Many of us still engage in that time-honored tradition of spring cleaning, which may have you wondering how to clean and care for the art in your home. Your artwork will look great for far longer if you follow these few simple steps for caring for it:

• Remove microscopic dust and dirt particles from the surface of your paintings and sculptures by regularly wiping them with a very soft, clean cloth or a very soft-bristled (sable or badger) brush, not a feather duster or anything else that might scratch.
• Never use any kind of cleaning chemicals or solutions to clean artwork, not even on works under glass.
• Place your artwork in places where the temperature stays fairly even. Locations that experience extremes of hot or cold-for instance, right near a heat source, in an attic or basement, or on a poorly insulated outside wall-can cause the artwork to expand and contract, which will be harmful to the work's structure over time.
• Keep your artwork out of direct sunlight and away from direct spotlights, which can fade and discolor the work.
• Do not store or display artwork in very humid places (like bathrooms where the shower is used regularly), as this can cause harmful mold and mildew to grow on the frame or the artwork itself.
• Keep artwork away from smoke, grease, and other airborne particles that will stick to the surfaces. (Sorry, but the kitchen is not a good place for valuable artwork.)
• When framing new works of art on paper or photographs, ask the framer to use museum-quality, acid-free materials that will not damage the work over time.