4 Tips to Protect Your Picture Frame



Posted: Thursday, October 01, 2009

by Autumn Lockwood
YourPictureFrames.com

There are many ways your picture frame could be damaged that you may not even think about. This article will explain how to protect both your picture frames and photos from damage.

#1: Avoid Direct Sunlight-

The sun's UV rays can cause a lot of damage to your picture by causing it and the picture frame to fade. Keeping your frame and picture away from direct sunlight is the best way to avoid sun-related damage. Sun will not only degrade your favorite photo but will also damage the color of your frame. Be especially careful of wood frames that are stained or painted in just about any color from solid cherry to bright blue or white picture frames.

If you can't prevent your picture frame from getting direct sunlight, you can help minimize the risk by using glass or acrylic with a UV coating. Just keep in mind that this will only help reduce the UV exposure to the photo.

#2: Avoid Moist Areas-

Moisture is one of the biggest enemies of any picture and frame. Any place where there is moisture, you want to use caution in displaying any photo or piece of artwork. Kitchens and bathrooms are two good examples of areas where you should be careful of hanging picture frames.

If you photo frame has a sealed back, moisture can be trapped inside and often cause serious damage to your picture. This is something to be aware of with custom frames as custom framers seal the backs of with paper to keep out dust but trap in moisture. Most ready-made picture frames on the other hand are designed to allow the photograph to breathe inside the frame.

Another form of moisture is humidity. Humidity can cause a lot of damage to your photographs and picture frames. This problem is very common in areas with high humidity. The problem with humidity is it can cause the picture to absorb moisture and then stick to the glass. Any photo that adheres to glass is likely ruined as the photo emulsion will be peeled off when you try to remove it. In order to avoid this problem, you should use a mat or spacer that creates an air space so the picture can't stick to the glass.

#3: Use Protective Material When Storing or Moving

Never stack photo frames on top of each other without some type of protection when cleaning or transporting them. Some frames can be easily scratched and scratches can be hard, if not impossible, to erase. Wrapping your picture frames in protective packaging, like towels or bubble wrap, will protect them (and the picture they hold) from damage when they need to be packed or moved.

#4: Use Caution with Spray Cleaners-

This should be standard procedure, but many people have ruined irreplaceable memories by not thinking about the damage that can be done by using spray cleaners. The spray cleaner can cause moisture damage to your photo and permanently damage the surface of your photograph. To avoid this problem, all you have to do is remove your photo from the frame before cleaning. But if you don't want to remove your photo, then be extra careful and only dust your frame with a slightly dampened towel.

Remembering these four helpful tips will ensure that your pictures stay protected and your picture frames continue to look their best for years.

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Autumn Lockwood is a writer for YourPictureFrames.com and is passionate about picture frames, hiking and photography. Your Picture Frames offers a large selection of quality picture frames. If you're looking for white picture frames call us toll free at 1-800-780-0699 or visit us on our website.
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