Hang it well,
it keeps itself.
Canvas and framed prints need almost nothing once they are on the wall: the right spot, a little dust now and then, and dry air. This page covers the spot, the dusting, and everything about moving and storage.
Placement: where a piece lives
More than any cleaning habit, the wall you choose decides how a print ages. Three things to keep away from.
- 01
Direct sunlight
A wall that takes hours of hard sun will slowly fade any print, on canvas or paper. Bright, indirect light is ideal. If a spot takes real sun, blinds or curtains during the brightest hours keep colors where you bought them.
- 02
Steam and humidity
Bathrooms, right beside kettles and stoves, and damp exterior walls move wood and canvas with every shower and boil. Above the towel rail is fine; directly beside the shower is not.
- 03
Heat sources
Radiators, fireplaces, and AC vents dry the air around them. Heat dries out canvas and can warp wood frames over time. Keep a little distance and the piece stays stable.
Caring for canvas prints
Canvas is fabric with a print on it. Dry and gentle is the whole method.
- Dusting
- Once in a while, wipe the surface lightly with a dry, soft, lint-free cloth or a feather duster. A few seconds is enough.
- Spots
- If a spot needs more, use the cloth barely dampened with water, dab gently, and dry right after. Never rub hard, and never use soap, glass cleaner, or alcohol on the print face.
- The back
- The back can take a firmer dry wipe a couple of times a year. Dust back there settles first.
- Pressure
- Never press, lean, or rest anything against the canvas face. A sharp corner can dent the weave, and a dent in canvas is hard to remove.
Caring for framed prints
The paper behind the glazing needs almost nothing. The glass in front is the only thing you ever clean.
- The glazing
- Dust with a dry microfiber cloth. If it needs more, spray a little glass cleaner onto the cloth, never onto the glass itself, so liquid cannot run behind the frame and reach the paper.
- The frame
- The Ayous wood frame wants a dry dust only, the same as furniture. Wet cloths can dull the finish over time.
- The corners
- Check the mitred corners when you dust. If one has opened after a move or a knock, tell us; it is fixable.
- Behind the glass
- Never try to open a frame to clean the paper. The museum-quality matte paper is protected in there, and that is where it should stay.
Handling and hardware
Two hands, clean and dry, by the frame or the stretcher bars. Never by the hanging wire alone.
- Lifting
- Carry canvas by its two sides or stretcher bars, framed pieces by the frame. Fingers on the print face leave pressure marks, so handle it like you would a plate.
- Hardware checks
- Once, a few weeks after hanging, press gently along the top edge to confirm the hook or anchor is holding. Wall plugs settle, and drywall especially can loosen over a season.
- Two-point hanging
- Heavier pieces hang calmer on two hooks rather than one. It also keeps them level through seasons and knocks.
Moving and storage
Renovation, a move, or a swap of walls: short-term storage done right protects a piece for years.
- Cover, never wrap tight
- Slide the piece into a plastic bag or wrap loosely with a blanket, print face protected. Sealed tight in plastic, wood and canvas cannot breathe, and trapped moisture is worse than dust.
- Vertical, not stacked
- Store pieces upright, standing on edge like records, padded at the corners. Laying heavy pieces flat under other things dents canvas and presses glazing.
- Climate
- A dry indoor room is right. Garages, attics, and sheds swing from damp to hot, and that is what warps frames and slackens canvas.
What to expect over time
We would rather you hear this from us than discover it alone.
- Canvas breathes
- Fabric tightens and slackens slightly with the seasons as humidity changes. A faint wave at the edges is normal and usually settles. It is how stretched canvas behaves.
- Very slow mellowing
- Even indoors and out of direct sun, prints mellow very slightly over years. The placement rules above are what keep it barely noticeable.
- Wood lives
- Real wood frames can show tiny movement in humidity swings. It is a natural material, not a defect.
- Not defects
- All of the above is material behavior. A misprint, damage in transit, or the wrong item is different: that is a quality claim, covered within 30 days under the Returns & FAQ page.
Still unsure
A corner opened in transit, a canvas that will not settle, or a question about a specific wall in your home: ask us, and you will get a straight answer.
Ask a care question