Question about using coffee grounds to stain old map edges...

My cousin the archivist told me last week that steeping used coffee grounds in hot water gives a really natural aged look on paper edges, and I tried it on a 1920s road map of Ohio I found at a garage sale and the color matches perfectly but now I'm worried it might attract bugs over time, has anyone else tested this method for restoration?

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eva_gibson29d ago

Tried this on a vintage topo map last month and the color came out perfect but yeah, the bug thing is real. Noticed it fits a pattern where anything that holds onto moisture or organic bits tends to attract silverfish and those little paper bugs, especially in basements or humid rooms. I'd say seal the edges with a light spray of clear acrylic or museum wax if you really want to keep the stain without inviting pests to a feast.