Oil or grease stains may be removed from cloth book covers as follows. Dip a piece of cotton-wool into benzine and wash over the cover; do not rub it locally, as this will cause the oil to spread and leave a ring round the place washed. Move the wool over rapidly; the benzine will sink in the cover and it will appear to have been spoiled, but the benzine will soon evaporate and leave the cover bright and clean. If the stain has been caused by any watery liquid, the colour of the cloth will be destroyed, and there is no effective remedy; but the cover may be improved by washing with glair that is, white of egg beaten up. But whichever treatment is adopted, be sure to wash over the whole cover with a quick movement, as much rubbing will only make matters worse.

Egg stains may be removed from leather book covers and similar materials by washing with warm water in which a little flour paste has been mixed. Wash the entire cover, using a clean sponge, but be careful not to rub the gold tooling or lettering. If the cover is of cloth, there will be some difficulty in getting rid of the stains; glaire must be used, and before beginning to wash dilute the glaire with an equal quantity of water. Use a sponge and work in a circular direction; do not rub much or the colour will come out and the surface will have a fluffy, frayed out appearance. Egg matter that has become hardened will be difficult to remove.

The following method may be tried of removing some oil that has been spilt over a book and causes the letterpress to show through from each side of a leaf. Lay a sheet of blotting paper on each side of a leaf and gently rub a hot iron over it. By this means some of the oil will be removed. Continue this treatment for a considerable time. Another method is to get some benzine and wash the leaves, using cotton-wool. This treatment should not be carried out near a fire or in a very hot room. If the book is badly saturated with oil, the task is hopeless. It may be possible to remove the greasiness, but it will be impossible entirely to remedy the transparency of the leaves.

To remove scratches in morocco, if the skin is not broken, damp the part with hot water, and beat with a clothes brush, holding it by one end and beating with the point of the other; this will raise the grain, and if the scratch is slight it will be hidden effectively. If not, while still damp, with the point of a fine needle carefully lift the leather in the scratch, working with the grain, and afterwards damp again and use the brush. If the skin is broken, use the needle and pick up all the edges of the scratch on both sides, rub in a little thin paste, and lay down the edges, using the needle so that each little piece may be carefully replaced in position.

Rub off any surplus paste with the sponge. When dry go over it with the needle, stroking where necessary in the direction of the grain of the morocco leather. For calf, instead of the needle and brush, use a bone folder or the handle of a toothbrush. Damp the part first with hot water, rub on a little paste with the finger, and rub well with the folder, taking care to keep it flat or more marks will be made. Wash again and allow to dry. Repeat the operation if necessary. If the skin of calf has been broken, the method of pasting down must be employed, using the folder instead of the brush.

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