Five Steps for the Preservation of Oil Paintings

1. Avoid Excessive Light or Darkness
Very high light levels can darken or fade an oil painting. To prevent light damage, don't expose paintings to direct sunlight. High light levels can also cause excessive exposure to heat. Also, don't position commercial lights too close to the painting. Avoid lights mounted to the frame or placed too close to the painting. Try to use diffused lights that are positioned at least ten feet from the painting to avoid damage from heat buildup.

Note:
Oil paintings should not be stored in the dark for long periods. Storing a painting in the dark will cause it to darken over time.

2. Avoid High Temperatures and Humidity
Extreme changes in humidity and temperature can make the canvas and wood stretchers supporting the painting expand or contract. This expansion or contraction can damage the
painting. Canvas and wood stretchers can absorb moisture, which may cause them to expand on humid days and shrink on dry days. As a result, oil paint can crack and flake off as the canvas and wood stretchers expand and contract.

3. Handle Your Oil Paintings Carefully
When transporting an oil painting, hold it by both sides. Avoid grasping a painting from the top of the frame, and don't hold it by the hanging wire.

4. Keep Dirt Off Your Oil Paintings
Dirt can attract mold, pollutants, and moisture to a painting's surface. These elements can damage the painting. Don't hang paintings near fireplaces or too close to candles.

5. Clean Your Oil Paintings Carefully
Keep your paintings clean by lightly wiping the surface with a soft, clean microfiber cloth or an anti-static cloth used to clean photographic negatives. Both cloths act like magnets, lifting loose dust off the painting while avoiding scratches to the painting or varnished surface. Cotton swabs that have been dampened with distilled water can be lightly dabbed on the surface to remove surface dirt that can't be removed by
wiping.