Worried About The Pages Of Your Favorite Book Turning Yellow? Five Tips To Prevent Pages From Yellowing

If you are a book lover and hoarder, you have probably seen the pages of your old books turning yellow. And we understand how heartbreaking it is.

Sadly, paper is created from elements that turn yellow with time. The most used component that goes into the making of paper is wood, and it comprises lignin and cellulose—these elements are highly oxidizing agents—and when exposed to oxygen, they turn yellow. Here are some easy tips that can protect the pages of your treasured books from yellowing.

Choose a storage corner with little to no exposure to direct sunlight.

Your books loathe sunlight. The ultraviolet rays of the sun encourage the oxidation process. This process—in turn—intensifies the yellowing of the pages, and the pretty covers of your beloved books fade away. Make sure you are storing your books in a dry, dimly lit, and cool place. Ideally, the humidity and temperature of the room should also be low. Consider storing your books in a closet or on a closed bookshelf instead of an open one. The latter will expose your treasured books to several environmental factors that cause the pages to turn yellow.

Use professional-grade covers for your books.

If you want to care for your precious books, consider purchasing professional-grade covers to protect them against moisture accumulation and spillages. These covers can also help diminish the impact of environmental factors that can cause the pages of your book to turn yellow.

Do not store your books in damp places like attics or basements

Paper absorbs water and attracts moisturized air. This moist air causes the print colors in your books to fade, and it also attracts beetles. Therefore, it is essential to pick a dry place with low humidity to keep your collection.

Separate the pale books from the good ones before storing

If you use a random order to stack your books, it is time to change that habit. If you are mixing the books that have already turned yellow with the new ones, you are promoting the discoloration process. Hence, separate the good books from the pale ones and keep them in different boxes or shelves to avoid damage.

Leave a space of three inches between the shelf and the back of your books

Wooden cupboards and books have a distinctive technique known as "off-gassing." This process helps release the damaging gasses that harm the books; they need adequate space to perform off-gassing. Therefore, it is critical to leave some space, at least 3 inches, between the shelf and the back of your books.

Store your books in an upright position when placing them on the shelves. Shelving them compactly or propping them against the wall can cause cracking or structural damage.