this post was submitted on 21 Sep 2025

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possible to clean the backing fabric of this art? (lemmy.ml)

submitted 3 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago) by to_go@lemmy.ml to c/asklemmy@lemmy.world

12 comments fedilink hide all child comments

I have this piece of art I really like. I got it about 15 years ago at a thrift store. I'm not sure what you call this style/medium. The only thing I've seen is "folkart".

It is dingy and I want to clean it. Particularly the white fabric background.

I don't remember exactly what I did but at some point I tried spot cleaning and this was the result:

construction:

base: 1/4" hardboard composite with canvas sort of fabric glued on

hardboard I don't know if this term is regional or well known. It's that brown sheet that is often used on the backside of cheap modern furniture, like a bookshelf. It's smooth on one side and rough on the other.

Top and bottom edges are in a groove of wood molding strips; these are stapled on and can be removed

design is made up of little items glued on: beads, small rocks, cord, ceramic

doesn't seem to be a top coat or anything

There's not really any hidden areas to test.

the glue is quite robust, I have been surprised that hardly anything has fallen off.

Any ideas? Hardboard really can't get wet.

I wish I had properly protected it years ago.

top 12 comments

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[–] xorollo@leminal.space 2 points 1 day ago

What about the sticky lint rollers? You'd at least avoid rubbing anything in that way.

[–] Tangerine@scribe.disroot.org 7 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago) (2 children)

Have you tried taking it to the dry cleaners? I’ve had some success in the past with textile arts using the solution inside the Dryel dry cleaning kit; it required plenty of blotting and patience. FYI: If you go to the cleaners, they will ask what made the stain (e.g., oil, dust, ink, etc.) and some knowledgeable ones will recommend how to clean it or refer you to someone who does.

You’re correct about the backing (hardboard) in that it must not get wet – I could be wrong but it looks like MDF (medium density fiberboard). They will swell up upon contact with water. Good luck.

EDIT: Just wanted to say that you have a lovely piece of folkart.

[–] tal@olio.cafe 2 points 1 day ago

I thought about recommending that myself, and while I imagine that a dry-cleaner would be more authoritative, it sounds like the chemical they frequently use, "perc", dissolves glue, which is used there to attach the objects.

[–] Cort@lemmy.world 1 points 1 day ago

I could be wrong but it looks like MDF (medium density fiberboard)

You're close, hardboard is HDF (high density fiberboard). It may not swell as much as MDF, but water would probably leach glue and stain the canvas, or make it flopsy since it's so thin.

[–] ComfortableRaspberry@feddit.org 12 points 3 days ago (1 children)

Your first tries on spot cleaning look to me like the canvas was painted in white. So I'd look for options to clean paintings and maybe retouch the spot you tried to clean with white paint.

This seems to be a pretty detailed guide.

[–] tal@olio.cafe 13 points 3 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago) (1 children)

I'm pretty sure that that guide is one of those AI-generated spam sites. In this case, it appears to use a character where the LLM involved wasn't too sure about whether the character is a house painter or an artistic painter. Which doesn't mean that the information on it is necessarily wrong, just that I'd be cautious as to errors. If you want information from an LLM, probably better in terms of response quality to just, well, go ask an LLM yourself without the distortion from a spammer trying to have the LLM role-play some character.

[–] ComfortableRaspberry@feddit.org 7 points 3 days ago

Thanks for adding that context!

[–] HurricaneLiz@lemmy.world 8 points 3 days ago

I worked in custom picture framing shops for a decade, and we would bring things like this to art restorers we contracted with.

[–] tal@olio.cafe 8 points 3 days ago (1 children)

Have you tried using a vacuum cleaner?

[–] to_go@lemmy.ml 5 points 3 days ago (1 children)

hmmm I don't recall. Would be worth trying. Maybe a shop vac or something really strong would be able to suck off some dirt. If I had access to one. I'll try the one I have.

[–] rowinxavier@lemmy.world 4 points 3 days ago (1 children)

Consider doing a small test section in one corner before trying anything. Also take a clear photo in full daylight before you start and make comparisons with full daylight pictures later. It is very easy to have the lighting and perspective completely change how something looks, so make the comparison as apples to apples as possible.

Also, using plain water for a simple rinse can be very effective at removing dirt just by rinsing and repeating, no soap. This is lower risk than many other approaches but requires you fully dry before checking the result. Definitely research other options, but it may be good to try cleaning with plain water.

[–] to_go@lemmy.ml 2 points 3 days ago

I'm not sure how to use water because the structure is composed of hardboard with fabric glued onto it. Not sure if hardboard is a universal term, here is a picture of what I mean:

A closer zoom of the bottom picture showing construction:

The porous, adsorbent side of the board has had the canvas glued to it. How to rinse that?

(Filesize limits on lemmy prevent posting larger photos.)