PAGE CLEANING

Recently, some child's cough syrup spilled on a library book I had checked out. I notified them and paid for the book but am wondering if anyone has ideas on how to remedy the pages. I like the author and don't mind keeping the book. I have tried hanging it over a heating vent on a hanger and ironing the pages. They are still a little slimy/sticky. Any help is appreciated.

It may depend on the nature of the cough syrup as well as the finish of the paper. Some experimentation might be required.

When there are stickers (e.g. price stickers) to be removed and there is a sticky residue, there are a couple approaches. Here are some solvents in my order of preference. Each should be used in a well-ventilated area, away from open flames.

Bestine rubber cement thinner. Take a clean paper towel and fold it in quarters. Open the can or bottle of rubber cement thinner. Since this book is probably a mess, you will probably go through quite a few paper towels.

Ronsonol ligher fluid. Use in a similar fashion.

Goo Gone, UnDo, etc. These are more expensive and sometimes leave an oily residue and fragrance which I do not want my books to have.

James

I would guess that organic solvents wouldn't be appropriate for what was an aqueous solution. I think you are stuck with water.

Most of the 'sticky' is likely to be sugar, although a look at the ingredients list on the bottle would help verify that.

I'm wondering if talcum would stick to it and allow you to peel it off.

It it's just a surface spill on a few pages, have you tried just gently wiping them down with a damp cloth? If you haven't, it's worth a try

For more extensive spills I've had good luck with milk and juice by putting a damp paper towel between the damaged pages and then pressing it for a day or two with the paper towels still between the pages. If you're lucky most of the sticky will transfer onto the paper towel.

Ironing the pages using a steam iron, with cotton cloth or paper towels over the sticky parts, might help, too.

Any of those you'd then have to dry carefully again, of course. But I'm afraid I don't know any good way of getting sugar-syrup stickiness off without water.

Thanks, all. It's only some page edges, not all across the pages, as the book was lying flat on counter and bottle tipped over near it leaking onto pages and absorbing up to about an inch or so in. I will start with the mildest suggestions and progress from there.