You have received your hand-painted oil painting, hung it up, and enjoy it every day. A good oil painting is built to last 50-100 years or more - many old manor-house portraits are several hundred years old and still look wonderful. But it takes minimal maintenance and a few conscious choices on your part.
The good news is that oil paintings are actually very robust. You don't need to do anything special - just avoid a few pitfalls. In this guide we go through exactly what to do (and not do) so that your painting lasts for many decades.
The 4 enemies of an oil painting
Let's start with the most critical part. There are four things that can damage an oil painting over time:
- Direct sunlight - UV rays bleach pigments
- Extreme humidity - moisture can penetrate the canvas
- Extreme temperature fluctuations - make the paint crack
- Aerosols and cleaning products - leave harmful residues
If you avoid these four, your painting will pretty much look after itself. Let's go through each one.
1. Avoid direct sunlight
The single most important piece of advice we can give: don't hang your painting in direct sunlight. UV rays are the most common reason old paintings become faded over time.
What does "direct sunlight" mean? It means that the sun hits the painting directly through a window without any filter. If the light through the window moves on and off the painting during the day, it counts as direct sunlight.
How to position the painting correctly
- Hang it on a wall where the sun does not shine directly in
- If it is hard to avoid sun, use curtains or blinds during the sunniest hours
- North-facing walls are typically the best - there is never any direct sunlight
- Walls with indirect light (from the opposite window) are fine
Modern quality pigments (like the ones we use) are significantly more lightfast than the pigments of earlier times. A new painting will not fade visibly in 5-10 years, even in moderate sunlight. But over 30-50 years you will see the difference if it has stood in direct sun constantly. It is worth avoiding.
2. Keep humidity between 40-60 %
Oil paintings thrive best at a humidity of 40-60 % - which is the same humidity that is comfortable for people. Fortunately that is the normal indoor climate in homes all year round.
What should you avoid?
- Bathroom environments or very damp rooms: Never hang an oil painting in a bathroom or directly by a shower area. Steam and high humidity can penetrate the canvas over time.
- External walls with condensation: If an external wall in your home has a condensation problem (typically in older, poorly insulated houses), avoid hanging the painting on it.
- Cellar or conservatory: These rooms often have fluctuating humidity and temperature. Not ideal for oil paintings.
In ordinary heated living rooms, bedrooms and offices there are no problems.
3. Avoid extreme temperature fluctuations
Oil paint and canvas are flexible materials that expand and contract with temperature. Stable temperatures are best.
What should you avoid?
- Directly above a radiator: Hot air rises and can dry out the paint over the years.
- Directly above a fireplace or wood-burning stove: Same problem - very high local temperature.
- Walls by doors that often open to the outside: Changing temperature from warm inside to cold outside.
- Holiday homes that aren't heated in winter: If a house freezes through the winter and warms up in summer, it is not ideal for oil paintings.
Again - ordinary heated homes are fine. It is only the extremes you need to watch out for.
4. Use only a dry, soft cloth - NEVER cleaning products
This is a big one. Never use cleaning products, sprays or damp cloths on an oil painting.
What happens if you do? Even ordinary cleaning products contain chemicals that can react with the oil paint and over time create a cloudy or discoloured layer. Water can penetrate the canvas and cause water marks. Sprays leave fine particles that become a film over the years.
How to clean it - the correct way
- Use a soft, clean, dry cloth - for example a microfibre cloth intended for glasses or a soft old cotton sock
- Gently wipe across the painting in long, light strokes
- You can also use a soft brush to brush dust from details
- Do it 1-2 times a year - more often is not necessary
Never, ever:
- Water or water with soap
- Window cleaner (Windex, Mr Muscle Glass, etc.)
- Furniture polish or fabric spray
- Aerosols - even "natural" cleaning products
- Microfibre cloths that have just been used on other surfaces (chemical residues)
Day-to-day care - what you need to do
The simple answer: almost nothing. A good oil painting requires minimal care. Here is the full list of what you need to do on an ongoing basis:
- 1-2 times a year: dust with a soft dry cloth
- Check from time to time that the painting is hanging securely on the wall
- Keep an eye out for new cracks, crazing or discolouration - report it to us straight away (under warranty)
That's it. You don't need to do anything more.
What about varnish?
Classic oil paintings have traditionally been treated with varnish (a protective layer) after the paint is fully dry. This takes 6-12 months, and the varnish seals the paint against dust and light wear.
Our paintings are delivered varnish-ready but not varnished. This is to give the paint time to dry through completely. If after 1-2 years you would like varnish applied, you can approach a local art restorer or contact us for advice. It is not necessary for ordinary use - modern oil paint is robust without varnish. But it is an option if you want extra protection.
Every 10-20 years: professional cleaning
If your painting has hung for 10-20 years and looks duller or has collected a significant amount of dust (even with regular dusting), a professional art restorer can carry out a thorough cleaning. It is a job that requires training and specialist equipment - never do it yourself.
Skilled art restorers can be found in the larger towns and cities. A thorough cleaning typically costs 240-800 CHF depending on the size and condition of the painting. It is a good investment for a valuable family painting.
For 90 % of our customers this is never necessary - ordinary dusting is enough. But if the painting has hung somewhere with a lot of tobacco smoke, an open fire or candles, a cleaning may be in order.
Storage and transport
If you are moving, or if for some reason you need to store the painting for a period, there are a few rules:
When moving
- Wrap the painting in a soft cloth (a sheet is ideal) first - to protect against scratches
- Then bubble wrap or foam rubber around it
- Place it upright in the removal van - never flat under something
- Make sure it can't slide or tip over
- Avoid putting heavy things on top
For long-term storage
- Choose a room with stable temperature and humidity (not a cellar or loft)
- Stand the painting upright against a wall, not flat
- Wrap it in a breathable cloth (such as cotton or a sheet) - not plastic
- Keep at least 5 cm away from the wall and other objects
Never place plastic directly on the painting for a long time - plastic can trap condensation and affect the paint.
What do you do if the painting is damaged?
Accidents happen. If your painting is:
- Scratched: A small surface scratch can often be ignored. Larger damage requires an art restorer.
- Splashed with water or another liquid: Gently blot with a dry cloth. Let it dry naturally. If there are signs of damage afterwards, contact a restorer.
- Holed in the canvas: Go to an art restorer. It can be repaired, but requires professional work.
- Fallen down and damaged: Take pictures of the damage, and contact a restorer straight away.
Our satisfaction guarantee covers defects in the painting itself, not accidents or damage after delivery. But we are happy to advise if something comes up. Write to us.
Insurance
For larger, valuable paintings (over 800 CHF) it is worth considering whether they are covered by your household contents insurance. Most household contents policies cover art up to a certain value, but some have limits. Check your policy, or ask your insurer.
For very valuable paintings (over 4'000 CHF) you might consider separate art insurance, but that is rarely relevant for our price range.
Examples of paintings that have lasted for generations
We have customers whose grandparents had paintings made by the same art school 50-70 years ago - and the paintings still hang today. A good oil painting is an heirloom. It passes from generation to generation.
We have also had customers ask us to paint from a 100-year-old photo of their great-grandmother. When we deliver a good work, it is not "a gift for 5 years" - it is something that stays with the family.
That is the whole point of investing in a hand-painted painting instead of a printed picture. The durability is in a different class altogether.
The short version - what to remember
If you only remember five things from this article:
- No direct sunlight - find a wall without direct sun
- Stable temperature and humidity - an ordinary living room is fine, avoid bathrooms and external walls with condensation
- Clean only with a dry, soft cloth 1-2 times a year - never water or cleaning products
- Not directly above a radiator or fireplace - avoid local heat
- Stand it upright for transport, not flat - and use breathable packing, not plastic
Follow these five rules, and your painting will last 50+ years without problems.
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