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Picture Frame Care: How to Clean and Maintain Custom Frames

Picture Frame Care: How to Clean and Maintain Custom Frames

Your custom frame was built to last. The right care keeps it looking sharp for years. A little cleaning, smart placement, and a quick check now and then are all it takes. This guide covers everything you need to know to protect your frame and the art inside it.

Cleaning the Glass or Acrylic

The clear cover on your frame picks up dust, fingerprints, and smudges over time. Here is how to clean it without causing damage.

If Your Frame Has Glass

  1. Grab a soft cloth (a lens-cleaning cloth works great)
  2. Spray glass cleaner onto the cloth, not onto the glass
  3. Wipe gently in small circles
  4. Go over it again with a dry cloth to remove streaks
  5. Do this every few weeks to keep dust from building up

If Your Frame Has Acrylic

  1. Use a cleaner made for acrylic, or mild soap and water
  2. Never use regular glass cleaner on acrylic (it can turn cloudy)
  3. Spray the cleaner onto a soft cloth, not onto the acrylic
  4. Wipe gently so you do not scratch the surface
  5. A dust-repelling spray helps keep dust away longer

What Not to Use

  • Window cleaner with ammonia on acrylic
  • Paper towels (they can leave tiny scratches)
  • Rough sponges or scrub pads
  • Too much liquid near the frame edges
  • Spray aimed right at the glass or frame

For more on the differences between glass and acrylic, see our glazing guide.

Cleaning the Frame Itself

Wood Frames

  1. Wipe with a soft, dry cloth to remove dust
  2. For sticky spots, use a cloth that is barely damp
  3. Dry right away with a clean cloth
  4. Keep water away from the finish
  5. For carved frames, use a soft brush to get into the grooves

Metal Frames

  1. Wipe with a dry soft cloth
  2. For fingerprints, use a slightly damp cloth
  3. Dry well so no water spots form
  4. A metal polish can help once in a while
  5. Stay away from strong chemicals

Painted or Coated Frames

  1. Dust with a soft, dry cloth
  2. Use very little water if needed
  3. Do not use rough cleaners
  4. Test any cleaner on a small hidden spot first
  5. Dry right after wiping

Where Light Can Hurt Your Art

Sunlight and bright indoor lights send out rays that break down color over time. Photos fade. Paper yellows. These changes are not fixable.

How to Limit the Damage

Start with the right glazing.
Framer's grade acrylic blocks 70 to 99 percent of the rays that cause fading. Premium glazing blocks 99 percent and is the best choice for art you care about most.

Pick your spot carefully.

  • Do not hang frames in direct sunlight
  • Walls next to a window (not across from it) get less sun
  • Use curtains or blinds to soften strong afternoon light
  • Move art to a new spot now and then if some sun is hard to avoid

Other things that help.

  • Light-filtering film on nearby windows
  • LED bulbs instead of halogen (LEDs give off less damaging light)
  • Watch for early signs of fading and act fast

Warning Signs of Light Damage

  • White mats or paper turning yellow
  • Colors in photos or prints getting lighter
  • Paper feeling stiff or crumbly
  • Frame finish changing color

If you see these signs, move the frame right away. You may also want to swap the glazing for something with better light protection.

Keeping Moisture and Heat in Check

Big swings in moisture and heat can warp frames, loosen joints, and harm artwork.

What Works Best

Room temperature: 65 to 75 degrees (normal room temp is fine)

  • Stay away from heating vents and air conditioners
  • Do not hang over a fireplace or heater

Moisture level: 40 to 50 percent (a basic room meter can tell you this)

  • Too dry: paper gets stiff, wood cracks
  • Too damp: mold grows, glue gives out, things warp

Spots to Stay Away From

  • Bathrooms (lots of steam and heat swings)
  • Kitchens (grease, steam, heat)
  • Basements (damp, mold risk)
  • Attics (too hot in summer, too cold in winter)
  • Right above a fireplace
  • Next to a door that opens outside (drafts and temperature shifts)

If Your Weather Changes a Lot

  • Run a humidifier in winter when the heat dries the air
  • Use a moisture remover in sticky summers
  • Check your frames each season for warping or loose corners
  • Make sure air can move around the frame (do not push it flat against the wall)

Hanging Your Frame the Right Way

Use the Right Hardware

  • Frames over 20 pounds need wall anchors or studs
  • Match the hook to the weight of the frame
  • Use two hooks for big frames so the weight spreads out
  • Make sure everything is tight before you let go

Keep It Level and Secure

  • Use a level when you hang so the frame sits straight
  • Check your hooks once a year to make sure nothing has loosened
  • In earthquake-prone areas, use quake putty or wire for extra hold

Good Spots for Frames

  • Inside walls away from windows
  • Rooms with steady temperature
  • Walls that do not get direct sun
  • Places where frames will not get bumped

Bad Spots for Frames

  • Damp or wet walls
  • Walls with leaks or water stains
  • Busy spots where people brush against them
  • Rooms with big temperature swings

When It Is Time to Reframe

Even the best frames need a refresh after enough years. Here is how to tell.

Things That Show Wear

  • Cracked or broken glass or acrylic
  • Corners that are loose or pulling apart
  • Mat board that is warped, stained, or fading
  • Backing that is torn or falling off

Times to Upgrade

  • Your old frame used cheap materials that are breaking down
  • You want to add better glazing for more protection
  • The mat board is touching the art (it should not be)
  • The frame style no longer fits your room

When the Art Deserves Better

  • You have a piece worth protecting with stronger glazing
  • You want to switch from glass to acrylic (or the other way around)
  • You want to add a mat or change the mat color
  • The frame was not built to last and it shows

Making Your Frames Last for Years

For Art That Really Matters

  1. Use long-lasting mat board and backing
  2. Choose framer's grade acrylic or premium glazing
  3. Take a photo of each frame and keep your order info
  4. Think about insuring high-value pieces
  5. For very special art, hire a pro for cleaning

Once-a-Year Check

Look at your frames once a year for:

  • Loose corners or joints
  • Cracks in the glass or acrylic
  • Mats that have changed color
  • Moisture or mold behind the frame
  • Hardware that feels loose
  • Any sign of bugs or pests

Fix small problems early before they get worse.

Storing Frames Safely

If you need to put a frame away for a while:

  1. Clean it first
  2. Wrap it in soft paper or bubble wrap
  3. Stand it up on its edge, never lay it flat (flat storage can cause warping)
  4. Store in a room with steady temperature (not an attic or basement)
  5. Keep away from moisture and heat
  6. Do not stack frames on top of each other

Quick List: Do This, Not That

Do This

  • Dust frames often with a soft cloth
  • Use the right cleaner for your glazing type
  • Keep frames out of direct sun
  • Keep the room at a steady temperature and moisture level
  • Check frames once a year for problems
  • Use strong enough hooks and hardware

Not That

  • Spray cleaner right on the glass or frame
  • Use ammonia cleaners on acrylic
  • Hang in bathrooms, kitchens, or damp spots
  • Put frames in direct sunlight
  • Ignore cracks, loose corners, or fading
  • Use rough cloths or scrub pads

Questions? We Are Here to Help

If you are not sure how to care for a frame, or if something does not look right, reach out. Contact us at hello@custompictureframes.com or call 1 (800) 916-8770. We are happy to walk you through it.

To design a new frame or replace one that has seen better days, visit our frame designer.