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TIL a library volunteer in Toledo saved a 1902 atlas with a kitchen sponge
Honestly, I was helping sort donations at the Toledo Library last month and saw this older lady gently cleaning a water damaged cover. She was using a plain, damp kitchen sponge, not a fancy brush. She showed me how the soft foam lifts grime without scratching the gold foil, which my usual stiff bristle brush would have wrecked. I've tried it on three leather bindings since then and it works way better for delicate stuff. Has anyone else found a totally normal household item that works better than a specialized tool?
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iris_rivera448d ago
Right, @taylor82 makes a good point about the cloth. A damp sponge can hold too much water and risk the paper. A slightly damp microfiber cloth is my go-to now for wiping down covers. It picks up the dust without leaving any moisture behind. The real trick is testing a tiny spot first, no matter what you use. Some of that old glue or color can run with ANY kind of water.
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