So, you’ve chosen your images, selected your favourite print product, customized the finishes, and your gorgeous print is hanging up for all to see.
Now what?
We’re sure that you would love for your prints to last a lifetime, and with proper care and maintenance, you could get quite close.
There are a few things that you should know about caring for canvas prints and we have a few tips for you.
How do I keep it clean?
Firstly – and this is the most important thing to remember…
You should never use any solvents or detergents to clean your prints!
They will unfortunately destroy the fragile cotton of the canvas and will eat away at the ink that forms the print. Your print has also been treated with a UV protective coating that can break down if cleaned with chemicals.
Keeping your prints and artwork dust free can play a positive role in extending the life of the product. There are 2 easy tasks that you should include in your weekly cleaning routine:
- Regular dusting – using a duster won’t scratch the print and it is the best way to keep it dust free. We recommend taking the print down to clean it, or hold it with one hand while you dust with the other, so that it doesn’t get knocked off the wall accidentally. You should dust on a weekly basis (more often if possible).In humid areas (like our beloved Durban) the dust, along with moisture from the humidity, will make it grimy over time. If you don’t dust regularly then the layers of dust and moisture will build up and that becomes very difficult to remove without damaging the print.
- Wipe clean – this can be done as often as you remember, using a soft, scratch free cloth, that is slightly damp with water (remember, no solvents).
What do I need?
You do not need any fancy cleaning equipment or detergents to keep your prints looking clean and new. In fact, the simpler the better.
Duster
Any kind of duster will do – feather or synthetic.
Water
No detergents or solvents remember – just good ‘ol H2O.
Soft, non-scratch cloth
We highly recommend that you invest in a very soft, non-scratch cloth to use when cleaning your prints. We suggest the soft microfibre cloths that come in a variety of colours – you can purchase these from just about any general supermarket. They are reasonably priced considering how useful and long lasting they are. If you purchase a pack of 3 or 4 then it would be a great idea to reserve a specific colour for cleaning your prints. That way, you know that it doesn’t have detergents on it, and if it does get used with detergents then you can easily wash it for next time.
What else can I do?
There are a few other tips for you to keep in mind when caring for canvas prints, or any of our other awesome products.
- There really isn’t a ‘nice’ way to talk about this one so we’ll just get to the point. Gecko poop.
It is very acidic and will damage the canvas cotton and print over time. Those sneaky little critters love to chill out on top of, and behind, wall hangings so do semi regular checks and clean away any foreign objects that should not be attached to your print. - Avoid excessive exposure to the elements.
Majority of our products are made using wood which may swell and warp if exposed to intense heat and moisture over time. We recommend that the canvas and wood prints are kept away from the heated areas in kitchens, the moisture of bathrooms, and the ever changing elements outdoors. Our acrylic prints on the other hand are perfect for outdoors and they make beautiful splash backs in kitchens and bathrooms - Canvas needs to breath.
Don’t store prints in airtight containers such as plastic bags or behind glass. Moisture may become trapped inside causing damage to the image.
With these helpful tips you can prolong the life of your prints so that you can enjoy them for years to come.
All our love
xx
