How to Care For Your Photos and Frames in Two Easy Steps

If you have picture frames in your house, chances are good that you may not know how to properly care for them. Find out what you need to do to protect your pictures forever and how to keep your picture frames looking good for years.Creating Duplicates of Your Important PhotosOne of the most important things you can do when it comes to caring for your photos, is to make sure you have a way to create a duplicate of your most important photos.With digital cameras, it's easy to take and print photos whenever you want.But what about your old photos displayed on your walls or table tops?Do you know where you keep all of your negatives, slides or CDs stored in case you need to replicate them? Those special one-of-a-kind photographs require high quality replication to help make sure that you never lose your photo memories.There are several ways to make copies of your special pictures, but it's best to seek the help of a professional who will ensure your photos are properly replicated without damaging your photos.Clean Your Picture Frames OftenLike any other object in your home or office, picture frames do collect dust and need to be dusted periodically.  The best way to do that is to place a thick towel on a flat surface and lay the picture frame face down on the towel. This will help to protect the frame and the glass from getting scratched.  Next, remove the backing and carefully take out the picture.Once you have opened the back of the frame and taken out the photo, you can lift out the glass from the frame. You can now clean the glass with any glass cleaner.Remember if it's acrylic you should only use soap and water as glass cleaner will ruin the acrylic.You should also use cloth towels with acrylic because paper towels can leave behind fine scratches on the acrylic.  Also, the acid in paper towels can stay on the glass and slowly degrade the photo inside the frame, so if you are using conservation techniques to protect your photos, only use a cloth towel to clean your glass.The care of your picture frame depends largely upon the material and finish of your frame.  To clean a solid wood picture frame with a smooth lacquer finish use a dust cleaner or a water dampened cloth.  To prevent damage to your frame be sure before using any type of cleaner that your wood frame has a lacquered finish similar to a piece of furniture.And don't forget to remove your photo from the frame before cleaning with a spray cleaner.For unfinished frames with a raw or unprotected wood surface, be extra careful with these frames as they can be damaged by improper cleaning.Unlike lacquered or finished wood frames with a protective finish, unfinished wood frames should only be dusted with a dry toothbrush or cleaned with a small handheld vacuum.  This method cleans off dust without leaving the frame wet or with pieces of towel or paper towel stuck to the rough unfinished wood finish.Avoid using wood or dust cleaners on unfinished wood frames as they can discolor or stain the bare wood frame.Caring for Metal Picture FramesMetal picture frames can be cleaned in several ways.  Use a slightly dampened towel moistened with water to clean aluminum or gold or silver colored frames.  Wipe the frame gently and then dry with a soft dry cloth to avoid leaving water marks.If you have a precious metal frame, like a solid pewter photo frame, silver plated frame or sterling silver frame, you need to determine if it has a lacquered finish.In most cases, if you've had the frame for a while and it isn't tarnished then it most likely has a lacquer coating. A frame with a lacquered finish should only be cleaned with a water dampened cloth and dried right away with a clean dry towel.If you have an old silver frame that has tarnished, then chances are very good it doesn’t have any lacquer coating and needs to be cleaned with a silver cleaner.  Be sure to carefully read the cleaner instructions before applying. And, remember to always take out your picture before cleaning your frame so you don't ruin your picture. Anytime you use a cleaner, always test a small area on the back or bottom of the frame to make sure the cleaner doesn't react badly with your frame.  Once done with cleaning your metal frame, wash your hands to avoid transferring any cleaning residue to your photo.  Before replacing your photo, make sure the glass and frame are completely dry before putting back your photo.If there is any moisture left on the glass, you run the risk of having your photo stick to the glass and be damaged.As you can see, it’s very easy to properly care for your frames and photos by following these simple steps. By consistently taking care of your photos and frames, your framed memories will always look their best.