Cleaning: Need Some Help On Cleaning Vintage Box

[nijrose]

Hi, I've come in REALLY late on this thread, but the very safest method of cleaning paper is to use a paper restorer's cleaning pad. It's basically fine powdered rubber in a cotton pad that rubs away the dirt without removing print - similar to the aforementioned bread trick, but without the moisture problems. I've used these for years to clean old comics boxes and magazines. This is the product: http://www.papersafe.demon.co.uk/dry_cleaning_pad.htm . Archival paper products are nearly always best for box cleaning and repair, because they're based on being reversible - if someone doesn't like what's done, it can be undone again.