The Complete Guide On How To Properly Clean And Maintain Your Art Paintings

The Complete Guide On How To Properly Clean And Maintain Your Art Paintings

Learn the proper steps and procedures, and the proper tools to use, to maintain and preserve your painting for as long as possible so that you can pass them on to the next generation

Cleaning and maintaining art paintings can be a daunting task to do as you feel like you’re not equipped to do it properly. But what if you were told that there’s an easy way to maintain your artwork without having to worry too much? Let’s look at the proper way to maintain and clean your art paintings easily. 


Keep your art paintings away from sunlight

Direct sunlight can have a negative impact on your paintings. You don’t want them to get ruined just because they’ve been exposed to the wrong light. So, when you’re placing the paintings, make sure to check the lighting of the area as well. More importantly, the sunlight coming in. This will reduce the need for excessive need for restoration as well. The same goes for when you’re cleaning them out. Restore your paintings in a well-lit room but away from direct sunlight!


Dust the paintings

While staying away from direct sunlight is essential, you still need to make sure that you’re in a well-lit room to get the cleaning process done. Regular dusting can make your work much easier when it comes to cleaning and maintenance. You can use a dry brush or cloth for this process. It will help make sure that your painting doesn’t have any dust on when you start the next cleaning process. 
While you do this, make sure that you’re using a brush with soft bristles and a gentle rag. Don’t use water or any other liquid substance for cleanup at this point. 


Use gentle brushes, cotton swabs and cloth for clean-up 

When it comes to oil paintings, they’re generally more difficult to clean up as opposed to acrylic paintings. For an acrylic painting, you can easily stop at the dusting step as they typically don’t need too much work when it comes to maintenance. 


Oil paintings, on the other hand, pile up layers of grime and dirt that you need to pay more attention to while cleaning. Get yourself a bowl with a mixture of water a gentle dish soap to help you with this process. After going over with a dry brush and not seeing any improvements, use a soaked cotton cloth or swab to clean up your painting. An olive-oil based soap is a great option to go for. You’ll instantly see a difference after doing so. 


Avoid keeping your art paintings under extreme weather 

To maintain your art, make sure you’re keeping it away from extreme temperatures and placing it where the temperature can be easily controlled. Don’t place your paintings above heat sources, in the kitchen, or the bathroom as excessive humidity and heat can damage your painting. Place them in an environment where the temperature is stable to make sure that you can keep them for a long time. 


These simple steps can help you make sure that you clean and maintain your paintings yourself for a long time. However, if you see too much damage to your paintings, then it’s important to seek professional help for a complete restoration. 

 

Keen To Order Your Very Own Custom Oil Paintings? 

Paint My Furkids has been one of the leading experts in helping thousands of pet owners and pet lovers worldwide commission their very own hand-painted oil paintings pet portraits and human portraits. It is one of the most meaningful way to commemorate and memorialize your loved ones. Check out the latest works here: https://paintmyfurkids.com/collections/oil-paintings/products/custom-pet-portrait-oil-painting-standard-style-paint-per-photo

Hesitate now more! Order your very own hand-painted oil painting today! https://paintmyfurkids.com/collections/oil-paintings/products/custom-pet-portrait-oil-painting-standard-style-paint-per-photo

References:

  1. https://www.artevolution.com/how-to-care-for-your-art
  2. https://canvas.saatchiart.com/art/art-news/the-best-ways-to-care-for-clean-and-store-art

Back to blog

Leave a comment

Please note, comments need to be approved before they are published.