I recommend using a damp microfiber or other cleaning cloth (or even an old-tshirt) and just a little bit of water. You can use the cloth on just about any surface or type of books. When I'm cleaning bookshelves or just taking the dust off the top edge of books, I also like to use a Swiffer cloth.
Comments Section Dusting can grind dust into the books, especially wiping with a cloth dusting. Vacuuming is better because it lifts the dust. Remove all books from one shelf and wipe it clean with water. Dry the shelf and wipe it once more but with alcohol to kill mold, spores, bugs.
Why You Should Deep Clean Your Bookshelves—and Your Books. Dust is complex. It's composed of dead skin cells, pollen, animal dander, dust mites, dust mite corpses, and dust mite droppings.
Wash all sheets, blankets, pillowcases and bedcovers in hot water that is at least 130 F (54.4 C) to kill dust mites and remove allergens. If bedding can't be washed hot, put the items in the dryer for at least 15 minutes at a temperature above 130 F (54.4 C) to kill the mites.
Freezing: - Place the book in a sealed plastic bag and freeze it for at least 72 hours. This can kill any mites or eggs without damaging the book. Humidity Control: - Store books in a low-humidity environment, ideally between 30-50% relative humidity. This will help prevent the return of mites. Regular Maintenance:
Books can sometimes become infested with small bugs, known as booklice. To kill live booklice, place the infested item in a resealable bag and keep it in the freezer for about a day. Next, lightly vacuum the pages of the book with a brush attachment to remove the dead bugs.
Don't overlook insect and rodent prevention.
Controlling moisture and dust in the unit is helpful, but care should be taken to keep the unit free of debris that can attract pests. Storing books in plastic containers with tight lids can also be helpful.
Reduce Humidity: Dust mites hate dry air. Utilize dehumidifiers to maintain an environment where they cannot thrive.
Does vinegar or baking soda kill dust mites? Although baking soda and vinegar can help remove mattress odors, neither can kill dust mites. Baking soda may help absorb moisture from a mattress if you want to sprinkle some on before vacuuming, however.
You can't feel dust mites crawling on you. They're too small. The bugs may catch a lift on your clothes but they don't live on humans. Consult your healthcare provider if you have any concerns about crawling sensations or think you may have dust mite allergy.
Combine Clove, Eucalyptus, Lavender, Peppermint or Rosemary oil with water in a spray bottle and spray your bed, linens, and other furniture lightly with a fine mist. Once this mixture air dries, the scent should repel dust mites.
Wipe down your bookshelves and furniture with a diluted bleach solution. This will kill any remaining lice or eggs. Using a dehumidifier or fan to reduce the humidity in ares of high moisture. Freeze your books for 24 hours.
How Often to Clean Books. To keep a cleaning regimen intact, Walsh recommends breaking your cleaning routine into two phases: Regular and deep cleaning. To start, she recommends cycling through one regular clean at least once per month and one deep clean every three months.
Vacuuming with a HEPA vacuum (available from Preservation) is the most effective way to clean collections. The HEPA vacuum prevents the recirculation of dust back into the air. It also has adjustable suction and a soft brush for cleaning especially fragile materials.
Unused Papers and Old Books: Dust mites feed on cellulose, a substance found in old books, magazines, and other paper materials.
Consider steam cleaning carpets when possible. In addition to cleaning the carpet, the heat of the steam kills dust mites. You can buy chemicals (ascaricides) that kill dust mites and that you can use on carpeting and furniture.
Signs of Dust Mites in a Mattress
Finding dust mite debris such as tiny black or brown specks on the mattress. Feeling itchy skin while you're in bed. Experiencing allergy symptoms while sleeping, such as watery eyes, runny nose, sneezing, a sore throat, coughing, or breathing problems2.
Wash all sheets, blankets, pillowcases and bedcovers in hot water that is at least 130 F (54.4 C) to kill dust mites and remove allergens. If bedding can't be washed hot, put the items in the dryer for at least 15 minutes at a temperature above 130 F (54.4 C) to kill the mites.
Predators. The predators of dust mites are other allergenic mites (Cheyletiella), silverfish and pseudoscorpions.
Sleep disruption: Dust mite allergies can disrupt sleep patterns, especially if symptoms like sneezing, nasal congestion, and coughing are more pronounced at night. This can spill over into a long-term health risk, as poor sleep quality can have a negative impact on your overall well-being.
The books were frozen for seven days, thawed within their sealed boxes for six days, and frozen again for seven days. Freezing is a typical method used by museums to kill pest and insects. “Freezing is preferable to heat in this case, as heat can accelerate the aging of books and paper,” Lamson said.
Combine the water and vinegar in the spray bottle. Spray one cotton cloth lightly with the vinegar-water solution. Wipe down your book carefully with the damp rag. Finally, wipe down your book with the second (dry) rag.