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So you own an original painting and it is hanging in the perfect spot in your home or office. GREAT. Now how do you take care of it?

What can you do to keep this painting you love in great condition and pass the test of time?

Cleaning or storing your art needs special precautions in order to keep it in top condition. You want to use the right solutions for cleaning it so that it doesn't do any harm to the paint or canvas or other background that holds the paint. And when storing your painting, for various reasons, it can be done so that it keeps it in the best possible shape so you can rehang it at a later date and it looks just as great as it did at its earlier showing.

Cleaning your Painting(s):

Why do you need to clean your painting? Well, to keep it in great condition!

Just like anything else in your home or office, it gets dusty and dirty from things that happen in your environment on a daily basis. 

Caution: If you are doing construction that involves sawing or sanding or anything that sends particles in the air, it would help your painting(s) to be taken down and put in a closet or an area where they can be shut away from that area where that activity is taking place. I will expand on how to store them under the Storing your Art for short periods area below.

For Paintings using Oil or Acrylic on Canvas: If it is a new painting, it is recommended, on a monthly basis, that you dust it using a feather duster that is only used for your painting(s). Or you can use a dry brush that is soft with fine bristles. Over time you may need to do a more thorough cleaning on your acrylic or oil painting. (Make sure you know what mediums were used on your painting when you purchase it.) You can use a very gentle soapy water (preferably an olive oil soap) and a white, clean cotton cloth.

Soak the cloth in this soapy water, then wring the cloth and gently run it across the surface of the painting. You do not want to soak the surface because it could loosen and break apart hardened paint. You can also use wetted Q-tips in crevasses but gently rules the day.

Over time, if your painting becomes really dirty, an art restorer may be needed.  Smoke, flaking paint or other factors need a professional. They know how to restore it without further destruction.

For Paintings Using Water-based Paints on Paper: Dust only with a dry, soft, fine brush. If stained, use caution to gently try lighten stain using a damp, wrung out, white cotton cloth. Again, gently wipe cloth over stain to avoid taking off any of the paint. 

How to Retighten a Canvas on its Stretcher Bars:

This happens over time and can be remedied quickly using the following method.

This method will not damage the painting. Canvas is a fabric and the weave of canvas can become loosened over time. This is a natural happening with canvas and should not worry you that your painting is defective.

Use a spray bottle filled with plain water and spray lightly the entire back of the painting. Then put the painting in the sun for several hours to dry thoroughly.

Storing Paintings:

Let me give you 2 important facts about canvas fabric.

1. It needs to breathe so it cannot be stored for large amount of times in an enclosed structure like a sealed box.

2. Stretched canvas retains any shapes and dings when something leans up against it and makes the canvas indent and stretch in or out with a different shape up against it.

When storing canvas paintings in a closet or room, you can store 2 identical-sized paintings, without frames, face-to-face in an open top mirror box if you have various sizes you need to stack there in various sized boxes. If you only have several paintings you need to stack in an area you can lean them against a wall without a box. Make sure that they are not leaning on a shape that can dings them.

If you are moving and need to pack them for storage or shipping, use a mirror box. Preferably double box the painting(s). Wrap a piece of cardboard around the painting, at least the same size as the painting. Put packing, preferably bubble wrap or paper between the cardboard wrapping the canvas and the outer box. (there is acid-free cardboard available)

Don't wrap the painting on canvas itself in bubble wrap or anything that can stick, indent or stab the canvas. If you can find some cardboard corners to put on the corners of your canvas, that is an extra protection. Just make sure they are the right size and don't indent into the canvas.

Another idea for canvas paintings on stretcher bars, especially if it is an expensive painting, is to have it taken off the stretcher bars and roll it up and put it in a box. I would recommend you go to a frame shop and let them take it off the stretchers for you and wrap it up in a roll to put in a container. When it gets to your destination you can go back to a frame shop to have it re-stretched.

When you own something that gives you so much pleasure, you want to protect it and keep it safe. I hope you have learned some information here to keep your cherished paintings in great shape for years to come.

 You can contact me if you have any other questions about your paintings.