Keeping your Wall Art Sparkling Clean
You never really think about it, but wall art does need to be cleaned periodically. It can take a lot of time and effort, but if you take a methodical approach to this task it will be done in a snap.
If you have a lot of fine art in your home, then you should use a great deal of care when you clean it. Depending on the type of artwork that you have, you will use different methods to clean it. Before you begin cleaning your artwork, make sure that you have then necessary tools available to complete your task.
You may need a small stepladder to reach the top of large wall art or a grouping of artworks. You can use a long handled broom or duster, and you may need wax or products to polish the surface of your artwork.
Anytime that you are cleaning a piece of art whether it is hanging on the wall or standing on its own, clean it from the top down. This way you will not have dust or debris settling on parts of the artwork that you just cleaned. If you start cleaning from the bottom, you will be knocking dust onto the portions of artwork that you have already cleaned. So respect gravity and clean from top to bottom.
Use a long handled duster to knock down cobwebs or dust from the top of your piece of wall art. Then you can continue down your artwork dusting as you go.
Make sure to follow directions on any special cleaning solutions that you use on your wall art. Many commercial cleaners have chemicals that can ruin your artwork by causing a chemical reaction with the finish. If you have rust forming on a piece of music metal artwork or any metal wall art, you can use a piece of steel wool doused with a little kerosene or turpentine. Simply rub the rust spot gently, though a little elbow grease may be required on tougher spots.
After removing any rust spots from your art, you can add a thin coat of wax to the surface. Adding wax will help to protect it from moisture, and it should prevent it from any further rusting. Many wrought iron pieces are already coated with rust-preventing paint that seals the piece from moisture. When you are cleaning any piece of metal art, stay away from any water based cleaning products, or you may cause further rusting.
To properly maintain your wall art you should periodically clean and dust them. By keeping them dust free, you ensure that hey will look great for many years to come. Generally speaking, you do not want to polish or use any cleaning solution on a piece of art unless absolutely necessary.
