How to Protect Your Works of Art from Harm

Guest post from Lisa Roberts

Purchasing a piece of art comes with great responsibility. It is something valuable, beautiful and not to mention a rather expensive investment.That is why you must do everything in your power to ensure its long lifespan. You must take into account that almost anything can affect your precious belongings, whether they are sculptures, paintings, porcelains or something else. So, once the artwork has been installed into your new home, your job is only beginning. Luckily, there are some simple rules that must be followed and some basic precautions you can take to make sure that your art is going to look pristine for generations to come. So, without further ado, here are some simple tips that can help you protect your works of art from harm.

Art makes life more beautiful. Keep it safe and protected from any harm.

Proper Hanging
Hanging your works of art must be done appropriately. And, this applies to paintings, photos and even sculptures or some objects that you would like to hang on the wall. You must take several things into account. First, consider the size and the weight of the work of art as well as its frame. Also, you must choose the appropriate wall for hanging, as not all walls have enough strength for supporting the weight. Then, you must think about its setup. Ideally, two eye hooks should be mounted on the back of the frame and connected with a sturdy wire. Remember that heavy items need a bit more preparation before hanging them on the wall. So, secure them with nails and hang them on your strongest walls. And, last but not least, keep them high! Children and pets do not go along well with the artwork. Little hands and waving tails can do a lot of damage to the pieces as well as hurt themselves if something falls.

Hanging your works of art appropriately is the first step towards their longevity.

Mind the Temperature
Whether you are planning to leave your artwork in your home or pack it for storage, you must take temperature into consideration. If you want to store it, it would be best if you would hire professional art crating service providers in NYC and get a climate-controlled storage facility. The same goes for leaving your artworks at home. Extreme temperatures are a big no-no! The ideal temperature is between 21 – 24 degrees Celsius. Also, you should avoid placing your artwork in places that are prone to fluctuations in temperatures, moisture, and humidity. Moreover, avoid places with direct sunlight as light can really make a lot of damage to paintings and sculptures. The same goes for places close to air conditioning units, radiators, fireplaces, and air vents.

The golden rule for protecting your works of art: keep them away from humidity and sunlight!

How to Clean Your Works of Art
Every piece of art is different. And every piece of art requires a different cleaning technique. It is of key importance to educate yourself before you start investing in expensive art. Whether you are a collector, investor, or just somebody who likes nice things when it comes to home decor, you must keep your art clean and protected. So, here is something to have in mind:

• Cleaning Acrylic Paintings – They are the easiest to maintain as they can be cleaned with a dry rag or a duster. Acrylic paintings are dry and have a smooth surface which is why you should never use any water or cleaning products. A simple dry rag is all you need.
• Cleaning Oil Paintings – They have a thicker pigment and use oil as the soluble. Because of that, they need four to six days to dry just on the surface, and a couple of months to dry completely. However, the surface is always going to be sticky and a dust magnet. So, the best way to clean oil paintings is to use damp rag or cloth and gently rub over the surface. Also, many experts use masking tape or a piece of white bread. They will collect the dust and leave the oil surface intact.
• Cleaning Sculptures – Whether metal, glass, wooden, or ceramic sculptures, the only thing you need to do is some dusting. Bear in mind that glass is extremely fragile so it should be handled with utmost care. Wooden objects should be away from any source of humidity and fire. However, metal objects are a bit trickier. As the years pass, metal surfaces usually change color or rust. You cannot prevent that. The only thing you can do is polish it from time to time with an appropriate polish or take it to a professional who knows how to handle art.
• Cleaning Framed Art – This usually includes drawings or printed photos framed with glass. And you should clean it as any other glass or mirror. A glass cleaning liquid and a soft fiber cloth are all you need.

A clean arrangement of elegantly mounted and framed photographs.

How to Store Your Works of Art
Sometimes storing our works of art is necessary, especially when it comes to moving. If you plan on storing them for a longer period of time, you have to make sure that everything is stored in a proper manner. So, here are some tips for storing:

• Bubble wrap is your best friend – it will keep the artwork from getting damaged as well as getting dirty. Use it for sculptures, and framed pieces.
• Silicone paper – use it for unframed pieces. A single silicone sheet should be placed on top of the canvas and secured with tape.
• Mind the temperature – It is never a good idea to store your artwork in attics, basements or garages. Those places are prone to sudden temperature changes and might damage the pieces. It is best to store your items in climate controlled facilities. The ideal temperature is 21-24 degrees Celsius, and the ideal humidity is around 55%.
• Never stack the artworks – Paintings and sculptures should never be stacked or placed one on top of the other. Every piece must stand on its own.

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Lisa Roberts has been engaged in writing blog articles for the last 7 years.  She started off her career in the moving industry and today, her range of topics spans from moving across the globe to everyday lifestyle tips, traveling, marketing and software-related news, etc. In her spare time, Lisa enjoys running, reading books and spending time with her dogs Lue and Sill. As a great lover of life, she finds something practical and useful in every experience, which contributes to her portfolio as well.