January cleaning

It's January, and if you're like me, you've been cleaning out those closets and doing home repairs. If I had the time or energy, I'd repaint my living room, get rid of half of my furniture, and redecorate the place. But since that's not about to happen either, I can do what most of the home decor magazines tell me to do: reaccessorize. Usually, they tell you to update a room with new throw pillows.

What I've been doing instead is taking an art inventory- I've moved some of the photographs and watercolors I have to freshen up various rooms. I've reframed a few pieces and added some new ones so I literally don't have to stare at the same four walls again!

After the holidays, most home furnishing stores have great frame sales so pick up up a few if you can. And remember when you're doing your winter and spring cleaning to properly clean the art you have in your home.

Dust wipes are great for cleaning your fine art. They get rid of dust and fingerprints. Avoid using feather dusters as the feathers can get inside the art if it’s not sealed properly. Also, never wipe glass or Plexiglas (or your eyeglasses for that matter!) with paper towels as they can scratch the surface. Make sure anything you use is nonabrasive. For Plexiglas, use a quality plastic cleaner.

NEVER spray any cleaner directly on the glass or frame of any artwork. The liquid can seep inside and cause damage to the mat and artwork.
If you must use a cleaner, put it on a cloth first and then wipe it on the surface.

If your work is highly valuable, don’t attempt to clean the art yourself. Find a good local conservator with a lot of experience. It’s not worth making a mistake.