Foxing. The term ‘foxing' describes disfiguring small yellow brown spots or blotches on paper. Two main causes are mould and iron contaminants in the paper. Moulds feed on the paper itself, as well as any dirt or organic material on it, for example, finger marks, food stains and squashed insects.
How do I remove yellow spots from a book?
Some stains can often be improved with a kneaded rubber eraser or Absorene® Paper and Book Cleaner . Knead a small amount of Absorene in your hand until it is soft and rub it lightly in one direction over the soiled surface. As it picks up the stain or dirt, knead it again to freshen it.
Why do books get yellow spots?
Why do books turn yellow? ... But when the wood is turned into paper, the lignin is retained, and it's the exposure of lignin to air and sunlight that causes the yellowing you see on your books. Low-quality paper contains 20% lignin and they yellow easily.
Is foxing mold?
Foxing is the result of both mold and metal contaminants in paper . Foxing appears as brown, yellow, or red stains on the paper, often in spidery spots or blotches.
How do you get rid of foxing on paper?
Removing the marks of foxing should generally be left to a skilled book conservator or preservationist . Experts may choose one of two approaches to reverse foxing: Using a reducing agent, such as sodium borohydride, on the paper.
What is it called when paper turns yellow?
Cellulose breaks down, via oxidation, to molecular structures generally known as chromophores . Chromophore, however, is just a generic term referring to the portion of a molecule which can emit or absorb visible light; that's why paper turns yellow when it ages.
Is the yellowing of pages a chemical change?
To make a fine white paper, the mill puts the wood through a chemical solvent process, which separates and discards the lignin. ... Lignin eventually turns paper yellow because of oxidation . That is, the lignin molecules, when exposed to oxygen in the air, begin to change and become less stable.
How do you remove water stains from paper?
Mix 1/3 cup of bleach with 2/3 cup of water . Apply this solution to the paper with a toothbrush if any water stains remain. Scrub lightly so the paper doesn't rip. Blot all liquid out of the paper using paper towels.
What causes brown spots on books?
Foxing is an age-related process of deterioration that causes spots and browning on old paper documents such as books, postage stamps, old paper money and certificates. The name may derive from the fox-like reddish-brown color of the stains, or the rust chemical ferric oxide which may be involved.
How do you remove water damage from paper?
- Carefully move papers to a dry area. ...
- Place individual sheets onto plain paper towels and put into direct sunlight. ...
- To dry books, place paper towels in between the pages and lay the book flat to give its pages room to breathe. ...
- Place a fan near the papers but face it up and away.
Can foxing be removed?
Foxing can be treated well without compromising the paper support or pigments. ... However, usually to remove foxing completely you need to use a conservation standard bleaching agent .
How do you get mold off paper?
Lightly soak a cotton swab in a mixture of water and 70% rubbing alcohol and gently dab it onto the molds : This should work in paper artwork that has major mold problems. Before you proceed with this step, try dabbing it first onto the smaller areas of the paper artwork.
What does foxing look like?
Foxing. The term ‘foxing' describes disfiguring small yellow brown spots or blotches on paper . Two main causes are mould and iron contaminants in the paper. Moulds feed on the paper itself, as well as any dirt or organic material on it, for example, finger marks, food stains and squashed insects.
How do you clean old paper documents?
If there is still evidence of mold or mildew on the paper, place a sheet of wax paper behind the page. Then use hydrogen peroxide or denatured alcohol applied with a soft cloth to gently clean the paper.
How do you remove foxing from old photos?
“Foxing” is very difficult to remove. Some spots can be reduced by the aqueous treatment of the document or photograph , however these treatments do pose a risk to the item and must be undertaken in a controlled environment by specialist conservators.
What is foxing on fabric?
Stains & Spots
Often seen on the pages of old books or antique linens, these freckle like spots called ‘foxing' are the result of a melanin type exudate, not rust . Oxidative bleaching with hydrogen peroxide may reduce the color but will further weaken the cloth or paper.
