If you want to continue to enjoy your photo and picture frame for years, it's important to know how to protect it from permanent damage. Although there are numerous ways a picture and frame can be ruined, avoiding damage to your new photo frame is simple. Many people don’t realize how easy it would have been to protect their picture frame and photo until it’s too late. With these few important tips you can keep your frame and picture looking good for years.

Avoid Your Picture Frame From Getting Direct Sunlight

We all know the kind of damage the sun can do to your skin and your photos are no different.The sun's UV rays can badly damage your photos so decrease the risk of fading and damage by preventing your frames from getting direct sunlight.

If it is impossible for you to avoid exposing your picture frame to direct sunlight, there are a couple of things you should do.The first thing you should do is make a copy of your special photo so if the photo is every damaged you'll still have a good quality image.The second thing you should do is use UV glass or UV acrylic which will dramatically reduce the UV exposure on your photo. Although your picture will be protected, your frame may still fade in the direct sunlight. Some of the picture frames that are most sensitive to fading are those made out of natural materials like paper, fabric and wood. You should also be careful with stained or colored frames like red, green or blue picture frames.

Watch Out for Moisture

We all know about moisture damage caused by flooding, but have you considered damage caused by steam?Photos and picture frames can be badly damaged by this type of moisture. Be sure to avoid hanging your picture frames next to the kitchen sink or in a bathroom where it can get hot and steamy. If you choose to display your photos in these high risk areas, be sure you have extra copies made of your important photos and only display them in an aluminum metal picture frame so it can't be ruined by moisture. The best frames for moist areas are metal picture frames that are made out of aluminum and won’t rust.

Be wary of a picture frame with a sealed back.A sealed back can be either taped closed or glued shut with paper to give it a more finished look and help keep it clean and protected. A sealed back on a frame does not protect your photo but instead can damage it by trapping moisture inside.Moisture is naturally found in the air in the form of humidity.When the temperature outside the picture frame is different from that on the inside of the frame, moisture builds.If your picture frame has a sealed back, it traps the moisture inside and leaves your picture to absorb it.

If you live in an area of high humidity, you should consider investing in spacers or mats to keep your picture from touching the glass. When a picture touches the glass continuously in high humidity, the picture can stick to the glass and be permanently damaged. Spacers or mats keep the glass from resting on the picture and gives the picture some room to breathe.

Be Careful of Using Spray Cleaners

This may seem obvious, but there are many people who don't realize the damage that can be done by spraying glass cleaner on the picture frame glass.Anytime you're planning to use a spray cleaner to clean your picture frame, always remove the photo first before cleaning.The sprayed liquid cleaner can seep underneath the glass and stain your photo.If you don't want to remove the photo then use a cloth to clean instead of using spray cleaner directly on the glass.

Extra Frame Care Tips

Another tip to avoid damaging your picture frames is to never stack your frames without properly protecting them.If you're moving or need to store your picture frames, make sure to protect them with thick towels or bubble wrap.  Metal and wood picture frames are difficult to repair, so take extra precautions to properly protect them when storing.

If you remember these tips for protecting your picture frames, you will never have the disappointment of a damaged frame or picture.Remember these tips and you'll have picture frames and photos that look beautiful for many years to come.