Books are one of the most beautiful treasures one has. Nothing can match to these priced possessions. But unlike our expensive clothes, jewellery and other expensive items, we care least for them. It won’t take much to maintain these. So, whether you have a large collection or small irrespective of that follow these simple methods:

Dusting and Cleaning:
It is easy to dust and clean the books. You can use a mild soap solution for cleaning.
Leather dressing obtained from a local shoe store can be used on leather bound books. Spray it on a cloth and then wipe the book. A furniture polish with a high concentration of oil will soften the leather and help prevent drying out.

Use Bookmarkers Only:
This will completely close the book yet at the same time you will keep track of the last page you read. Never turn the corners. It spoils the look of the book. One should never use pencils, pens and other sharp objects that will break cause the spine of the book to crack or break. A spine is a hinged back of a book. Handle with care. Never be rough with books. Remember, books give you knowledge so you should never throw them or toss them around. The more love and respect you will give to the books the more knowledge you will draw from them. While reading do not pull pages or open the book more than 180 degrees flat. That will cause the spine to break. Always support the book’s spine while it is open, never forcing it to lay open. Wash your hands before and after handling all books. Lotion, sweat, etc. can cause soil stains. Germs can also be passed to you from used, library, and antique/vintage books.

Keep Your Books Odour Free:
Treating books with baking soda is not right option. Light odours may be removed in an airy location or out in the sun for few hours. Another remedy is to spray a disinfectant into the air while flipping pages, ensuring that the pages don’t get wet. Some have suggested sealing books in a plastic bag for several days with a strong solid, air freshener.

Restoration:
If books are in a bad shape then you can go for binding. Sticking pages using cello tape and glue just make things worse. There are specialty products designed for books that can be obtained at a local library supply house. Books should never be stored in cartons with spines facing upward. Flat or shelved position is right way of placing the books. The yellowing of pages (often found in older books) is irreversible. Sealing in an air tight container is the only remedy to stop the process. Books today are printed on acid free paper to prevent them from yellowing.