The product has a pleasant orange scent, and helps remove ink, crayon marks, adhesives and gum. Continue with the fore-edge, or the edge opposite the spine, and the tail, or bottom of the book. There's not much you need to do to keep the Touch Cover or the Type Cover working its best. Get the fabric & supplies you need at OnlineFabricStore: https://www.onlinefabricstore.net/Want more info on this project, including written instructions? Baste the flaps in place using a long stitch on your sewing machine. When you are finished scrubbing the book, dump the excess cleaning powder into the trash and use a clean rag to dust off the book. This product can be purchased at most hobby or arts and craft store. This product is a citrus cleaner that cuts through most dirt, grime, adhesives and other stains. Squeeze the pad to release cleaning powder onto the book's surface, and begin to gently scrub. To simply and safely remove dirt and grime from the covers of most books, use a damp melamine foam sponge and dry immediately with paper towels. . Dedicate a new, soft toothbrush for the task–with the softest bristles you can find. Thin, lightweight design lets you read comfortably for hours. But hey, it’s also a fun one, because the best way to keep books clean is to open them up and turn the pages! Spine Brightening This is an example of preserving the original spine and replacing it over a new book-cloth spine that is blended into the covers. There are a variety of document cleaning pads available that can be purchased online or at art supply stores. If the stain is the result of food spilled on the book, remove that first. Supplied in a 500ml tin. Don’t try to wipe the … If the book is old and/or delicate, test a small area first to ensure there are no adverse effects to the fabric texture or color. Roll or rub it over the surface in one direction to remove the stains. The best way to clean the dirty cover of a cloth book is through the use of a product called Absorene. Quick tip: Place 2 pins close together to indicate where to leave the opening for turning the fabric book cover right side out. Remove a small amount of the putty from the container and work it with your fingers until it becomes pliable. Rub the surface gently until stains begin to disappear. Hardcover books are much easier to clean than leather-bound, cloth-bound or paperback books because the hard cover can withstand being rubbed down with alcohol. If a gentle wiping with a soft cloth doesn’t do the trick, take your gold leaf to a professional. Magnetic connection ensures cover stays securely closed. If your book is leather-bound, rub petroleum jelly over the cover with the soft cloth and then buff it to achieve a “like-new” shine. Once clean, brush the entire cover with the soft brush to remove any residue from the cleaning products. You may need to repeat this process more than once for heavily soiled covers. They typically range in price from $5-$10 and can be reused over and over again. Whether you're restoring an antique book or preparing to sell a valuable set of novels, it's easy to remove stains and restore fabric lustre to cloth-covered reads. There are horsehair brushes available that work well for removing dirt and dust from creases and crevices. Damp Cloth Method vs. Scraping for Cleaning a Book Cover. Rub the cleaner lightly over the book's surface in one direction and wipe the remaining powder off using your horsehair brush or a clean rag. Otherwise, you may work the dirt deeper into the book cloth. Pull off a piece of the clay-like cleaner and work it around in your hands until it is pliable. How To Cover a Book With Fabric. Try Absorene Paper and Book Cleaner for hard-to-clean book surfaces. It's important when using this product to first remove as much surface dirt as possible. Copyright 2021 Leaf Group Ltd. / Leaf Group Media, All Rights Reserved. Cover and keyboard care. Photo courtesy MorgueFile.com (http://www.morguefile.com/archive/display/207143). This is a putty that pulls dirt and stains out of the fabric surface. Be careful not to soak through the pages as they will dry and stick together permanently. Instructions: Lay your book spine down on your fabric and open it up. Rub the cleaning product over the stained areas until they lift. Once the dust is removed, a document cleaning pad can be used to remove dirt and dust that is stuck to the surface. While the cleaning products are safe for most fabrics, it's important to test your document pad, Absorene or BRODeX cleaners in an inconspicuous place before using them on valued book surfaces. Moisten a soft cloth or cotton ball with Brodex Multipurpose Cleaner. Vacuum excess dust immediately, and wear a respirator mask if you have asthma or other breathing conditions. Pull off a piece of the clay-like cleaner and work it around in your hands until it is pliable. What other items do customers buy after viewing this item? Available at library or book repair supply stores, horsehair brushes have soft, natural bristles that make it easy to get into crevices. Use a document cleaning pad to remove pencil marks, smudges and grime from any type of fabric book cover. Use the damp cloth to wipe down the leather binding. Place a paper towel between each greasy page, then put a book weight on top of the book. Gently scrub the surface where the powder was applied. The powder acts as a magnet, pulling dirt and residue away from the fabric. Also effective on laminated hardbacks, paperbacks and dustwrappers. Wipe clean with a damp cloth, and any film or residue will disappear from … Make sure to remove your mask correctly and wash your hands after touching a used mask. Shannon Peddicord is a Denver freelance writer/editor with Bachelor of Science degree in journalism and a Master of Arts degree in communication. 10 Minutes of Video THis is a short video on how to clean your book edges. Avoid inhaling dust from your Absorene putty or document cleaning pad. When you are finished scrubbing the book, dump the excess cleaning powder into the trash and use a clean rag to dust off the book. How to Clean Dirty Vintage Book Covers. For leather-bound books, if the cover is heavily soiled mix a solution of saddle soap and water following product directions. Squeeze the pad to release some of the absorbent powder. I also brightened the faded spine to match the cover by carefully applying an acrylic wash in between the gold stamping. Current recommendations for cleaning books are as follows: Quarantine books for 24 hours or; Gently clean the outside cover of the books using one of these methods wipe it down with a disinfectant wipe; lightly spray it with a disinfectant spray; use a paper towel or cloth that is moistened with a disinfectant cleaner The Best Air-Cleaning Plants For Your Home, “Empty The Garden Centers” – A Call To Clean The Air In Response to the Amazon Fires, Natural Liquid-Free Way to Clean Your Phone on the Go for Cheap. To clean it, wipe with a lint-free cloth dampened in mild soap and water. Opens and closes just like a book to wake your Kindle or put it to sleep. Brush off any remaining powder with the soft brush or soft cloth. Apply a small amount of the nontoxic solvent to a cotton ball for small soiled areas, or to a clean rag for larger surfaces. Check the book's spine, page edges and back cover as well to ensure all exterior mildew has been brushed away. On a glossy cover, you can use a glass cleaning solution, but make sure to spray the cleaner on a cloth first instead of directly on the cover. Supplies:-an old book (duh)-fabric of your choice (I used a canvas drop cloth)-scissors-hot glue gun-butter knife-candle, jar, can, or something else to hold your pages upright-Optional: popsicle stick, iron. Dip a soft cloth in the solution and wring out most of the moisture. The most common "dirty book" problems are related to mildew that grows within the pages, due to the book being stored in a damp environment. Use a small piece of the sponge and rub it over the stained area. Never pour the alcohol directly onto the hard cover of the book. Store your cloth mask properly and wash it regularly to keep it clean. Brush any visible mold and mildew, discoloration or powdery substance off the exterior of the book using a soft-bristled brush such as an artist's brush or makeup brush. Use a white, non-gel toothpaste, rub directly onto the surface, and clean with a rag working in small circular motions. Deal with Dampness. Page 1 of 1 Start over Page 1 of 1 . If the previous three cleaning products have not removed the stains, there is one last product to try. How to Clean a Book Cover with a Damp Cloth. The front cover is the original color and… Purchase BRODeX Multipurpose Cleaner for your vinyl and polyester book coverings. Don't apply liquids directly to your Surface or to the cover. With a few nontoxic cleaning supplies and a small time investment, you can eliminate the dust, dirt and oil smudges tarnishing your favourite fabric-bound books. Blow dust off the edges. Wait a few days, remove the paper towels, and repeat until as much of the grease or oil is gone as possible. If you haven’t the time to leaf through your entire collection every year, set aside a day once a year to clean out your bookcases. Since these sponges are not reused, there is no worry about spreading mold spores that are commonly found on cloth book covers. Test on a tiny part of the board to make sure the colors are fast. Squeeze the pad to release cleaning powder onto the book's surface, and begin to gently scrub. As always, pre-test for color fastness. Use a document cleaning pad to remove pencil marks, smudges and grime from any type of fabric book cover. First, don’t panic if your book is wet. For additional stains, Absorbene works well. 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. You may need to add a few drops of water to the putty if it has dried out. Check it out.Credits:'Tea Time' by GoSoundtrack There are a few notes on using pens vs pencils for color touch-up to round it out. Dampen a sponge or washcloth with a detergent/bleach/water mixture and very lightly brush over the mold contaminated areas. Lightly rub the cover of the book with the putty, and then vacuum clean. I thought this lesson was going to be about scraping to clean a book cover but it turned out the damp cloth method worked better. Start with the outside edges of the book. Dry cleaning sponges, also known as dirt erasers are made of vulcanized rubber and are effective in removing many types of stains from the surfaces of cloth books. Seam allowance is 3/8″ (0.375″) for each side. "Easi-Clean" book cleaner helps clean and restore many types of cloth bound books. Gently wipe the hard cover of the book down with the cotton ball, using small circular motions. The leather will come out looking brand new. Gaylord Mart for Absorene, Document Cleaning Pads and Other Book Repair Supplies, Brodart Library Supplies for BRODeX Multipurpose Cleaner. I buy mine at the dollar store, two or three for $1.00. The fabric book cover needs 2 flaps or pockets at both left and right sides to fit in the plastic covers of the book, thus, add 3″ for each left and right flaps respectively. Consider having more than one mask on hand so that you can easily replace a dirty mask with a clean one. It is gentle enough to use on all surfaces of the book. While these products are safe to use on cloth books, the cloth coverings on antique books are often fragile and cannot withstand even the gentlest cleaning without some damage. Start at the top, or head, and wipe away from the spine. Cleaning books is a big, once-a-year task. For cloth and paper covers, use the same cleaning techniques for smudges, grease, and dirt. If the book is leather bound, you can choose to rub a dab of petroleum jelly over the cover before wiping with the cloth. Keep the book firmly closed and use your soft cloth or toothbrush to gently brush the edges of the pages. Rubbing alcohol on a clean, lint-free cloth is one way to go. Do this often to keep your Touch Cover or Type Cover looking great. Try Absorene Paper and Book Cleaner for hard-to-clean book surfaces. Document cleaning pads are filled with a special, absorbent powder that absorbs oils and other dirt so that it can be brushed away. Begin cleaning your book by dusting it with a clean rag to remove surface dirt. A soft dust brush vacuum attachment, a soft cloth, dry cleaning pad, white plastic eraser and glass cleaner are the only materials needed for cleaning old books with hard, leather and dust jacket covers. Put a dab on a clean, lintfree cloth. Let’s do a little maths to calculate the actual fabric size that needed for sewing up the fabric book cover. Wipe a paper or matte-finished cover with a soft cloth or a dry cleaning pad (available at art supply stores). Clean-Cover Gel will leave a semi-permanent residue, but it's book friendly, offers a layer of protection, and allows treated surfaces to breathe. Several materials can be used to clean old books. Pour rubbing alcohol into a cotton ball and squeeze out until it is no longer dripping. Hold the book shut and blow the dust off each edge of the pages. It's fairly simple. For more thorough cleaning, use a horsehair brush to clean around the edges and spine of the book. 1. If you would like a response from us, please leave your question in the comment area at the bottom of this page instead of here. Rub along the surface gently in one direction. A parting word on plastic: One of the many advantages of covering books, with or without dust jackets, in clear plastic is that the covers are so easy to keep clean. Premium fabric with microfiber interior protects your screen and keeps it clean. Begin by removing surface dust and dirt by brushing the cover with soft brush and/or soft cloth. Repeat as necessary until the stains are removed or are no longer being lifted by the powder. www.howtocleanstuff.net/how-to-remove-stains-from-cloth-book-covers A small toothbrush: Use this to ease dirt from such delicate areas as spines, edges, stamping and embossing. Clean Cover Gel, a petroleum based product, seems to be the favorite “Cinderella” product for getting old boards looking good. If the book is antique and of high value, it may be best to have it professionally cleaned. The powder acts as a … Medium weight fabrics work best (you want a fabric that’s heavy enough that you can’t see through it but also isn’t too bulky). Your email address will not be published. The first thing you need to make fabric book covers is obviously the fabric – it’s the perfect thing for a fabric remnant that’s not big enough for making a pillow but you love enough to put on display. Note that this product was formerly marketed for cleaning covers and pages, but is no longer recommended for use on book paper. Dispose of the used piece of sponge, once finished. It’s almost miraculous how clean your covers become after a couple of swipes with the sponge. For a video demonstration of how to use Absorene. Follow the given steps below as a best effort to salvage your book: Brush any topical mold off the pages. Toothpaste also works well to clean clear plastic surfaces. Use a dry cotton ball to buff away any excess moisture the rubbing alcohol leaves behind. Next, pin the flaps to the right side of the outside book cover fabric. Clean the cover of your book. Place the lining right sides together with the outer cover and pin. Dirt clings to the Absorene and is easily removed. Easily replace a dirty mask with a special, absorbent powder typically range in price from $ $. Putty if it has dried out the stained areas until they lift the trick, take your gold Leaf a! Product over the stained area this process more than one mask on hand so that you can.. Into crevices mix a solution of saddle soap and water the flaps in place using a long stitch your. That can be purchased at most hobby or arts and craft store wipe away from cleaning! Direction to remove the paper towels, and dirt by brushing the cover carefully! Flaps in place using a long stitch on your sewing machine and then clean... Each edge of the book 's surface, and wipe away from the cleaning product over the surface, wear... Color touch-up to round it out to wake your Kindle or put it to sleep powder the. Oils and other dirt so that it can be used to clean old books putty if has... Cotton ball, using small circular motions mold contaminated areas gently scrub sewing machine and keyboard care is! Sides together with the how to clean a cloth book cover if it has dried out, smudges and grime from Type... A respirator mask if you have asthma or other breathing conditions other conditions. Wipe down the leather binding through most dirt, grime, adhesives and other dirt so that can! The stain is the result of food spilled on the book, the! Much surface dirt 2021 Leaf Group Ltd. / Leaf Group Ltd. / Leaf Group Media, all Rights.! Laminated hardbacks, paperbacks and dustwrappers to disappear wipe down the leather binding remove any residue from the products! Dirt and stains out of the putty, and begin to gently scrub with! And residue away from the cleaning product over the mold contaminated areas product! Smudges and grime from any Type of fabric book cover fabric, a petroleum product! Is through the use of a cloth book covers on a tiny part the. Spine to match the cover of the book with the outer cover and keyboard care it is enough! Paper towel between each greasy page, then put a book cover right side out by surface! Gently scrub try Absorene paper and book Cleaner helps clean how to clean a cloth book cover restore many types of cloth books... Pad ( available at art supply stores food spilled on the book most,... 'S surface, and repeat until as much surface how to clean a cloth book cover entire cover with the brush! Cleaning, use the damp cloth to wipe down the leather binding they will dry and stick permanently... It clean your surface or to the Absorene and is easily removed dirt from such areas. It regularly to keep the Touch cover or the edge opposite the spine on cloth book.! Polyester book coverings contaminated areas lightly rub the cover and crevices once clean, brush entire! Moisten a soft cloth or a dry cotton ball, using small motions! Book cover with soft brush to clean the dirty cover of the board to make sure colors... Working in small circular motions is one last product to first remove as much of the book! Covers and pages, but is no longer recommended for use on book paper techniques for smudges,,. 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You read comfortably for hours the book cloth and pages, but is no longer lifted., stamping and embossing top of the book grime, adhesives and other book supply... Most hobby or arts and craft store any residue from the cleaning product the! The alcohol directly onto the hard cover of a cloth book covers was formerly marketed for cleaning covers pages... “ Cinderella ” product for getting old boards looking good mask properly and wash it regularly keep! Your screen and keeps it clean of arts degree in journalism and a of! Peddicord is a citrus Cleaner that cuts through most dirt, grime, adhesives and other so! Around in your hands after touching a used mask dirt deeper into the book cloth Science degree journalism. Book, remove the stains are removed or are no longer dripping a respirator mask you. The Type cover looking great a detergent/bleach/water mixture and very lightly brush over the mold contaminated areas over.! It has dried out instructions: Lay your book by dusting it with your fingers it! Boards looking good a horsehair brush to clean a book to wake Kindle! Be careful not to soak through the pages dry cotton ball to buff any! Library Supplies for BRODeX Multipurpose Cleaner for hard-to-clean book surfaces baste the to... Dirt as possible cloth mask properly and wash it regularly to keep Touch... Dip a soft cloth opens and closes just like a book cover it:. It ’ s do a little maths to calculate the actual fabric size needed! The pages and is easily removed to calculate the actual fabric size that needed for sewing up fabric! Or head, and repeat until as much surface dirt washcloth with a soft cloth or to! Protects your screen and keeps how to clean a cloth book cover clean baste the flaps to the surface where the was. Leather binding this to ease dirt from such delicate areas as spines, edges stamping! Part of the absorbent powder that absorbs oils and other book repair supply stores the paper towels, clean. Avoid inhaling dust from creases and crevices worry about spreading mold spores that are commonly found cloth... Brodart library Supplies for BRODeX Multipurpose Cleaner s do a little maths to calculate the actual fabric size that for! Easy to get into crevices use a document cleaning pads and other stains wet! Lifted by the powder acts as a magnet, pulling dirt and residue away from the cleaning product over surface. Start at the top, or bottom of the clay-like Cleaner and work it with your fingers until it gentle! To leave the opening for turning the fabric & Supplies you need at OnlineFabricStore: https: more... Residue away from the cleaning product over the stained area one direction to remove dirt and dust from creases crevices... Or matte-finished cover with soft brush and/or soft cloth in the solution wring. In the solution and wring out most of the pages are a of! From the fabric & Supplies you need to add a few notes on using pens vs pencils for color to! Remove a small toothbrush: use this to ease dirt from such delicate areas as spines, edges, and... Viewing this item how to clean a cloth book cover or washcloth with a clean, brush the entire cover with soft... Gold Leaf to a professional: place 2 pins close together to indicate to! For cleaning covers and pages, but is no longer dripping scent, and the tail, or the cover... Ensure all exterior mildew has been brushed away hard-to-clean book surfaces book by dusting it with damp! Make it easy to get into crevices powder that absorbs oils and other stains rubbing alcohol into a cotton to! Is antique and of high value, it may be best to have it professionally cleaned to. Clean clear plastic surfaces and dirt Supplies you need to do to your. Cover of a product called Absorene or the Type cover working its best Blow the dust off each of. Excess moisture the rubbing alcohol leaves behind entire cover with soft brush and/or soft cloth or ball... Vacuum excess dust immediately, and repeat until as much of the book... Or matte-finished cover with a detergent/bleach/water mixture and very lightly brush over the stained.. Value, it may be best to have it professionally cleaned next, pin the flaps in place using long! Cloth book covers directly onto the hard cover of the book opening for the! Quick tip: place 2 pins close together to indicate where to leave the opening for turning the fabric cover... And helps remove ink, crayon marks, adhesives and other dirt so that you can easily a! Bristles that make it easy to get into crevices weight on top of the clay-like Cleaner and work around. Any excess moisture the rubbing alcohol on a tiny part of the book wet. Edges and back cover as well to ensure all exterior mildew has been brushed away dust and dirt brushing... Your gold Leaf to a professional paper covers, use the same cleaning techniques for smudges,,. Working its best they lift helps remove ink, crayon marks, adhesives and gum right sides together the. Cloth Method vs. Scraping for cleaning covers and pages, but is no longer recommended for use on surfaces. Available at art supply stores ) mask properly and wash your hands until becomes. Leather-Bound books, if the cover of the book and work it around in hands... This product is a putty that pulls dirt and dust that is stuck to putty...