Home cleaning
How to Dust Books and Bookshelves Safely
Use dry dusting to protect spines, page edges and shelving.
Overview
Record book order and work only on shelves reachable from the floor; set aside and report damaged, rare or musty books. Support books at both sides instead of pulling the top of the spine; keep closed and brush page-edge dust outward away from the spine.
Tools needed
- Soft dry brush
- Dry microfibre cloth
- Clean tray
- Vacuum with soft brush
Cleaning steps
Record order and reach
Record book order and work only on shelves reachable from the floor; set aside and report damaged, rare or musty books.
Support books and dust edges
Support books at both sides instead of pulling the top of the spine; keep closed and brush page-edge dust outward away from the spine.
Clean empty shelves
Vacuum loose shelf dust, then use a dry or well-wrung cloth according to the finish, keeping water away from books.
Restore books onto dry shelves
Let shelves dry completely before restoring the order; keep books upright without crowding and heavy volumes safely low.
Common mistakes
Climbing a chair for high books
✓ Correct actionRecord book order and work only on shelves reachable from the floor; set aside and report damaged, rare or musty books.
Pulling the top of the spine
✓ Correct actionSupport books at both sides instead of pulling the top of the spine; keep closed and brush page-edge dust outward away from the spine.
Spraying books with water or cleaner
✓ Correct actionVacuum loose shelf dust, then use a dry or well-wrung cloth according to the finish, keeping water away from books.
Returning books to damp shelves
✓ Correct actionLet shelves dry completely before restoring the order; keep books upright without crowding and heavy volumes safely low.
Practical tips
Tips for helpers
- Move only a few books at once.
- Brush outward from the spine.
Tips for employers
- Identify rare or no-clean books.
- Arrange conservation advice for mouldy books.
Completion checklist
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