Your canvas prints or paintings are obviously valuable to you, hence you’re searching for the best way to clean them. Whether it’s a photographic canvas print, a reproduction or a painting, when looked after correctly they will last you a lifetime.
Can canvas prints be cleaned? The good news is that canvas prints and paintings can be cleaned. The general advice is to use a clean, lint free white cloth and mild soapy water. Never use harsh chemicals, cleaning products and don't submerse or soak the print in water.
Sometimes canvas prints and paintings have been passed down through the generations and you want to be able to do the same. Maybe you’ve inherited some old artworks and they need bringing back to life. Perhaps it’s a piece you’ve created and you want it to stay in the best condition possible. Even if it’s a less expensive piece of wall art, it’s still worth cleaning and looking after so it looks it’s best in your home.
But depending on the severity, type of staining or dirt, the canvas material itself and the inks or paints used, can require a different cleaning approach.
Does the Type of Canvas Make a Difference?
Canvas is a broad term, it’s not a material in itself. Many people assume that canvas is made from..well, canvas! The term actually refers to any material stretched over a frame.
But in the art and photographic world there are common materials used. If you have a photographic print it will be either be a cotton canvas, polyester or cotton/polyester blend.
A reproduction will be the same, as an art print is made via a high quality photograph being taken of the original work then printed.
If it’s an original, it will be a linen or cotton canvas. Linen is more expensive, but for many artists it’s the better quality. Also different weaves are used, finer weaves for the fine detailed work and rougher weaves for broad brush strokes.
Many artists will also prime the canvas with “gesso”, a mixture of plaster of Paris, glue and chalk or pigment.
It’s interesting to understand the different canvases, but it’s really the paint or ink that’s used to create and print the image that is being cleaned, or as many paintings are sealed, you will only be wiping the sealant and not the ink or paint itself.
Of course, this all depends on the condition and age of the sealant. Abstract art may not completely cover all the canvas in paint, and if a sealer hasn’t been used, then you’re left cleaning the naked canvas.
So how does this affect the cleaning of these canvas prints?
Fortunately one size fits most requirements. As mentioned, mild soapy water with a clean white, non-abrasive cloth is the safest method. Make sure to give the print a dusting and don’t go scrubbing hard or any circular motions. Simply lightly wipe in one direction from one side to the other.
If you have a painting, this may need an alternative approach. Here's a video from a fine art restoration company demonstrating the professional way to clean a fine art painting.
Cleaning Your Print or Painting
The safest methods for cleaning your print
Now you understand about canvas and the best general way to clean your prints, but there can be dirt or stains that are stubborn or aren’t as straightforward to remove. Some will require specialist cleaning. But it’s always a good idea to test on a small inconspicuous area or edge first.
Dust - Providing it hasn’t been sitting on the print for years, a simple dusting is all that’s needed. Use a soft feather duster and simply brush over.
Another method is to use a vacuum cleaner. Make sure the brush attachment is really soft though, don’t go using something with hard bristles. Again, take it easy, pressure isn’t needed.
Mould - every art owners nightmare and rightly so. It can be removed, but there are a few factors to take into consideration. You need to know the type of print or painting you are dealing with.
Prints aren’t too bad, you may be able to clean these yourself using a light bleach free disinfectant.
Spraying the print will kill the surface mould without affecting the surface beneath. You will need to spray first before wiping the print.
Once you’ve sprayed a couple of times, allowing the print to dry off, don’t start wiping while it’s wet. Kill the mould first before cleaning.
As it dries the mould will become crumbly and you can use a soft brush to remove it. You may need to use some soapy water and a cloth as suggested if there are any stubborn patches.
For getting rid of mould on paintings you will first need to determine if it was created using oils, acrylic or watercolour. Each of these mediums have different characteristics and need to be treated differently.
Oils are extremely durable but can have adverse reactions to certain chemicals.
Acrylics are water soluble, so care is needed as they can be damaged if wet. Some acrylic painting may have a protective varnish.
Watercolours as the name suggests are water based, so not a great idea getting them wet.
There is information on the Internet suggesting various means for cleaning mould from paintings, but I’d be very wary. Some of the information isn’t well researched and just because it worked for one person it may not be the best solution for you.
Rather than regurgitate bad advice, Id suggest contacting a professional art restoration service.
Nicotine - smoke residue from cigarettes can build up on a canvas print, but fortunately it can be removed. It’s the same process of using soapy water and either a clean white, non-abrasive cloth or a cotton swab. Gently wipe the print, but have some clean or distilled water to rinse with. Keep an eye on the rag, when you see it getting yellow time to use a clean portion.
How Often Should You Clean a Canvas Print?
So you’ve managed to bring your print back from the dead! Or you’ve recently acquired a print and you’re wondering if regular cleaning will help prolong it’s longevity.
The less you need to touch the print the better. There’s no need to clean it at regular intervals, as long as it’s kept dusted so build up doesn’t occur, this should be the only cleaning required.
Exceptions would be if there are smokers in the house, or the print is subject to high humidity and the possibility of it being affected by mould. In this case, just keep an eye on it and when necessary you may only need to clean small areas as they occur.
Taking Care of Your Canvas Print
Apart from regular dusting and the odd spot clean, there are things you can do to minimise the need for any cleaning.
Canvas prints usually fair reasonably well in higher humidity areas. This is due to the inks used as well as a protective coating being applied, and unlike paintings where the paint is applied on top of the canvas, prints can absorb the ink better depending on the ink used. But, make sure there is good airflow around the back of the print. Next to metal and acrylic, canvas prints can be a decent choice for bathrooms. But they are still canvas, so making sure they don’t get wet is crucial.
Kitchen areas are alright providing they’re not subject to steam or grease in the air. You may have noticed when cleaning your kitchen how grease build up can occur in places that aren’t even that close to the stove.
Keep the frames clean and keep an eye on the stretcher bars, as mould can occur here first before you notice it on the print.
Using a clear varnish, or as already mentioned an epoxy resin, is the ultimate in protecting the front of the print. Again a disclaimer, seek professional advice before trying this on a painting.
Avoid the print being in direct sunlight, this will fade it over time unless you have it mounted behind a UV protected glass.
Some Different ( But Not Necessarily Recommended ) Ways to Clean a Canvas Print
Here’s some less usual ways that people have used to clean their prints, I’m just putting out there, it’s entirely up to you if you’re willing to give these methods a shot.
Maybe you could try them out on a print that’s already ruined or one you’re not bothered about. If you do, please leave a comment and let me know if it worked or not.
Olive oil based soap - use instead of a mild detergent with a clean cloth.
White Bread - I prefer wholemeal myself! Apparently white bread can be used to remove nicotine staining. Being slightly acidic, you simply rub the bread over the painting and it absorbs the nicotine.
Vinegar - mix one part vinegar to three parts water. I really have no idea what type of vinegar as I couldn’t find any further information on this. If the bread and vinegar doesn’t work, you can always make a chip butty!
Magic Eraser - There’s a few different manufactures of magic erasers, but the one to get apparently is Mr Clean Magic Eraser. Again, I didn’t find any case examples of people using or having success with this.
Final Thoughts
I did a lot of research for this article, and the take-away for me is really just try the soapy water and clean cloth approach, preferably on an inconspicuous area.
If that doesn’t work and you’re not overly attached to the print, maybe try another cleaning method.
Often art stores will stock products for cleaning canvas, so they’re definitely worth contacting for advice.
Some artworks can be worth a lot of money and can be a valuable heirloom. If this is the kind of print you’re looking at cleaning, probably the best and safest option is seek professional advice.
In my travels around the Internet, I did come across authoritative sites that are professional art cleaners, so here's a handy link to check out.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Can You Frame Canvas Prints?
Canvas prints can come rolled, mounted or as a wrap, but each type can be framed. There's also a good choice of framing options & styles. Learn more ..
Can You Hang Canvas Prints in the Bathroom?
Canvas prints are more susceptible to moisture, but this doesn't mean they can't be used in the bathroom. There are ways to hang & protect your print in high humidity areas. Learn more ..
If you're looking for a huge range of canvas wall art, I highly recommend checking out CanvasFreaks.com
You can learn why I only recommend certain companies here.
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