Maintaining Your Framed Art

• Avoid hanging or storing your framed art in damp areas.  It is important to maintain a stable temperature and humidity.  A relative humidity of 50% and a temperature between 68° and 75°F are ideal.  External walls should be avoided as they tend to change temperature rapidly, stressing the framed art.
  
  
• Do not hang framed art in direct sunlight or on a wall directly opposite windows.
  
  
• Rather than aiming spotlights directly at your framed art, redirect the lights so that light bounces off of another surface to the art.
  
  
• Use filters on all flourescent lights.
  
  
• Display framed art in the lowest lighting conditions that still allow good color perception.  Museums generally use 5 to 15 foot-candles of lighting.  This is generally equal the lighting required for comfortable reading.
  
  
• Swap out framed art regularly so work is never on view for long periods of time.  As an alternative, periodically rotate framed art between lighter rooms and darker rooms.  This will also provide a fresh perspective on the framed art.
  
  
• Do not hang framed art over radiators, central air registers, or fireplaces.  This can cause condensation and rapid temperature changes within the frame.  Fireplaces release soot and gummy residues that can also damage framed art.
  
  
• Dust the frame regularly, including the back dust covers.  Inspect for damage.
  
  
• When cleaning the glass of your framed art, never spray any cleaner directly onto the glass.  Cleaning solutions, if they work their way into the frame, can spike humidity levels and may permanently damage your artwork.  Instead, apply the cleaner to a cloth and wipe the class clean.
  
  
• Heavier frames should be hung from the two vertical legs instead of by a wire stretched across the back of the frame.  This helps prevent the frame from pulling apart under it's own weight.
  

Framed art should be opened and inspected every five years.  This ensures that the artwork is being fully protected and preserved, and allows an opportunity to clean the inside of the glass.  Framing technology is constantly improving.  Framed art of monetary or sentimental value should be reframed regularly, upgrading mats, mounts and glass to take advantage of the latest in framing knowledge and technology.

Following these tips, your framed art from Ben Franklin Crafts & Frames will be well-preserved and will be a joy for years to come!