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How To Care for Paintings
 
Visit any art museum and you will discover paintings that are centuries old. They have been well cared forthrough proper cleaning, appropriate lighting levels, and temperature and humidity control. You do not have tolive in a museum to own fine works of art that will remain in superb condition and last for years. Paintingsnaturally change in time, but the following easy steps will help you care for your paintings and keep themlooking like new for many years to come.
Step 1:
Install a backing board to stretch canvas paintings
. Stretch canvas paintings are usually open in the back,and the opening can cause works of art to be affected by the environment, crack, flake, and age more quickly.Care for a painted work of art by having a backing board professionally attached to the frame. The backingboard will prevent the infiltration of air, dust, dirt, and debris. The back of a painting does not requireventilation, and it is best protected if it is completely sealed. 
Step 2:
Hang securely to prevent damage.
 
One of the most common ways in which painted works of art aredamaged is through improper hanging. A hanger or nail in a wall can give way, and a painting that is notproperly outfitted with a wire hanger can fall to the floor. Care for paintings before they are ever hung byalways using double-braided wire instead of other types of hangers. In addition, securely attach the braidedwire to the frame around the painting rather than the frame the canvas is stretched around. Instead of ordinarynails, hang painted works of art on mounting hooks that are anchored into the wall and can hold more than theweight of the framed painting. When properly outfitted with hardware and hung on secure hooks, painted andframed works of art will never fall off walls and become irreparably damaged.
Step 3:
Take care by maintaining proper humidity.
 
Humidity fluctuations can damage paintings and wood frames.Proper care is essential, and it is important to continually maintain low humidity. Fifty percent humidity is idealfor displaying and storing paintings. Most of all, avoid suddenly changing the level of humidity. Surprisingly,great fluctuations in humidity are far more damaging than storing paintings in less than ideal humid locations. 
Step 4:
Control all types of lighting.
 
Natural as well as artificial lighting can be hot and can damage painted works of art and frames. Maintain care by keeping paintings away from sunny windows or bright sources of artificiallight. Also, do not use wall-mounted lights typically used for displaying and highlighting paintings. The bulbsbecome hot, and when placed too close to works of art or even the frames, paintings can become extremely dryand eventually damaged. Instead of using potentially dangerous lighting, take care by opting for recessed
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