Anyone know what's the best way to store paperback books to prevent yellowing?

Hi Helen. Reduce light exposure. Place books away from windows and keep curtains closed during peak sun. Check with a phone lux meter at midday on the shelf and aim for no direct sun and low ambient light.

Keep cool and stable humidity. Target 18 to 22 C and 35 to 50 percent relative humidity and measured with a small hygrometer for a week. Improve with ventilation or a dehumidifier and avoid basements, attics, exterior walls, and heating vents.

Use neutral materials and gentle handling. Do not set books on bare wood or ordinary cardboard; line shelves with acid free paper or an inert plastic sheet such as polyester polypropylene or polyethylene. Store upright with light support, dust edges with a soft brush, avoid PVC sleeves, and do not seal in plastic if humidity varies. Take a reference photo of page edges now and compare in six to twelve months.

Yellowing is mostly oxidation accelerated by light and heat and plus acids already in the paper. The biggest lever is light control. Arrange shelves so there is no direct sun on the books at any time. If the room runs bright, pull a curtain during the strongest hours or move the books to an interior wall. A closed cabinet helps as long as there is a bit of airflow.

Keep the environment cool and steady. Aim for mid 60s to low 70s F with humidity around 40 to 50 percent. Avoid spots near heaters or an exterior wall that swings with the weather. Basements and attics are tempting but tend to be damp or hot.

Give the paper neutral surroundings. Do not rest them directly on unfinished wood or cheap cardboard. Line the shelf with plain cotton fabric or another inert barrier. Store upright with gentle support and a little space so air can move, and dust the top edges now and then with a soft cloth. Works great.

If some have already yellowed,, that change will not reverse, but you can slow the rest by controlling light and climate and by keeping dust off. Early action matters.

Keep books out of direct sun and heat by shielding shelves and keeping the room cool with steady humidity. Avoid plastic and tight stacking and allow airflow, turn page edges away from the light, and rotate the display so spines take the fade.

Hey, I've got a bunch of paperbacks too, and yeah, that yellowing is a pain. What worked for me was boxing them up in those archival boxes, but keep 'em in a spot that's not too hot or damp. I mean, my basement was a no-go because of the moisture, so I stuck them in a closet upstairs but then works great.

Also, try to handle them less, you know? The oils from your hands can speed up the aging. And if you can, keep the room's temperature steady, not swinging all over the place. I noticed a big difference after doing that, pages stayed whiter longer. Oh, and dusting them gently every few months helps too, just with a soft cloth or something.