Caring for a Matte-Covered Bible

A matte cover still needs ordinary book care. Handle it with clean, dry hands, keep drinks away from the reading area, and avoid putting it down on a wet or gritty surface. Do not assume that a printed cover is waterproof.

Keep cleaning gentle

Start by preventing marks rather than treating them. The Library of Congress recommends clean hands and a clean work area when handling books. Avoid applying household cleaners, alcohol, oil or polish to our covers. We do not provide a tested chemical-cleaning specification for the matte finish.

If a mark will not lift with gentle dry handling, stop before rubbing away the surface. For damage present when your order arrives, photograph it and contact us through the website with your order details.

Protect the corners and binding

Lift the book with support rather than pulling on a loose cover edge. Open it comfortably without forcing the spine flat. A hardcover and a perfect-bound softcover behave differently; neither should be bent backwards to make it stay open.

Use a thin bookmark instead of folding a corner or leaving a bulky object between pages. Before closing the book, remove loose items that could press into the paper.

Choose a sensible place to keep it

Store the book away from water, direct heat and prolonged direct sunlight. Support it on the shelf so it is not leaning heavily against a much shorter book. If you carry it in a bag, keep it separate from keys and leaking bottles.

These habits are preventive care, not a guarantee against wear. A book used every day will acquire signs of use. Choose your binding for the way you plan to read and carry it, and inspect the actual interior sample before deciding which page color suits you.