laum1
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posted on April 6, 2001 03:42:06 PM
Couple of questions on cleaning books:
If the books have bugs stains along the edges, is there anything that will help to clean them? If not, is there an official book terminology to describe such stains?
Also, if there are dust/cobwebs along the edges, what is the best way to remove them without leaving a permanent mark on the book?
Thanks.
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redskinfan
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posted on April 6, 2001 04:00:08 PM
what are they made of/what texture do they have?
With some books you can use spray type murphy's oil soap, but you have to spray onto cloth first or else it'll make that area darker than the rest.
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laum1
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posted on April 6, 2001 04:08:32 PM
These are mostly history type textbooks. Looks like your basic hardback.
The covers are fine. It is just the paper edges where bugs and cobwebs got to it on the shelves.
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CAgrrl
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posted on April 6, 2001 04:11:14 PM
a looooooong time ago, I started a thread here at AW about cleaning books. There were a lot of conflicting opinions about the best way to clean a book and whether it should be done at all. One suggestion was to use wonder bread to gently lift away grime. Someone else suggested using "goo gone". Each of these suggestions, however, had at least one objection from other posters. I remember leaving that thread feeling pretty frustrated.
Anyway, for "bug stains" I would recommend throwing the book away. Once I bought a box of dolls on Ebay that gave me roaches, and I don't think ANY buyer anywhere should be subjected to that. Just my totally honest opinion.
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abacaxi
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posted on April 6, 2001 05:38:25 PM
Try the following, in this order (gentlest to strongest), while holding the book FIRMLY shut.
1. A paintbrush (just brush away as much as possible form the edges)
2. A soft eraser (rub towards the corners from the spine and the center of the page block)
3. A sanding block with extremely fine (400-600 grit) sandpaper
DO NOT USE LIQUID SOAPS!!!
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upriver
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posted on April 6, 2001 06:37:55 PM
Yes, probably best & most non-damaging is a soft WHITE eraser, rubbed as Abacaxi says. Don't use the pink ones, they leave marks.
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laum1
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posted on April 6, 2001 07:35:04 PM
Thanks for the info - the books are too expensive to throw out. Very obsucre subject matter.
I will try the suggestions. Question regarding the sanding - what kind of marks will that leave behind?
Also, I guess the official terminology is "bug stains" to describe the edges.
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abacaxi
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posted on April 7, 2001 04:01:07 AM
If carefully done, sanding just leaves clean, but skllightly 'fuzzy" edges.
I use a "kneadable art gum" eraser to remove pencil marks, and an archival "document cleaning pad" (a cloth bag of something) to clean the end blocks.
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laum1
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posted on April 7, 2001 04:32:57 AM
Thanks again for the info.
I guess the followup question is if one sands the book slightly to clean the stains off the edge, what is the proper discolusure in the auction description? Will I get more bids if I leave the books alone with the stains or if I sand them?
Also, some of the books have a color edge. Should I sand these also?
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heike55
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posted on April 7, 2001 05:46:50 AM
 turning on e-mail.
heikejohn everywhere else!
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abacaxi
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posted on April 7, 2001 07:47:31 AM
Laum -
If you sand off the stains, you have to state that edge staineing removed by sanding. If you don't, it's an undisclosed flaw and the buyer will be rightfull annoyed.
I'd dust them with a brush, maybe run an eraser or the document cleaning pad across the edges and list them as is. Just say "edges of text block soiled and fly-specked" and let the buyers decide.
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laum1
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posted on April 7, 2001 11:51:30 AM
abacaxi
Thanks - that will be what I do.
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joycel
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posted on April 7, 2001 01:21:15 PM
A similar question: How do you clean the outside of old hardback books? Recently I had a dark red book that was very grimy. I took a clean damp cloth and wiped it off, and the cloth came away red. Areas where I really went after the grime turned the book pink as the color came off on my cloth. This was without even using any harsh cleansers! I realize a pink book that should be red is not good--but neither is a dirty one! Any suggestions?
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Pabookman
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posted on April 7, 2001 05:13:21 PM
Next time try a kneeded eraser usually found in a art supply store. This is a very soft eraser that will gently erase dirt and grime from book covers. It's not perfect but it's better than getting the covers wet.
There is also a great product that I buy from Brodart which is called "Absorene paper and book cleaner" It's kind of like playdoe but better. And it seems to clean better than the eraser. It's inexpensive and I think you can order it from their website.
Both of these methods are a type of dry cleaning so the book or papers doesn't get wet.
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Zazzie
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posted on April 7, 2001 06:03:45 PM
Bug Stains= speckling of fore edges
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abacaxi
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posted on April 8, 2001 08:16:57 AM
JoyceL -
You can test the colorfastness of the dyes by rubbing a wet swab INSIDE the front cover along that thin strip of cover material. If you see ANY color at all, don't use damp cleaners.
I use a "document cleaning pad" ... a bag of crumbs of something ... and just rub gently. That removes some of the surface grime without affecting color too much.
As a buyer, I would rather get a grimy book than an overcleaned one.
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birdwatcher-07
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posted on April 8, 2001 04:26:50 PM
Are you sure the "bug stains" aren't just foxing, which is very common along the edges of a book? If it is foxing, you can just say something like "edges of book have [light, moderate, etc.}] foxing" and that's perfectly acceptable. People expect to see foxing on older books. If it is bug damage, I sometimes try to be honest but disarming by saying something like "mild critter damage in the form of [fill in the blank]". Critter sounds a lot better than bug or silverfish! 
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laum1
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posted on April 8, 2001 08:03:11 PM
Hi:
No - these are bug stains. I know what foxing is. These are darker and blacklike. Couple of streaks here and there. Must be some kind of droppings or something.
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escandyo
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posted on April 9, 2001 06:53:02 AM
I keep seeing that term foxing... could someone tell me precisely what that is? I understand it sometimes also occurs inside the book.
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mballai
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posted on April 9, 2001 09:25:20 AM
Depending on how noticeable marks and stains are, it's often sometimes best to leave things alone. Buyers for certain books simply want the book and are not terribly concerned about it. I "tidy up" some minor soiling, otherwise I leave things alone.
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abacaxi
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posted on April 9, 2001 07:22:10 PM
escandyo -
"Foxing" is a brownish spotty discoloration that appears in old books (usually those made from rag paper). it's thou7ght to be a fungus, but I don't remember exaclty what causes it.
It is NOT the even browning that happend with old books, where the pages get brittle ... foxed pages are just as flexible as others in the book. It can't be prevented, but proper storage (dry) can minimize it.
It's not even a 'flaw' in my opinion ... it just happens and there's nothing the book owner can really do about it.
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laum1
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posted on April 9, 2001 10:07:01 PM
Foxing can be quite dangerous. Mostly occurs in tropical environment and usually small brown spots. It is some form of fungus/mole. Not easily remove from paper once it starts. Also, it can keep spreading on the same item over time.
Problem is that it also can easily spread to nearby items. If serious case, you do not want it to mix in with your other paper items. Light foxing usually is not a serious problem. Heavy brown spots should always be treated with caution.
The fungus is highly dangerous to humans if it gets into your lungs. Some individuals are very allergic to it. Problem is whatever kills the fungus also is lethal to humans. Making this very difficult to radicate.
If you ever work with moldy or foxed material, be sure to wash your hands once done working with it. If you get itching sensation on your hands from working with older papers, it probably indicates you may be allergic to it and should take additional percautions. The cheap plastic medical gloves are good for such situation.
Also, if you buy a large lot of moldy/foxed items (i.e. record albums stored in a humid garage), you should lay a blanket on your front yard, clean the items as best as you can and let the sun dry them slightly without damaging the item. Do not bring the stuff inside the house till clean.
Finally, the fungus can stay dormant for years and will regen in humid environment. The chemicals to permanently remove them from papers are quite dangerous and requires extreme care in use. I personally never find anything so valueable that I want to mess around with the chemicals.
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