Hanging wall art is one part of an office or home design that we rarely think to clean. We vacuum the couch more often than we consider washing the art. After all, who washes art? But over time, dust builds up on the edges of your frames and even the surface of the art itself may need cleaning. Glass-covered art is the easiest to clean because you only have to clean the frame, while washing a canvas painting is nerve-wracking and delicate work – especially if you’re trying to clean up a spatter spill from the break room.

We’re here with a few helpful step-by-step guides on how to clean the art in your office or home.

How to Clean a Glass-Covered Art Frame

Cleaning a covered frame merely requires wiping down the frame and the outside of the glass with a streak-free cleaner. This removes dust, fingerprints, and anything else that may have settled on the frame or the protective glass.

Supplies

• No-streak glass cleaner
• Cleaning cloth or paper towels

Steps

1. On the Wall
   1. Dust the frame from top to bottom
   2. Spray and polish the outer frame
   3. Spray and streak-free shine the glass panel
2. Off the Wall
   1. Remove the frame from the wall
   2. Place the frame on a padded work surface, or the carpeted floor
   3. Fully dust and wipe down the frame with a towel
   4. Polish and shine the frame and glass panel

Painted Canvas Without Damaging the Art

Cleaning exposed painted canvas is delicate work that depends, somewhat, on the type of painting. Most suggest dusting with a very soft brush and, when necessary, gently wiping with olive oil.

Supplies

• Soft-bristled canvas brush
• Bowl of olive oil
• Soft washcloth

Steps

1. Gently brush the painting from top to bottom to remove dust and grit
2. Damp a cloth in olive oil, not dripping just damp
3. Gently daub and wipe grime from the painting
4. Polish any frame the painting may have

How to Clean an Art Print Without Glass

Prints are a more approachable category of art. They are printed on large and often heavy paper to reflect a real painting or a famous commercial design. Keeping your prints clean is a simple matter of wiping them down with a cleaner that is just moist enough to clean, but not enough to wet the paper.

Supplies

• No-streak glass cleaner
• Cleaning cloth or paper towels

Steps

• Spray the cloth until it is damp, but not wet
• Gently wipe down the surface of the print
• Flip and wipe the off-side
• Polish any open-faced frame elements

Art Maintenance: Covered Frames and Regular Dusting

The best way to avoid having to meticulously clean a painted canvas is to protect your art with frames. Covered frames need dusting and polishing, but keep the prints and paintings safe inside. Regular dusting also reduces the possibility for that thick layer of grime to grow, keeping your office or home decor crisp and fresh every week.

• Regularly dust frames and gently dust the art surface
• Contain your art in covered frames, so the frame protects the art from dust and damage
• Clean spills near artwork immediately to minimise lasting damage
• Keep art cleaning supplies nearby for exposed canvases

Professional Cleaning Services and Your Artwork

If you don’t have time to gently brush each of your paintings or you need the art in your space cleaned regularly by experts, consider a professional cleaning service. Many offices that are beautifully decorated and designer homes hire a cleaning team to help maintian the beauty achieved through artwork and design.

Regional services proudly provide expert cleaning services to businesses throughout the London area. For more insights on facility maintenance or useful step-by-step cleaning guides, contact us today!