An artgum eraser is the perfect object for removing small pencil marks, smudges, and medium-sized blemishes on the pages. A soft cloth such as cut-up white t-shirt works well for gently cleaning surface dirt. You can also try an electrostatic cloth for an option that both lifts and holds dirt. You’ll need a small, soft brush, such as a toothbrush, to clean bindings and page edges. If your book is extremely dirty or dusty, you might need to vacuum the surface. You’ll need a vacuum with a low-suction setting and a soft-brush attachment. [2] X Research source A document cleaning pad, which is a sieved cloth filled with eraser dust, will help remove a layering of dust from the pages, as well as smudges from matte dust jackets.

You can use clean, rolled-up towels to create a homemade wedge for the book, or you can purchase a set of foam wedges.

Use extreme caution with any tears or damaged edges. Use the soft brush to very gently address these spots.

If the spine has raised horizontal bands, wipe across rather than up and over the bumps. Be careful of any damaged edges, leather corners, or decoration. Avoid snagging the brush or cloth on these elements.

For damaged books, place some cheesecloth or a nylon stocking over the end of the vacuum. Vacuum up the dirt on the medium setting without touching the book by hovering just above the surface of the book.

While the eraser should remove most pencil and some pen marks, it likely won’t take care of dark stains. Dark ink or food stains may be impossible to remove from your book without damaging the pages.

If your stain is from food, remove this first. Freeze the book for 24 hours and then gently scrape off the food with a plastic knife. [13] X Research source To make a homemade book weight, fill a cloth bag with dry beans or rice. Ensure the bag is sealed before use.

For a matte dust jacket, which will not be shiny in appearance, gently address smudges by shaking your document cleaning pad to release the eraser dust. Then rub the dust onto the dust jacket, and gently brush it off when finished. [14] X Research source For a glossy dust jacket, rub a bit of petroleum jelly onto any smudges with a soft cloth. Use a different cloth to wipe off the jelly and fully remove the smudge. [15] X Research source