Topic ID: 14741
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Suzanne
waking from Eternal sleep Writer of Legend

 Gender:  Age: 18 Joined: 21 Sep 2006 Posts: 7247 Reviews: 1837 Country: Riverbluff, MO 341 Points
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Posted: Tue Apr 03, 2007 9:36 pm Post subject: Keeping books in good condition? |
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As usual, I'm unsure where this goes.
I'm having a problem, and it's really making me mad. I figured some wonderful person out there could help me. I tend to buy paperbacks, but these paperbacks tend to have white covers. I put them in my book bag. They get marks on them. My once perfectly white book is now covered in black marks, how, I don't know. Any way how to clean off the cover of the book, without ruining it? I don't know if dirt stained it, or what but... I like my books looking as new as possible, and to see my copy of Lolita and If on a winters night a traveler becoming all dirty, it makes me sad... They're such good books!
Any suggestions? I've tried washing them with water and a wash cloth (being sure not to wet the pages) then with water and paper, and they just won't come off...It's worse than getting the bar code stickers stuck! |
_________________ You'll call me the lion, I'll call you the lamb.
I am lost in all you are -- you're alive for what I am. |
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Sureal
(i are RITER!!!) Epic Novelist

 Gender:  Age: 20 Joined: 10 Feb 2005 Posts: 3292 Reviews: 464 Country: England 366 Points
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Trident
The Tattered Scribe is in us all. Master of the Forum

 Gender:  Age: 21 Joined: 08 Sep 2006 Posts: 1027 Reviews: 264 Country: U.S. 300 Points
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Posted: Tue Apr 03, 2007 9:44 pm Post subject: |
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Have you tried any kind of soap?
One thing that worked for me when I got some unknown grime on my books was markerboard marker cleaner. I would be careful though. Maybe just experiment a little before trying to clean your whole book with it. And I would suggest only using that with the glossy paperback covers. |
_________________ Perception is everything.
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Suzanne
waking from Eternal sleep Writer of Legend

 Gender:  Age: 18 Joined: 21 Sep 2006 Posts: 7247 Reviews: 1837 Country: Riverbluff, MO 341 Points
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Posted: Tue Apr 03, 2007 11:07 pm Post subject: |
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Thanks, both of you.
Sureal> I really wish I would have thought of that before now... It wouldn't be so depressing I guess from now on I'll do that to prevent it.
I'll have to try the white board cleaner, for those that are already damaged. |
_________________ You'll call me the lion, I'll call you the lamb.
I am lost in all you are -- you're alive for what I am. |
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Jennafina
it's not you, it's Utah Master of the Forum

 Gender:  Age: 17 Joined: 30 Jun 2005 Posts: 2206 Reviews: 617 Country: USA 300 Points
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Posted: Tue Apr 03, 2007 11:48 pm Post subject: |
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I found this:
http://www.litterascripta.com/bibliomania/clean.shtml
It's about cleaning books. I haven't tested any of the methods, but I might try.
A good way to keep them from getting any dirtier would be to make them new covers out of heavy paper. It's fun, plus then you can decorate it. |
_________________ "As idle as a painted ship, upon a painted ocean. There's no wind, Mr. Bracegirdle. We are becalmed."
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Suzanne
waking from Eternal sleep Writer of Legend

 Gender:  Age: 18 Joined: 21 Sep 2006 Posts: 7247 Reviews: 1837 Country: Riverbluff, MO 341 Points
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Posted: Tue Apr 03, 2007 11:59 pm Post subject: |
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| A good way to keep them from getting any dirtier would be to make them new covers out of heavy paper. It's fun, plus then you can decorate it. |
Amazing idea but... Can you do this with paperbacks? Obviously, with hard back you can, but I prefer paper back to hard back, because I end up loosing/ruining the jacket cover. The only book I HAD to buy as hard cover was The Picture of Dorian Gray because I love the picture of Wilde that is on the book jacket-thing.
I'll have to look at that link... thank you SO much ^_^ Jenna rocks! |
_________________ You'll call me the lion, I'll call you the lamb.
I am lost in all you are -- you're alive for what I am. |
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Jennafina
it's not you, it's Utah Master of the Forum

 Gender:  Age: 17 Joined: 30 Jun 2005 Posts: 2206 Reviews: 617 Country: USA 300 Points
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Posted: Wed Apr 04, 2007 1:04 am Post subject: |
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Aww... Thank you!
Yeah, it does work on paperbacks. Be sure to crease and fold it carefully, and don't tape it to the new cover book anywhere or it'll be hard to open or close. Also, they're harder to decorate once the paper is on the book so if you want to make it fancy I'd do it beforehand. =]
Here's the front cover of one of my paperbacks.
http://img134.imageshack.us/img134/9717/covernb5.jpg
Here's the backside of it. And my nose. >_<
http://img395.imageshack.us/img395/6366/backbw7.jpg |
_________________ "As idle as a painted ship, upon a painted ocean. There's no wind, Mr. Bracegirdle. We are becalmed."
Storybook Writers' Guild
Nate for '08! |
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Suzanne
waking from Eternal sleep Writer of Legend

 Gender:  Age: 18 Joined: 21 Sep 2006 Posts: 7247 Reviews: 1837 Country: Riverbluff, MO 341 Points
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Posted: Wed Apr 04, 2007 1:10 am Post subject: |
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Nice nose! xD
Is there any links you could give me on how to make a cover? I'm artistically challenged. (unless it is writing...) or could you tell me how to make one? That is a really good idea... I think I'll just take the picture of the actual cover (since I <3 the actual covers, and as I said, I'm artistically challenged) and turn that into the book cover case...jacket...thing.
I love you so much Jenna xD |
_________________ You'll call me the lion, I'll call you the lamb.
I am lost in all you are -- you're alive for what I am. |
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Meep
❀♕:桜姫 Master of the Forum

 Gender:  Age: 19 Joined: 25 Oct 2006 Posts: 1859 Reviews: 210 Country: Nutopia 300 Points
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Posted: Wed Apr 04, 2007 11:13 pm Post subject: |
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| I just thought of this: if you're on good terms with your local librarians, and you ask nicely, they might let you use some of their archival protective stuff. It's like contact paper, but nicer. They might even help you put it on. (That stuff is a pain in the arse to work with.) |
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Leja
Slightly more inclined to writing than previously Epic Novelist

 Gender:  Age: 18 Joined: 20 Mar 2007 Posts: 2707 Reviews: 788 Country: my locker 300 Points
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Posted: Wed May 09, 2007 12:19 am Post subject: |
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| I always cover my paperback books because otherwise, the corners get bent and frayed from sloshing in my backpack. Anyway, I cover them as I would a text book, with a brown paper grocery bag and masking tape. Or you could go the route of my friend and cover them with the comic section of the Sunday paper (just be careful the ink from the comics doesn't smudge onto anything important... like your history paper or something). Then, I write the name of the book and author on the (covered) cover and spine with marker and viola! |
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