Routine maintenance in the form of cleaning and dusting is necessary to keeping your art pieces looking as good as they did the day you purchased them. Regular cleaning won’t just keep your artwork looking its best while it’s on display; it will also preserve its life for years to come. When you’re cleaning your artwork, it’s important to follow proper practices to prevent accidentally damaging the piece. Here are some tips and tricks to cleaning framed artwork and preserving its appearance.
Dust lightly and regularly
To prevent your artwork from collecting excessive amounts of dust, you should lightly dust them once a week. Use a very light touch to avoid damaging them. If the frame is older or especially ornate, use a feather duster or extremely soft brush to lightly dust it. Another option is to simply blow on the frame to get rid of the dust. This will help prevent the ornamentation on the frame from breaking off. If debris is on the frame, put a small amount of distilled water on a cloth and rub gently to get it off. However, if the frame is gilded, you should never use any kind of liquid, as it could take the leaf off.
Avoid cleaning products that contain alcohol or ammonia
When cleaning your artwork, avoid cleaners that contain ammonia or alcohol, such as Windex. Such products can damage the finish of your artwork or cause clouding on the glass, particularly if it’s coated glass. Instead, use distilled water with a small amount of white vinegar to clean the artwork. At AUM Framing and Gallery, we use about one tablespoon of white vinegar with one cup of distilled water. Keep in mind that most types of acrylic—excluding Optimum Museum Acrylic, which is coated to resist static and scratching—require extra care to prevent scratches. For acrylic, you should use a specialized cleaner such as Novus.
Never spray cleaner directly on the glazing
When using a spray, always avoid spraying directly onto a frame—even if the art has glass or acrylic glazing. Doing so may allow the liquid to infiltrate the frame and damage the art or the frame finish. Instead, spray your cleaner onto a nonabrasive, lint-free cloth such as a cloth diaper and wipe the frame with light, circular motions.
Aside from cleaning your artwork, properly framing it is essential to preserving its lifespan. At AUM Framing and Gallery, we’re committed to providing you with expert framing, repairing, and restoring services for artwork of all kinds. To properly protect your art from harmful elements, we offer a wide array of framing options, including canvas framing, textile, fine art, and ketubah framing – in fact, all types of custom framing. For more information regarding our services, contact us today.