If you are a collector of books, you probably like to keep your collection looking pristine and beautiful. But if you also like to read them, sometimes they can get dirty. The edges of the pages will get grimy and the dust cover will get scruffy and that's just no good. Sometimes you may buy a rare and hard to find book and find it is not in perfect condition. So what's a book lover to do?
First, if you have a beloved book with a dust cover that is in good condition, you should take preventative measures to protect it. Brodart has some excellent jacket protectors, both permanent and reusable. You should especially use some kind of jacket protector if your book has any collectible value, for example, if it is a first edition or is autographed. They also have some protectors for paperbacks, as well, if you like to keep those looking nice.
If your dust jacket is already looking scruffy, you can clean it up a bit. You can't do much for a torn jacket, but if it is simply dirty, you can clean it. Take a sturdy paper towel and dampen it slightly with Pledge furniture cleaner. Gently wipe down the glossy side of the dust jacket. Most dirt with come off and light abrasions will buff out. (Do not do this on non-glossy jackets!) If the jacket feels a bit oily after you've cleaned it, wipe it down again with a dry paper towel and let it sit out to dry for a little bit.
To clean dirty page edges, you can erase most stains with... a piece of bread! I like to use a flimsy white bread, like Wonder Bread or some such. Hold the book tightly together (perhaps over a sink or trash can) and gently rub the page edges with the bread. The bread will crumble and flake, but the stains will come right off. Just be sure to keep a good grip on the book so that the crumbs do not get in between the pages.
If you have a book that smells a bit musty, you can often eliminate or significantly reduce the smell by storing the book with dryer sheets between the pages for a few days (NOT indefinitely). How long you want to leave them there depends on how bad the smell is.
With a little luck and a little elbow grease, you should be able to keep your book collection in good condition for many years to come.
