OCD?

Yes Greyduster, I know just what you mean. Some marks make you turn the page quickly!

Thanks for all your replies. Seems it's not just me, thank goodness! I don't really do it to remove germs, it's to get rid of the sticky/grimy feel.

I didn't think books could carry germs. Nothing harmful, anyway.

I never gave it a thought. My mum never let us join the library because 'you never knew who had had the book before you'. Her cousin was the librarian!

I always go over the covers with a dettol wipe, but it's daft really when you consider some of the interesting stains and splashes you often find inside!

Anybody remember the days when library books would have a sticker inside the cover, instructing the borrower to bake the books in the oven before returning them, if there was any communicable disease in the house?

Seems like a very long time ago now!

I agree, it's way OTT!

No! I don't wipe or wash library books.

I am sure spraying or wiping the books will not do them much good!

I doubt if one tomato seed stuck to a page will do you any harm.

How do you think the human race continues to expand in numbers?

Yes! I do think it is OCD.

Well you did ask!

I agree with Luckygirl. That never crossed my mind. Was brought up to share germs to help the immune system.

WhAt with toilet doors and love Barry books I am surprised I keep so well.

I have never given it a passing thought - and certainly not prepared to encourage bug resistance by using antibacterial wipes. As my gran used to say "You have to meet a peck of dirt before you die."

I run the village library - I would be rather busy with the wipes if I were to do this!

I meant to type NOT OCD

I always use antibacterial wipes on any library books, of course, you can only do the outside covers but better than nothing.It's not OCD just sensible.

No, I don't give it a thought. After all, when you're choosing the books from the shelves of the library or any shop, there are bound to be germs on them. Like most of us, I have good hand hygiene, so I think that's enough, really.

I buy quite a lot of board books in charity shops, on library discard shelves, always give every page a good going over with either a wipe of a suitable spray. Just covers otherwise for children's books. Only wipe adult books if there's an obvious reason.
My mother never let me have public library books as a child. I now perhaps understand why. She contracted both scarlet fever and then diptheria around 1920.