Are you a Bibliophile? Read on for how to keep your books (and home) the healthiest!

A bibliophile usually has a huge collection of books and loves nothing more than browsing in a used book shop or a library. A love of books or a deep knowledge about them makes a person a bibliophile. (bibliophile) 

Although my current modest collection of books does not qualify, I do consider myself a lover of books.  I can remember one time in my childhood when my mother wanted to “donate” some children' s storybooks.  I immediately sourced several large ziplock bags and a shovel, tramped out to the woods and buried them.  Since I don’t even remember keeping a record of where I buried them, I think it only gave me comfort that the books did not leave the property!

Of course, storing books in the outdoors underground is not going to give them longevity.  Inside, there’s much better control over the elements, but large indoor collections of books still face things that can deteriorate them, and the books themselves, if stored improperly, cause health issues for our homes!

Enemy #1: Dust.  Dust is…organic.  It’s made up of dead skin cells (both yours’ and your pets’), mold, pollen, microplastics, air pollution from outdoors, and bits of dust mites and their droppings. Dust can cause staining, said Rebecca Fifield, associate director of collection management at the New York Public Library. (It’s Time to Clean Your Books)  We’ve always recommended a vacuum with HEPA filter to remove dust, because at least you know that it will not end up back in the air and back on your books!  (Vacuum gently though, to avoid tearing dust jackets and pages).  You can dust lightly every few weeks and more deeply (removing books and going behind them) once a year.  If you don’t have a HEPA vacuum, using a barely-damp microfiber cloth will trap the most dust.  Make sure the book is completely dry before replacing it on the shelf.

Enemy #2: Moisture. We all know that moisture invites mold, so controlling the humidity in your book storage space is important!  This professional book restoration company has important advice on “letting your books breathe”: 

• Keep your shelves away from radiators, vents, and pipes so that temperature variations do not cause moisture issues (like condensation).

• Don’t put your bookshelves along the exterior walls if you can help it! Try to place them on interior walls. The exterior walls may fluctuate more in temperature and humidity. 

• When it comes to putting books on the shelves — books should not touch walls! Find bookshelves that are wide enough that you can keep at least three inches between the wall and your books and at least 1-2 inches away from the front edge of the shelf. 

• Lastly, avoid storing books in closed cabinets, these have a lack of air circulation and books need to breathe.  (Caring for Your Library (shelving & cleaning))

Enemy #3: Pests.  Insects love the starches and glues in book bindings, paper and cardboard in the covers and pages, and some also like leather.  They can hide for a long time, munching (and staining) their way through your beloved books.  If you clean them regularly (see Enemy #1 above), you can take notice of their presence earlier and eliminate them.  Here are some tips for eliminating different pests:

• Managing humidity will eliminate lots of insects.  Silverfish, psocids (also called book lice), and cockroaches love damp conditions, so when you keep the humidity down (under 50%), the insects don’t thrive.  You can place a small dehumidifier in or near the bookshelf (make sure to empty it regularly), and within one to three weeks, the book lice will die because of lack of moisture, and lack of mold to feed on. (What Are Booklice? 7 Ways to Get Rid of Them)

• You can use safe “dessicants” to kill the insects.  These substances don’t really decrease the moisture in the air so much as they stick to and dehydrate the insects’ bodies as they crawl through them.  Silica aerogel, diatomaceous earth, and boric acid can be dusted on the shelf behind the books (be careful to use a mask while you’re applying them) to keep them away from pets and children.  Food-grade diatomaceous earth has lots of uses around the home (did you know it can also be used to kill fleas on household pets by rubbing it into their fur?) and the linked product comes with a duster. 

• Freeze them!  If a favorite book turns up with insects, you can kill the infestation (eggs, insects and all) without pesticides.  Place it in a large ziplock bag and place it in the freezer for at least 48 hours, but preferably a week. When you’re ready to take it out, let it thaw slowly. Allow the book to come back to room temperature while still sealed to prevent condensation. (People Are Putting Thrifted Books in the Freezer—and the Reason Why Is Genius)  This is a great suggestion before adding any used books to your home library, because eggs are often hidden in the binding or too small to be noticed.

Finally, if your book collection is getting too large for the shelves and piles of books or magazines are attracting insects and dust, it’s probably time to send some books away.  Here is a list of 14 places that accept book donations, many of which support causes that may already be dear to your heart.

Photo by Kelly Sikkema on Unsplash