natural bristles. Gently sweep the dust off the pages.

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How do I clean the page edges of a closed old book?

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You might try using very fine sandpaper. Close the book and set on a hard surface. Using very light stroke, move the fine sandpaper vertically down the outside. If this produces good results, do the tops and bottom in the same fashion, but move the sandpaper horizontally.

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My collection of children's stories has a white dust like mold on the hardcovers. It does not smell moldy. How can I clean these?

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Use a soft, natural bristle brush to remove the white dust. Do not reshelve them immediately. Pay close attention to see if the dust returns.

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Tips

Store books vertically on a shelf, with the spines facing outward. Avoid direct sunlight, strong smells, and humidity.^{[23]
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Warnings

Never use water to clean paper or any non-waterproof cover. This may cause further staining and warping, leaving the book vulnerable to mold.

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Disinfecting books is not recommended since all disinfection methods can damage valuable antique books.^{[24]
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