How to Remove Dents, Scratches & Marks From Book Cover Jackets

Books are a building block of our modern society. They allow us to escape from everyday life, teach us new skills, help us learn new languages and take us to faraway lands without ever leaving the comfort of our armchairs. Unfortunately, over time and with normal wear and tear, some of your book cover jackets may become torn, dented or scratched. You can repair these issues yourself and restore your books to almost new condition.

Prepare your workspace. This can be your desk or a kitchen counter. Whatever workspace you choose must be absolutely clean. Scrub the desk or counter top with rubbing alcohol to remove dust and residue. If you are unable to get the surface clean, cover your workspace with plastic wrap or paper towels.

Remove the damaged dust jacket from the book and lay it face down on your worktable.

Remove any dust from inside the folds using a small brush with soft bristles. If the brush does not work, gently clean the dirt with an art gum eraser.

Examine the book cover for tears. If you find any, repair with invisible tape. Even a small tear should be repaired to keep it from getting worse.

Remove any visible markings with a soft cloth. If a soft cloth does not work, try gently rubbing the markings with an art gum eraser. Do not use abrasive cleansers, as they could cause the book jacket to disintegrate or the ink to smear.