From paperbacks to hardcovers, all books are bound to wear out. Although it is something inevitable but it becomes all the more inevitable if they are not maintained properly and little care is given.
To increase the life of your favorite reads, here are some tips you should consider, such as using the frank lloyd wright bookmarkkeeping them in plastic covers, cleaning them regularly, etc.
Keep them properly on the shelves
To ensure visual appeal, always keep your books on shelves and arrange the same sizes and lengths (e.g. paperbacks) upright. If needed, you can use bookends to give all your books extra support and prevent them from collapsing. If you have oversized books like hardcover novels, coffee table books, etc., it’s best to lay them flat on the surface rather than upright.
This way, the spines of oversized books will not weaken and separate from their structures.
Avoid humidity
Exposure to moisture is one of the main reasons books get damaged. If there is a humid environment inside your room, it will cause mold and mildew to grow over time. As a result of all this, the pages of the book become brittle and have cracked spines. Not only that, they also smell musty. To ensure that your books remain in optimum consideration, be sure to store them in a place with sufficient air circulation, preferably in open shelves rather than placing them inside the box covered with a lid.
You should maintain a constant humidity level but at around 40-50% as a rule of thumb. Wondering how to determine the humidity level in your room? Invest in a good hygrometer and your job is done.
Say a big no to direct sunlight
Books are not designed to be exposed to direct sunlight. The sun’s UV rays can cause pages to yellow, fade or fade over time. The best solution is to place your shelf away from windows in such situations. This way your books will be protected from direct sunlight. Additionally, you can install window films or curtains to protect your books from direct sunlight.
Ensure regular cleaning
Like anything else, books are also prone to dust, dirt, and other things as time passes. Therefore, be sure to dust all your books from time to time using a soft, clean cloth or a hand-held vacuum cleaner with a soft dusting brush.
Keep an eye on the back of the book
The spine of any book becomes a major foundation that literally holds all the pages together. Without it, your book is essentially a bunch of loose papers. You may have noticed that in case the spine is damaged, the pages will start to come off. Therefore, always be gentle and never open or fold the book too wide to prevent the spine from cracking. Likewise, laying an open book face down can also damage your spine.
Check those dirty hands
There’s no denying that reading books and snacking go hand in hand. In other words, most people enjoy reading their favorite book while munching on their favorite chips, popcorn, cookies as well as drinks and other desserts/sweets.
But the reality remains, eating while you read is actually a bad idea. This can lead to unwanted results such as accidental smudges, grease or crumbs on all pages.
Even if you insist on eating, you need to keep your book at bay for a while. Also make sure to always wash your hands well before resuming your reading session.
Use custom bookmarks
If you love to read, you must also love craft bookmarks. Not everyone has enough time, attention span and ability to read a single book in one sitting. If you’re also on this list of people who can’t finish the book in one go, you should avoid bending the page into a dog’s ear shape.
This can cause your pages to wrinkle or cause more page damage. Instead, invest in good quality personalized bookmarkor you can make your own using creative cardboard bookmarks with quotes.
Protect your expensive books with covers or plastic bags
There may have been times when you might feel like taking your favorite book with you on a trip. You may think that if you keep your book in your backpack or purse, that’s enough. But in reality, this is not enough to protect your book. For better protection of your favorite books, purchase clear plastic covers specially designed to wrap around your book cover. Alternatively, you can even get yourself a clear plastic bag or wallet which will be an amazing protective barrier for your book. They are available online or you can find them offline by locating them in relevant places like bookstores and stationery in a mall.