Picture Frame Maintenance

So you’ve made your lifetime investment into a beautifully made custom frame for your timeless photograph, or personal treasure. You know your frame will last you for years to come – but you want to make the most out of it. Frame maintenance is easy to overlook, but vital for the longevity of your piece.

Preventing Deterioration

You can prevent deterioration of your frame and your piece by hanging it out of direct sunlight. Try to keep the room it’s hung in well-ventilated – this will reduce the effects of humidity, and help to prevent issues such as sticking, mould and damage to paint.

Why Maintenance Is Needed

No matter how well-kept your space is, your quality custom frame will over time gather dust, cobwebs, and insects like anything else in your home. Though a quick dusting will keep the glass looking clean, the frame may become sticky after repeated moisture exposure, and requires a firm wipe-over with a soft cotton ball and a material-appropriate solvent. You can get into the little crevices and corners with a cotton bud.

How To Clean Up Timber Frames

A timber frame will gain back its like-new glow and shine with a wipe of orange oil. Orange oil is extracted from the skins of oranges, is a pale golden colour which intensifies the tones of wood and smells wonderfully fresh, too. You will see dirt you didn’t know was there suddenly wipe away, leaving a lovely polish. It can also help to protect the wood from moisture.

Gilt Or Painted Frame Maintenance

A gilt or painted frame, if you have one, should be cleaned gently with cotton balls and buds and isopropyl alcohol. This will dissolve any grime or dust while not eroding the frame’s coating, which is important to the appearance of the frame.

Cleaning Framing Glass

Glass can be wiped over with a clean microfibre cloth to remove any dust or cobwebs, but in the event of sticky fingers leaving smudges and prints, a glass or lens cleaner is the best option. Spray onto a paper towel or microfibre cloth and swipe in circles to reduce the chance of streaks.

Mat Board Maintenance

Mat board, the surface on which the image rests, may need replacement after a few years, especially in our Queensland climate, in which mat boards withstand much heat and humidity. If you have any questions about your frame or what maintenance it requires, let us know. We’re available to answer enquiries from our contact page, where you can get in touch with us via email or phone.