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Deck the Walls Deck the Walls From "Talking Dirty With the Queen of Clean" episode DQOC-129

Figure A

It has been said that art is the expression of the immortal part of man; that art is what you can get away with; that art is love. Not only does that seem like a lot of responsibility hanging on our walls, but as mysterious and beautiful as art is, it still gets dirty. And because art can be both valuable and fragile, tidying up a masterpiece can be a little tricky. To learn how to take care of treasured works of art, we are looking over the shoulders of a master to see how he preserves the works of art entrusted to his care (figure A). Not only will we get preservation tips to use at home, we'll also learn how to hang art correctly.

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But first some questions:

Q: How can I straighten out a print that has become wrinkled under glass?

A: Remove the print from the glass and lay it on an ironing board. Place several layers of paper towels over the print and press with a medium-hot iron. Allow the print to cool before putting it back in the frame; cooling prevents condensation from forming under the glass.

Q: How do you preserve and display fine artwork?

A: Display prints and photos with a backing of acid-free paper, available at stationary, craft and art stores. Showcase pottery and glass pieces in glass cases to help protect them from dust. When cleaning glass art, always spray cleaning agents on a cloth; never spray directly on the glass.

Figure B

Q: What is the best way to remove stains from a gilt frame?

A: Never use water to clean a gilt frame, use milk instead. The oil properties in the milk work as a cleaner for the stain. Use a soft cloth and wipe gently; never rub a gilt frame (figure B). Foam brushes, cotton swabs and old, soft toothbrushes can be used to work on persistent stains in intricate areas.

Q: What can be used to clean grease from wood frames?

A: Grease removes grease and oil removes oil. Put a small amount of petroleum jelly on a cloth, gently rub over the stain and buff. Not only does this clean the frame, it shines it also. Clean the glass with rubbing alcohol sprayed onto a cloth.

Frame Cleaning Tips

• If you use a liquid cleaner, apply it to a cloth instead of the frame. Spraying the glass may allow liquid to get under the glass and damage the artwork.

• Painted frames can be easily cleaned with water on a damp cloth or a dampened microfiber cloth.
  

  Figure C

• Art cleaning kits should include small brushes, which are great for those hard-to-get-at areas. Camel-hair brushes, available at art-supply stores, are great for dusting intricately carved frames; lightly but thoroughly brush the crevices of the frame until you've removed all dust and debris (figure C).

• Use rubbing alcohol to clean metal frames. Apply the alcohol to a soft cloth, then wipe down the frame. Alcohol is a solvent that will remove sticky marks from metal frames; it also dries quickly and will give the frame a brilliant shine.

• Clean tarnished brass with a mixture of lemon juice and salt, after testing first to see how the brass reacts to the mixture. The combination of citric acid and the abrasive salt removes tarnish as well as fingerprints. Rinse and dry thoroughly. This cleaning method is not recommended for brass-plated
  frames.
  

  Figure D

• Oil is a natural polish for wood or wood and mixed-metal frames. Lay the frame on an absorbent towel, pour a small amount of lemon or olive oil on a soft cloth and clean the frame in small sections (figure D). Buff off excess oil.

Tip: If you are storing photos in a book or box, place them between layers of acid-free paper to preserve the quality of the pictures.