Cleaning a Framed Locatelli Print Without Damaging It

Most damage to framed prints comes from cleaning, not from time. The method depends on what sits on the surface of the frame, and the wrong cloth or spray can undo years of careful hanging.

Auvrique Editorial · Fine Art Editions

The short answer

Dust a framed Romualdo Locatelli print with a dry microfiber cloth every four to six weeks, working from the centre of the glass outward. Never spray liquid onto the frame or glass. If deeper cleaning is needed, apply glass cleaner to the cloth first, never the surface, and keep all moisture away from the print's edges.

Why Dry Cleaning Comes First

The safest cleaning method for a framed print is also the simplest. A dry, lint free microfiber cloth removes the dust that settles on glass and frame surfaces, and it does this without introducing any moisture at all. Dust every four to six weeks under normal household conditions. Work from the centre of the glass outward in straight strokes, then run the cloth along the frame edges where dust collects. A soft brush attachment on low suction can reach the seam where frame meets glass.

The reason for this caution is structural. A framed reproduction is only sealed at its edges, and liquid that seeps behind the glass can stain the paper, cause rippling, or lift the ink. Once moisture reaches the print surface, the damage is usually permanent and no conservator can fully reverse it. Dry dusting carries none of that risk, which is why it should be the default and wet cleaning the exception. This applies equally to a framed poster like No More Twist in a framed poster and to any similarly constructed piece.

When Glass Needs More Than Dusting

Fingerprints, grease from a kitchen, or a splash mark sometimes demand more than a dry cloth. In that case dampen a clean microfiber cloth with a small amount of glass cleaner and wipe the glass only, keeping the cloth well away from the frame's inner edge. Follow with a second dry cloth to remove streaks. Never spray directly onto the frame, because aerosol mist travels and settles where it is not wanted, including under the lip of the frame.

Check what the glazing actually is before reaching for solvent. Acrylic sheet, common in lighter frames, clouds or crazes when treated with ammonia based cleaners, so plain water on the cloth is the correct choice there. Glass tolerates a standard cleaner. If the frame is wooden, a barely damp cloth on the moulding is enough, and furniture polish should stay off it entirely since polish can migrate onto the glazing. The same restraint applies to canvas editions such as Still Life with Violin on canvas, which have no glass at all and should only ever be dusted dry.

Safe cleaning rules

Use a dry microfiber cloth for routine dusting every four to six weeks
Spray glass cleaner onto the cloth, never onto the frame or glazing
Use water only on acrylic glazing, since ammonia based cleaners cloud it
Keep all liquid away from the edges where the print is sealed

Handling, Placement and Long Term Care

Most cleaning damage happens while the frame is being handled, so lift it by the frame body rather than the hanging wire or the top edge. If a print must be removed from the wall for a thorough clean, lay it face down on a clean flat surface only briefly, and never stack frames. Wash and thoroughly dry hands first, since skin oils transfer to mouldings and leave marks that attract more dust.

Placement does more for a print's lifespan than any cleaning routine. Direct sunlight fades pigments over years, so a wall that avoids the strongest afternoon light will keep colours stable far longer. Kitchens and bathrooms expose frames to grease and humidity, both of which work their way into the seal. A stable, dry wall away from radiators is the quiet advantage. For more on placement, see the guide to hanging prints on a textured wall, and for choosing a piece to begin with, the overview of where to buy Locatelli prints online covers the market honestly.

The frames that survive a century are the ones nobody scrubbed.

Surface	Method	Frequency
Glass glazing	Dry microfiber cloth, then glass cleaner applied to the cloth if needed	Dust every 4 to 6 weeks
Acrylic glazing	Water dampened cloth only, never ammonia based cleaners	Dust every 4 to 6 weeks
Wooden frame	Barely damp cloth, no polish	Every 2 to 3 months
Canvas print	Dry dusting only, no liquids	Every 4 to 6 weeks

Cleaning by surface

Key takeaways

Dry microfiber dusting every four to six weeks is the only routine a framed print needs.
Never spray liquid directly onto a frame, since mist travels under the seal and stains the paper.
Acrylic glazing requires water only, because ammonia based glass cleaners permanently cloud it.
Placement away from direct sun and humidity protects a print more than any cleaning product.

Related questions

Can I use household glass cleaner on a framed print?

Only on glass, and only applied to the cloth rather than sprayed. Spray mist travels and can seep under the frame's lip, staining the print itself. If the glazing is acrylic, skip the cleaner entirely and use a water dampened cloth, since ammonia based products cloud acrylic permanently.

How do I remove a fingerprint from the glass?

Dampen a clean microfiber cloth with a little glass cleaner and wipe the mark with light pressure, staying clear of the frame edges. Follow with a dry cloth to remove streaks. If the mark sits on the print surface rather than the glass, leave it alone, since rubbing paper or canvas will do more harm than the fingerprint.

Should I take the print off the wall to clean it?

Not for routine dusting, which is easier and safer with the frame in place. Remove it only for a full clean, lifting by the frame body rather than the wire. Frequent removal risks dropped frames and strained hangings, so a stable wall position and a regular dry cloth make removal largely unnecessary.

From the Auvrique collection

Made to order · Every size