Quickly Organizing a Bookcase

Written by Lee Wyatt (last updated March 18, 2020)

For anyone that has a large collection of books, they know that they are somewhat mixed blessing. They not only bring endless hours of enjoyment, and the ability to escape the everyday, the books also have a tendency to bring a little element of chaos and clutter. In fact, it is very easy to tell when someone with a large collection of books hasn't been organizing or cleaning anything in a while—the books tend to get rather scattered and dusty. Perhaps the biggest stumbling block that many people have in regards to organizing a bookcase is that it can simply take so long to accomplish. Well, quickly organizing a bookcase has never been easier than it is now. All you need to do is follow these simple guidelines, and you will find that you have your bookcase not only organized, but cleaned, all within 15 minutes.

  • First five minutes. Organizing a book case can often be a dirty and messy job, and doing it quickly is even more so. Take steps to prevent the spread of the dust and dirt by putting on either an apron or a smock that have some pockets, and spreading out a large old sheet at the base of the bookcase. Place some cleaning supplies such as a dry cleaning pad, rags, and other items that can help you clean, also grab a hair dryer and an extension cord. Take a few seconds and scan through the books on your shelf, if you see any that you don't want anymore, toss them aside. Plug in the extension cord and the hair dryer, and turn the dryer onto the highest cold setting that you have. Start at the top of the bookshelf and work your way down, blowing the dust off the tops and sides of the books.
  • Second five minutes. Once again, start at the top of the bookshelf, and pull the books out halfway, but only doing this with a few at a time. Use a dry cleaning pad, rag, or even a duster to reach behind the book and remove the dust. Be sure that you are also getting the unbound sides of the book as well when you do this. Check the spines of the books for any dirt, and use the dry cleaning pad to "scrub" it away. As you are doing this, also keep an eye out for any books that are out of place, and put them where they belong. Make sure that you put all books back against the bookshelf once again.
  • Third five minutes. Use the remaining time that you have to wipe down the bookshelf itself, and to double check that you don't have any other books out of place. Actually use a duster if you have one to remove the dust that is on top of the bookshelf. When you are finished, roll the sheet up, and take it outside to shake out the dust.

Author Bio

Lee Wyatt

Contributor of numerous Tips.Net articles, Lee Wyatt is quickly becoming a regular "Jack of all trades." He is currently an independent contractor specializing in writing and editing. Contact him today for all of your writing and editing needs! Click here to contact. ...

MORE FROM LEE

Installing Water Aerators for Water Features

If you have a water feature, then you should also make sure that you have an aerator installed. These small tools are a ...

Discover More

Difficult Hard Water Stains

If you live in an area that happens to have particularly hard water, then you know just how annoying difficult hard water ...

Discover More

Cleaning Dog Teeth

Cleaning dog teeth isn't exactly like cleaning your teeth in the morning. At least, it isn't without a whole lot of ...

Discover More

Cordless, Compact, and Powerful! DeWalt's 18-volt drill-driver kit packs a big punch in a small package, with a powerful high-performance motor tucked away inside a compact design. A great addition to the tool chest of any professional or DIYer! Check out DeWalt 18-Volt Drill/Driver Kit today!

More Organizing Tips

Organizing Your Bookshelves

Having a well-organized bookshelf can provide a neater look to your home. Bookshelves can provide an excellent location ...

Discover More

Organizing Books and Magazines in the Living Room

The living room is one of the busiest rooms in the entire home, and as such can very quickly become a collection point ...

Discover More

Streamlining Your Library

As any book lover can tell you, personal libraries have a habit of growing almost exponentially. For some reason those ...

Discover More
Comments

If you would like to add an image to your comment (not an avatar, but an image to help in making the point of your comment), include the characters [{fig}] (all 7 characters, in the sequence shown) in your comment text. You’ll be prompted to upload your image when you submit the comment. Maximum image size is 6Mpixels. Images larger than 600px wide or 1000px tall will be reduced. Up to three images may be included in a comment. All images are subject to review. Commenting privileges may be curtailed if inappropriate images are posted.

What is five more than 3?

There are currently no comments for this tip. (Be the first to leave your comment—just use the simple form above!)