If you live in a damp and humid environment, then you must have seen the effects of the mold firsthand. It can become quite troublesome, as mold thrives in damp air, and destroys your walls. If you are fond of paintings, then you need to be extra careful. Mold is the enemy of everything made up of paper and canvas.
Your precious paintings can take the brunt of rapidly growing mold. Since a humid environment is a catalyst for mold, it can grow on paintings, causing irreparable damage to your paintings' pigment, canvas, and framing. Even in less severe cases, it can affect the artwork and visuals, dulling the colors and the appeal.
While it might seem hopeless, you can still save your paintings. With the right tools and techniques, the mold on your painting can be easily thwarted. If you have been looking to get rid of mold in your art collection, this article is your perfect guide. You will learn how to use commercial dehumidifiers or industrial dehumidifiers to keep your paintings safe.
How Can You Tell If A Painting Has Mold?
When you store your paintings in a damp environment, they are prone to mold growth. It becomes tough to notice when the mold has taken hold and is beginning to grow. That is because it often starts with specks of discoloration. They can be easily mistaken for age-related wear or simple dirt. However, as time passes, the mold continues to grow. If left unchecked, it can gradually eat away the canvas fibers, damage the paint, and even eat away the frames.
The judgment is whether the painting is different from the previous one. In general, mold-forming colonies usually appear as fluffy, velvety, or furry spots or patches of various colors.
If you notice a few specks on a painting, check their color. Usually, mold spots are white, black, and dark green. Apart from these spots, you will also notice a musty odor emanating from the painting. These are the tell-tale signs that your mold is growing there. Especially if your paintings have been stored in a humid environment such as a crawl space, then it's time you take action.
In such a situation, the first thing that you should do is get a dehumidifier. Usually, purchasing the best dehumidifier for a basement is an effective preventive measure. It is not necessarily for a basement but for all spaces which are enclosed and have humidity. A dehumidifier greatly reduces the moisture in the air and can halt the growth of mold.
How To Salvage The Painting From Mold？
If you have identified the mold growth on the painting, it’s time to act fast. By now, you should have gotten a dehumidifier for the basement/crawl space. Now, it’s time to take further action. First and foremost, remove the painting from the humid environment in which it was initially stored. Move it to a dry well-ventilated area where it can be safe. After that, make sure of two things.
Make Sure That Your Painting Is Completely Dry
If your painting was wet or had moisture, it’s absolutely essential to get it completely dry first. Avoid exposing it to sunlight as the sun can adversely bleach the canvas and the colors. Place it in a room with a dehumidifier for crawl space which will remove the excess moisture. This simple course of action can prevent the mold and kill it effectively.
Wear Protective Clothing
Be very careful especially if you have allergies. Mold spores can be very troublesome, and even hazardous. Wear gloves and proper protective clothing to make sure that mold doesn’t come in direct contact with your skin. It’s toxic and can trigger all forms of skin allergies. Usually, safety goggles, a mask, and of course, gloves, can do the trick.
Cleaning the Mold from Painting
It’s time to take the final course of action. It’s a delicate task, so you should consider getting help from a professional if possible. Paintings are fragile and the last thing you would want is to destroy a precious artwork during the process of cleaning. So, be extra careful and be patient.
Gather These Materials
To begin the cleaning process, first gather these materials.
- A cleaning brush (get a soft and dry one, preferably the one designed for paintings)
- A vacuum cleaner with a HEPA filter (set to lowest suction settings)
- Cotton swabs
- Rubbing alcohol or mold-killing solution, diluted for caution
Begin The Cleaning Process
The first step would be to gently brush away the mold. Be very careful while doing so as the canvas fabric might already be weakened. For best practice, use gentle strokes and avoid scrubbing it too hard.
Now, vacuum with a HEPA filter. Be careful to set it to the lowest suction setting. The reason for the HEPA filter is to ensure that mold spores are just trapped, and not released back into the air.
Now, use cotton swabs for detailed cleaning. These cotton swabs should be dipped in mold-killing solution or mild diluted alcoholic solution. Gently rub around the affected areas.
Preventing Future Mold Growth
It is absolutely essential for you to take permanent measures. If you store the painting back in that same crawl space or basement, the mold will return. It is best to do the following things.
Keep your basements dry. Just search “best home dehumidifiers” which will control the humidity around your basements. If your art pieces are stored there, they will be safe.
Keep your crawl spaces dry. If you store your paintings in crawl spaces, try purchasing a crawl space dehumidifier which is specifically designed for similar spaces. Storing your paintings in a crawl space will no longer be a challenge.
If you are storing your precious artwork in an industrial or commercial space, then there are special commercial dehumidifiers or industrial dehumidifiers that are designed specifically for such spaces. Purchase them and keep your artwork safe.
Final Thoughts
Mold can effectively ruin and destroy precious paintings. It usually thrives in a damp and humid environment with poor ventilation. If you store your paintings in enclosed commercial spaces, crawl spaces, or basements, it’s best to install dehumidifiers there to prevent mold growth. If you spot mold growing on your art pieces, take preventive measures as soon as possible.
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