Did you try opening your favorite old book, which you once loved a lot? Such a good thing to recollect the best lines! Yet, the condition of those yellow pages might turn you off!
But why do these treasures turn pale?
It's not that books would rather be blonde, but instead that paper is made from components that turn yellow overtime. Most of the paper is made from wood which consists of cellulose and lignin. These components are high oxidizing agents and hence turn to yellow when exposed to oxygen over time.
Here are a few easy tips to prevent book pages from turning yellow:
1.Choose a perfect storing corner where there is a little or no direct sunlight
Indeed, your books dislike sunlight. The UV rays present in the light prompt and encourage the action of the oxidation process. This oxidation, in turn, intensifies the process of yellowing and fades away the beautiful covers of your books. Hence, always pick a perfect corner that has limited sunlight access to store your books.
2.Avoid high humidity places like basements or attics to store your pile
Paper is a quick absorbent of water and thus quickly attracts the moisturized air towards it. This moisturized air fastens the colorizing and even encourages the accumulation of beetles. That is why picking the right place to store your collection of books matters a lot.
3.Maintain a minimum of 3 inches distance between the back of your books and the shelf while storing
Books and wooden cupboards have a unique technique called "off-gassing," the process that helps them to release the harmful gasses that damage them; they require enough space to perform these activities. That is why leave a minimum of 3 inches distance between the back end of your books and the shelf. Make the storing more comfortable!
4.Divide the already pale books from the regular books before shelving
We usually follow a random order to store our books. At times the sequels collection together or the author collections together. But, mixing the already yellow books with new ones promotes their coloring process. Hence, separate the previously pale books from good books and store them on different shelves or boxes to avoid further damage.
5.Dust your books regularly from the spine to page corners
Avoid the natural wear and tear of books apart from the color change by dusting them regularly. While dusting, ensure you are cleaning the spine of the book along with the page corners. This way, the usual accretion of dust is also removed from the spines of the books.
Quick Tip: Always place your books upright while storing on the shelves. Leaning them against the wall or compactly shelving them cause structural damage or cracking.