How to Dry a Book Without the Pages Getting Wrinkled

Water damage can be a nightmare when it comes to books. All books take a long time to dry and when they finally do, the shape is left distorted, the print blurred and the pages sticky and wrinkled. There is an effective but lengthy method used to minimize page damage and if you have the patience, it will be well worth your time and effort.

Step 1

Drain the water from your book. You do not need to worry if your book is soaked. Stand it upright, closed tightly together by two bookends. Place a piece of absorbent paper in between the front cover and the text, and another in between the back cover and the text. Place a last absorbent piece underneath the book. Once the water is drained, remove the paper.

Step 2

Interleave every few pages when your book is only partially wet. Paper towels are advised. Change the paper whenever it gets too wet. If you leave it there, pages will wrinkle and mold. Also note that frequent changes are usually more effective than many interleaves in avoiding page damage. Once the book has reached a stage of dampness, remove the interleaves.

Step 3

Take your damp book to a cool, dry place to prevent mold from building up. Warm, overly humid conditions are strongly unadvised. Humidity should be below 50 percent, with a temperature below 70 degrees Fahrenheit.

Step 4

Dry the book completely. Place it in a cool and dry location, with a fan that ensures circulation around the book but not directly on it. The fan is only used to maintain good air circulation in the drying room.

Step 5

Complete the drying process. Place the book flat under a moderately light weight toward the end of the process, to further prevent wrinkled pages.