Have you ever thought that taking some simple care with your book collection is essential to avoid marks, stains and other damage? Adopting the tips below will help your books survive time better.

1 – The best position to store your books is on a shelf, vertically, without putting too much pressure on each other. Placing one volume on the other horizontally damages the books in the pile due to the weight exerted by the others.

2 – When removing a book from the shelf, pull it through the spine.

3 – When handling your books, always try to have clean hands.

4 – At least once a semester, wipe your books with a soft, clean and dry cloth. To clean the accumulated dust at the top of each volume, you can use a thick-bristle brush. Take the opportunity to leaf through them, as this helps the paper to breathe.

5 – And speaking of cleaning, you can clean your shelf with a slightly damp cloth, but avoid using abrasive products. Remember to always allow it to dry completely before putting the books back.

6 – The book’s ears are not made to mark pages – in fact, they protect the corners of the cover and the back cover from bending or denting. To prevent the ears and crumb from getting damaged, opt for a traditional bookmark.

7 – Also avoid, in particular, using paper clips to mark pages, as they can rust and stain the sheets.

8 – Try not to forget papers, dry sheets and other objects inside your books. Any of these items can generate marks and blemishes over time.

9 – Do not write on sheets of paper over books, as the pressure of a pencil or pen will definitely mark the cover or pages.

10 – Leave a space between books stored on the shelf and the wall to protect them from moisture.

11 – Do not leave your books exposed to sunlight. This care prevents them from fading.

12 – Eating while reading is not a good idea – the crumbs accumulated between the leaves attract insects.

13 – When transporting your books from one place to another, use a protective fabric cover to ensure that it remains intact.

14 – Avoid covering your books: in addition to not allowing the pages to breathe, some materials (such as brown paper, for example) favor the appearance of stains.

15 – Avoid opening the paperback books fully, at angles greater than 180º, to avoid cracks in the spine and the peeling of the pages.

Do you have any other care with your books? Share with us in the comments!