Cleaning your frame

Wood finish frames may be cleaned with a gentle furniture dusting product like Endust applied to a soft cloth. Gold or silver leafed frames should be dusted with a dry soft cloth. Metal frames may be cleaned with a glass cleaner applied to a soft cloth.

Glass may be cleaned with glass cleaner. Glass may be cleaned with either cloth or paper but plexiglass should be cleaned only with a soft cloth and plexiglass cleaner. Cleaners should be applied to the cleaning cloth and NOT sprayed on the glazing as the rundown may stain the mat or the artwork.

The side of the glass on the inside of the frame should be cleaned and checked at least every 3-5 years. The frame must be disassembled to accomplish this cleaning. For most ordinary framed pieces this can be accomplished by you at a Do-it-Yourself frame shop in under an hour for a reasonable charge or , of course, the shop can do it for you. This procedure allows you to also check the condition of the hinging of the artwork, mats, the tightness of the corners of the frame, etc. More complicated pieces of work such as shadow boxes may require the attention of an experienced picture framer.

Hanging your picture

All frames (with the exception of those with sawtooth hanger or those hung from ceiling mouldings) should be hung with the use of picture hooks. Hanging picture from a nail allows the frame to more easily shift from level and increases the danger that the frame being knocked off the wall. Ideally the frame should be hung from two hooks.

In cases of very heavy frames or when mounting frames on brick or masonry walls, the use of moly screws or masonry hangers may be recommended. Hooks are available to be used with these types of hardware also.

Where to hang your frame

Picture frames are usually displayed at eye level. This is not a hard and fast rule, however, and consideration must be given to individual needs. Pictures that are planned to be hung inordinately high may require special consideration in the design of the matting to prevent optical illusion.

Paperborne art is not recommended to be hung in high humidity location such as bathrooms. Consideration must be taken of high airborne pollution locations such as kitchens (grease, cooking pollutants).

Direct sunlight is also to be avoided due to heat and ultraviolet light exposure considerations. Although over fireplaces is a popular place to hang art, consideration must be given to the factors of heat and soot possibly contaminating or damaging the artwork. Consult your framer in these cases. He or she may be able to recommend solutions to these problems.

Grouping your frames

There are no hard and fast rules for grouping a collection of frames. Frame groupings are generally classed in two forms, formal and informal.

While the formal grouping may look neater and tidier, informal grouping can be used to generate more interest, provide a flow from frame to frame or just be more asthetically pleasing.

However you hang your picture frame, remember that the pictures on your walls are generally the most predominant item that a visitor will see first. Consider your framed item as a piece of furniture. It will more than likely be around as long or longer than that couch or table. Insure that the quality and durability of your frame will stand up to the test of time.

Although your frame may seem expensive now, a quality custom picture frame will provide years of enjoyment and prove to be an economical investment.