Board books are a popular choice for young children because of their durability. However, even sturdy board books get dirty over time from messes, spills, and just regular use. As a parent, cleaning board books is important to keep them sanitary for your kids.
Fortunately, there are several effective methods to clean board books depending on the type of mess or damage. In this comprehensive guide, as a professional board book printing provider, I’ll share my top tips on how to clean board books properly.
Why It’s Important to Clean Board Books
Keeping board books clean should be a priority for every parent. Here’s why:
- Prevents the Spread of Illness – Board books come into contact with dirty hands and mouths frequently. Cleaning them regularly helps avoid the spread of bacteria and viruses that cause colds, flu, and other illnesses.
- Extends the Life of Board Books – Clean board books last longer. Built-up messes can eventually damage the pages and bindings, rendering board books unusable.
- Teaches Good Hygiene Habits – When kids see parents making the effort to keep their belongings clean, they learn the importance of hygiene and cleanliness themselves.
Supplies You’ll Need
Cleaning board books doesn’t require much. Here are the basic supplies I recommend having on hand:
- Microfiber cloth
- Dish soap or antibacterial hand soap
- Small bowl of warm water
- Clean towel or paper towels
- Rubbing alcohol (70% concentration)
- Cotton balls or cotton pads
- Pencil eraser
- Hair dryer (for sticker removal)
How to Clean Board Books
Board book pages tend to get the brunt of the mess from sticky fingers and food spills. Here is my method for cleaning board book pages:
Step 1: Wipe Away Debris
Wipe pages clean using a microfiber cloth to brush away any solid pieces of food, dirt or other debris. This prevents further spreading of the mess as you clean.
Step 2: Create a Cleaning Solution
In a small bowl, mix a few drops of dish or antibacterial hand soap into warm water. The cleaning solution should create a light lather when mixed.
Step 3: Dampen the Microfiber Cloth
Dip your microfiber cloth into the cleaning solution and wring it out thoroughly so it’s damp but not dripping wet. Excess water can warp board book pages over time.
Step 4. Gently Scrub Pages
Carefully wipe damp cloth over soiled pages. Avoid scrubbing too vigorously on printed areas of pages.
Step 5. Dry Pages Thoroughly
Use a clean, dry towel or paper towels to dry pages completely. Air drying works too. Just be sure no moisture is left between pages to prevent sticking.
How to Sanitize Board Books
For a deeper clean, sanitize board books using rubbing alcohol. The CDC recommends alcohol solutions with at least 70% alcohol to kill bacteria and viruses.
Here is my simple process to sanitize board book pages:
Step 1: Prepare Alcohol Solution
Pour small amount of 70% isopropyl rubbing alcohol onto cotton pad or cotton ball. You don’t need very much.
Step 2: Thoroughly Wipe Pages
Gently wipe cotton pad soaked in alcohol solution over every page. Allow alcohol to sit for at least 1 minute before drying.
Step 3: Allow Pages to Air Dry
Alcohol sanitizers work best when left to fully air dry. Wave pages back and forth to speed up drying time.
The alcohol solution should dry quickly without leaving any streaks or residue on board book pages.
How to Remove Board Book Stains
Board books often fall victim to ink, marker and crayon stains that can be tricky to remove. Here are some effective cleaning solutions:
- Magic Eraser – These popular stain remover pads work well to lift marks from board books. Simply rub gently over stains.
- Baking Soda – Make a paste from baking soda and just a few drops of water. Use old toothbrush to work paste into stains.
- Hair Dryer – For stubborn stains, use a hair dryer to heat the board book page slightly. Then wipe area with pencil eraser or magic eraser while warm.
Test stain removing methods in small, inconspicuous area first before treating entire board book page.
Some marker and crayon stains maybe impossible to remove fully. But spot cleaning can greatly improve the appearance overall.
How to Remove Stickers from Board Books
Kids love stickers. But sticker residue left behind in board books is difficult to clean. Here are two reliable ways to tackle sticker buildup:
- Rubbing Alcohol – Soak cotton pad in rubbing alcohol and hold over sticker for 30-60 seconds. Slowly peel sticker away, then wipe area to remove leftover adhesive.
- Hair Dryer – Using low setting, gently heat sticker and board book page. Carefully scrape sticker away with old credit card. Residual adhesive can then be rubbed off.
Avoid pulling stickers off board book pages without first loosening adhesive, as this can cause damage to the page surface underneath.
In severe cases of sticker residue, hand sanitizer can also help break down and remove sticky buildup from board books.
By taking the time to properly clean board books, parents can help make this children’s favorite more sanitary and long-lasting. For dealing with other tough cleaning conundrums around the house, check out my other handy cleaning guides.