How to Sanitize Used Books
By E.E Kelley
At local libraries and during garage-sale season, used books for sale abound. For the ridiculously low price of, say, ten cents, you might be able to snag a hardcover classic like “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn” or timeless gems like “The Joy of Sex” and “Cooking with Julia Child!”
But the joy of augmenting your book collection may be quenched when you consider the germ-factor. Just how many filthy fingers have been on this book?
Fortunately, there are simple ways to sanitize books. You can protect yourself and your family by doing the following:
Vacuum out the Pages
If you have an attachment hose on your vacuum cleaner, use it to suck up excess dust from old books. Simply hold the hose to the book with one hand, while flipping the pages of the book with the other. The fanning of the pages will release dust lurking on the pages. Remember to set your suction to the lowest setting to avoid yanking out the pages.
Get Some Help
For the hard-to-reach areas near the spine of the book, try using an air duster. Air dusters, originally used for cleaning PC keyboards, are aerosol cans of compressed air that offer an effective, thorough cleaning method. The narrow pin on the can’s top is tiny enough to fit into places average-sized fingers cannot. At less that $3.00 a can, they’re inexpensive enough to buy in bulk and keep on hand. Find them at major office-supply stores.
Soap and Water
While water damages a book’s pages, it can actually help restore a book’s cover. Combine warm water with a dime-size of mild detergent (Try not to make suds or bubbles). Use a cotton cloth to wipe away both dirt and dust from the front and back covers.
Chill Out
Just as warm temperatures foster the growth of bacteria, cool temperatures have an opposite effect. Store old books in a cold sunroom or attic for a day or two to halt burgeoning bacteria. As an added bonus, this method will usually get rid of any foul odor the book might be harnessing.
Be Careful
It’s important to remember that water, humidity and sunlight are the enemies of book pages. Also, never use harsh chemicals like bleach or ammonia when trying to clean a book. Such cleansers will only accelerate any damage the book has already undergone.
