Mold Has an Appetite for Fine Art

5/12/2022 (Permalink)

Artwork poses a difficult challenge when it comes to mold cleaning. The usual mold remediation and prevention techniques won’t work. You can't:

•  Abrasive-blast the mold away with baking   soda
•  Treat the moldy area with chemicals and   paint
•  Throw it away
•  Make the environment inhospitable

Mold and Oil Paintings Both Like Warmth and Moisture

A home with low relative humidity inhibits mold growth. Unfortunately, it also damages oil paintings. Both do very well when the relative humidity is 45 percent. They also enjoy a room temperature of 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Displaying your artwork in this environment makes it susceptible to mold.

Mold Cleaning of Paintings Is Simple for the Experts
Art restoration is a science unto itself. Its practitioners often restore paintings that are centuries old. These paintings may show damage, neglect, or need cleaning. The removal of mold is one of the many tasks they perform on a regular basis.

With your moldy oil paintings, there is one question. How important are they to you? A family heirloom deserves expert attention. If it's a painting you don't care as much about, mold removal might be an interesting experience. There are four simple steps:

1. Place the painting in the sun for a few hours and let it dry completely

2. Taking care not to damage the paint, don a mask and brush away the dried mold using a soft brush

3. Using a weak bleach solution, treat the moldy areas with a light spray

4. Return the painting to the sun for drying
Moldy Artwork May Point to a Bigger Problem
Finding mold damage on an oil painting is not a cause for panic. It suggests that it is time to check the rest of your home. Look for signs of mold in wet, damp or humid areas.

Further signs of infestation mean that you are due for mold cleaning. You will locate a team of mold remediation experts in the Maple Grove, Corcoran, Brooklyn Park, Champlin area who can move in and address the problem. They can also find someone to restore your paintings.