The One Spot In Their Home Everyone Forgets To Clean (And The Best Ways To Do It)

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When it comes to your home, it's always easy to remember that the bathroom sink needs to be wiped down and the dishes need to get done. But what about all those places you're forgetting to clean, like your shelves? We know you love your books, and you want to take care of them, but you are probably forgetting to wipe them down on a regular basis. We get it, they are probably nestled in the corner of your room — with the places and people inside of them quietly keeping you company — and out of the direct path of your daily routine. Even though they're easily neglected, it's important to take better care of your books for their benefit and your own.

Although it's incredibly common and unavoidable, the hidden hazards of built-up dust in your home might shock you. The fact that dust harbors everything from plastic particles to dead insect parts is enough to make anyone want to pull out the feather duster and microfiber cloths on a regular basis for a good clean. But what is all that dust coating the spine of your books actually doing to your favorite tomes? Not only can it cause staining on the cover and outside pages, but it may also attract insects that can dig into the pages and live in your books. Built up dust is no joke, and it can affect not only the shelf life of your books but the overall air quality of your home.

It never hurts to create an effective cleaning schedule to stay on top of your chores, and adding a thorough clean of your books should be on the list. There are a number of ways to approach the task, but the most obvious one is a regular wipe down. Simply making sure to dust once every few weeks will help keep the buildup at bay. However, even with regular dusting, experts recommend you do a deeper clean once a year. This approach requires you to completely remove your books from the shelf to wipe them off and clean the area behind them where most dirt tends to accumulate.

During this process, each book should get your close attention to check for insects and other quality issues. Take the time to dust them off individually with a microfiber cleaning cloth and use a flat hake brush to sweep the spine. There are other popular methods like damp dusting and vacuuming. While some book connoisseurs insist that water should never be used on books, most believe it's fine as long as the towel is only slightly damp and you let the cover dry completely. You may also want to use a vacuum on the spine. Although you run the risk of bending or tearing pages with this method, you can put a cheesecloth over the hose to help soften the suction and offer an extra layer of protection. Whatever method you try, your books (and your sinuses) will thank you.