Preserve the Beauty: How to Properly Clean Your Modern Canvas Wall Art
You may have dropped hundreds of dollars in buying your precious wall art, but there’s still one problem. You probably don’t have the best idea on how to maintain it and keep it clean. That’s the thing about art. If you want your investments to be worthwhile in the future, you’re going to need to work on keeping them tidy.
This is to help the longevity of your art. You’re going to want to keep it in pristine condition in order to keep it looking fresh. Fortunately for you, that’s exactly what we’ll be taking a look at in this guide today. So, without further ado, let’s quit yappin’, and get right into it. Trust us, after this, you’ll have the prettiest and sleekest looking art in town.
Understanding the canvas:
Before you head out to shop for cleaning supplies, take a breath and sit down. It’s not just about grabbing the nearest cloth and detergent and getting right to scrubbing. Modern art pieces are made up of linen or cotton, stretched out over a wooden canvas. This canvas is further primed and then coated with paint to construct your final piece of art.
It’s not just your regular old primary school drawings with crayons. You’re going to need to learn about the different components that help make up the art that you’re working with. This will help ensure that you don’t accidentally end up destroying your prized possession. Besides, there’s a certain sense of satisfaction one gets from taking care of their things properly.
Modern canvas wall art is usually a print of an image or artwork on canvas fabric, stretched over a wooden frame. It’s important to understand that it’s different from traditional oil or acrylic paintings, and requires slightly different care.
Materials You’ll Need
- Soft microfiber cloth
- Feather duster or soft-bristled brush
- Distilled water
- Mild dish soap (optional, for more stubborn stains)
- Dry, soft cloth
Step-by-Step Cleaning Guide For Modern Canvas.
- Dusting: Start by removing any loose dust or debris with a feather duster or a very soft brush. Be gentle and avoid using anything abrasive that could scratch the surface.
- Damp Cleaning: Lightly dampen your microfiber cloth with distilled water. Gently wipe the surface of the canvas in a circular motion, focusing on any obvious smudges. Avoid over-saturating the cloth – a little moisture goes a long way.
- Mild Soap (If Needed): For tougher stains, add a tiny drop of mild dish soap to your distilled water and create a sudsy solution. Apply sparingly with your damp microfiber cloth, using light pressure.
- Drying: Immediately blot the area completely dry with a separate, clean and soft cloth. It’s essential to ensure no moisture remains on the canvas to prevent warping.
Important Considerations
- Avoid Harsh Chemicals: Never use harsh cleaners, bleach, or abrasive scrubbing pads, which can damage the print and even the canvas itself.
- Test First: If using soap, always test a small, discreet area first to ensure it doesn’t cause discoloration.
- No Direct Sunlight: Hang your canvas wall art away from direct sunlight to prevent fading.
- Handle with Care: Avoid touching the surface of the canvas as much as possible, as the oils from our skin can leave marks.
Additional Tips
- Regular Dusting: Prevent dust buildup with regular, light dustings. This simple preventive measure can save you from needing deeper cleans as often.
- Temperature & Humidity: Keep your canvas art in a climate-controlled environment. Extreme fluctuations in temperature or humidity can cause the canvas to warp or become brittle.
Regular dusting:
You know what’s better than spending countless hours trying to repair your canvas? Preventing it from getting damaged in the first place. It’s actually insane how much money a person can save from just prevention over repair. A big problem when it comes to modern wall art pieces such as these is dust.
It accumulates over time and really just messes up the texture and color of your painting. Hence, making dusting a regular practice can really help ensure your wall art lasts the test of time. Using a soft microfibre cloth is ideal for this situation. You’re going to want to work your way down from top to bottom. That’ll help remove any unnecessary dust and ensure your artwork remains spotless.
Avoid harsh cleaning agents:
When it comes to cleaning your artwork, you’re going to want to stay away from anything too harsh. It’ll just end up messing with your painting. This could even result in some permanent damage. Plus, we all know that once an art piece gets permanently damaged, there’s really no value left in it.
You’re going to want to stick with lukewarm water and mild cleaning solutions. These will ensure that there are no unwanted spots left on your artwork. You could even add a small amount of dish soap, if you feel so inclined. It’s also pretty important to make sure to test the cleaning solution on another surface. This is to ensure that you’ve created the perfect mix to help make your modern wall art shine.
Gentle spot cleaning:
If you suddenly notice that your artwork has stubborn stains that don’t seem to be going away easily, don’t worry, we’ve got your back. The best way to deal with this is to take a damp cloth and mild cleaning solution. Remember, we never want to use anything too harsh. Then, you’re going to want to gently dab the affected surface.
It’s important to take your time with this. You never want to work on more than one small section at one time. Also, you don’t want to rub on the artwork’s surface too hard. Furthermore, you don’t want to accidentally end up tearing up a section of your artwork. It’s also important to use a dry cloth. This will help absorb any excess moisture that might be present on the surface of the painting.
An important thing to remember is that patience is the key to this whole process. You’re going to want to stay calm and keep on gently scrubbing. You’re also going to need to let the artwork completely dry before hanging it back up. The vertical orientation of the art might cause wet stains to drip down the canvas.
Dealing with mold and mildew:
Art is always susceptible to wear and tear. It’s especially prone to attacks from mold and mildew. If you do notice signs of mildew, it’s important to address it almost immediately. The first thing you’re going to want to do is create a solution with equal parts of both water and white vinegar. This is the first step toward ensuring the safety of your artwork.
Then, you’re going to want to dampen a cloth and rub it gently over the affected areas of your painting. It’s important to go slow with this to avoid any unnecessary wear and tear. You’re also going to want to make sure that the art is thoroughly dried before hanging it back up. Trust us, you don’t want to risk it.
Avoid direct sunlight and humidity:
You’re going to want to position your artwork away from direct sunlight. The thing is, exposure to prolonged sunlight can cause the colors on your artwork to fade. It can also cause the canvas to deteriorate. It’s also important to maintain a constant level of humidity in the room where your artwork is placed.
This will help protect your artwork from mold and mildew. Fluctuations in the humidity of the room can also cause your canvas to contract or expand. Too much activity like this can end with the canvas permanently stretching out. You definitely don’t want that to happen. It’s better to prevent things like these from happening in the first place.
Outro:
There you have it folks. That was an in depth guide on maintaining your modern canvas wall art and ensuring that it remains as spotless as the day you first brought it home! Be sure to check back for more guides like this in the future!
