12 Cleaning Tips for Books Framed Art Record Player

I previously wrote a post about books. Since then, I discovered cleaning tips I wanted to share with fellow book lovers.

• Leather, imitation or not, makes an attractive book covering, not to mention durable. Periodically washing them with a mild detergent keeps it clean. Apply a light coat of oil or petroleum jelly to avoid cracks from the covering drying out. I have used furniture polish before and it worked just as well.
• Talcum powder or cornstarch sprinkled on damp pages will absorb moisture. Then you can shake or brush all the powder away.
• Soft white bread crumbs rubbed on grease stains makes them go bye bye.
• Keep the books out of direct sun light. Prolonged sun light will fade and destroy the bindings.
• A never-been-used paint brush is the perfect solution for cleaning your books as needed.  Simply brush away surface dust. A vacuum cleaner with the brush attached works too.
• If the edges of a book are soiled, hold by the covers together tight with one hand and an art gum eraser in the other. Rub the eraser over the edges and make sure the book doesn't open to expose individual pages.

• Dip a small brush, like an artist would use, in rubbing alcohol. Brush the needle free of dirt or dust.
• A soiled album can be cleaned by placing it on the turntable. Hold a dust cloth lightly on the album as it goes 'round and 'round. Going the same with the grooves instead of across guarantees no further damage.

• When cleaning the glass on a framed picture do not directly spray the glass from the spray bottle.  It's a much better idea to spray cleaner on your cleaning rag and then use that to clean the glass. You don't want to risk the possibility of the liquid getting trapped under the frame and ruining the artwork.
• A tarnished gilt frame will shine again if wiped with a rag dampened with turpentine.
• Again don't spray directly on the picture or the frame. When polishing the frame with furniture polish, make sure to only apply polish to the cloth being used.
• This is a clever trick for dusting in the crevices of a swirly carved frame. A clean, empty squeeze bottle aimed at the frame and squeezed will blow it clean. 
  

• Stains on a piano keyboard, ivory or plastic, come clean with a damp cloth dipped in baking soda. Be careful and don't let any baking soda fall in between the keys. If that happens, a paint brush could be your only hope.
• To brighten dulled ivory keys, use a very fine (400 to 600 grit) sandpaper and rub it with the grain down the length of the key.