The best way to clean and care for your painting

As time goes by it's inevitable that your painting hanging on the living room wall will start to accumulate dust. So what is the best way to keep your work of art looking as fresh as the day you painted it?

The easiest way to clean up any oil or acrylic painting on canvas or canvas board is simply by using a white cotton cloth soaked in water with a little soap. Start by rubbing the cloth over the surface of the painting to gently remove any dust and grime. If your painting style is quite thick (impasto 🧑‍🎨 ) be careful not to rub too hard and break off any lumps and bumps.

We've put together a simple step-by-step guide on how to clean your canvas here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KwDvWy3AjuE

For works on paper, if the paint is non-water based, gently rubbing a white cotton cloth over the painting should be enough to remove any dust and grime that has gathered on the surface.

If the surface of the canvas has sagged a little from the stretcher, the easiest way to tighten it up again is by spraying a little water onto the back of the canvas. As the water dries, the canvas will contract back to how it was when you painted it.

The steps above should help with cleaning the majority of paintings. If however, you have something a little more delicate or the painting is damaged and in need of repair, it could be worth contacting a local art restorer who should be able to advise on how to help.

Hopefully this has helped you restore your paintings to their former colourful glory!