How to Clean Your Dead by Daylight Art Print Without Damaging It

Quick answer

Clean a Dead by Daylight art print by dusting it dry with a soft, clean brush or microfiber cloth, working from the center outward over a flat surface. Never spray liquid directly on the print or rub the ink. For smudges, use a barely damp cloth on the reverse side or a dry cleaning pad, and let the print air-dry fully before reframing.

Art prints are the easiest part of a collection to ruin by accident. A paper towel, a household spray, or one hard swipe across the ink can leave a permanent mark on a piece you waited months to hang. The good news is that most prints only ever need dry dusting, which is fast and safe once you know the order of operations.

This guide walks through a simple cleaning routine for your Dead by Daylight art print, from taking it off the wall to putting it back. It also covers the mistakes that cause the most damage, so you can care for art print pieces for years without touching the surface more than necessary.

Gather the right tools before you touch the print

You need very little: a soft, clean brush (a dedicated art dusting brush or a clean makeup brush), a lint-free microfiber cloth, a dry cleaning pad if you have one, and a flat, clean surface like a table covered with a clean towel. Skip paper towels, tissues, and anything with texture, because they shed fibers and can catch on the paper surface.

If the print is framed behind glass, you may not need to remove it at all. For an unframed print, work on a flat surface rather than holding it upright, so dust and debris fall away instead of settling back onto the paper.

• Use a separate cloth for the frame and glass, never the same one you use on the print surface.
• Wash and dry your hands first; oils transfer easily to paper edges.

Dust the print dry, from the center outward

Start with the gentlest possible pass. Hold the brush at a low angle and move it in light strokes from the center of the print toward the edges. This lifts dust rather than pushing it into the paper. If you use a microfiber cloth instead, drape it over your fingers and use almost no pressure at all.

Work in one direction and check the surface as you go. If the print is framed, dust the glass with a separate cloth and avoid pressing hard enough to flex the frame. Most art print maintenance is really about removing dust before it bonds to the surface, so a quick pass every few weeks beats a deep clean once a year.

• Never rub back and forth over the same spot; repeated friction is what dulls ink.
• If dust is stuck near the edge, loosen it with the brush first instead of picking at it.

Spot-clean only when dry dusting is not enough

If a smudge remains, dampen a microfiber cloth with plain water and wring it out until it is barely damp, then blot, never rub, the affected area. Test on a corner or the white border first if the print has one. For fingerprints or light surface grime, a dry cleaning pad designed for paper is safer than any liquid.

Do not use glass cleaner, alcohol, acetone, or all-purpose sprays on the print itself. These can lift ink, leave a haze, or soak into the paper and cause it to buckle. If a stain will not lift with a dry method, stop and consider professional conservation rather than risking the print.

• Blot from the outside of the stain inward to keep it from spreading.
• Let the print air-dry completely on a flat surface before reframing or storing it.

Protect the print after cleaning

Once the print is clean and dry, put it back behind glass or in a sleeve so it stays that way. Keep it out of direct sunlight and away from humid rooms like bathrooms and kitchens, since both fade ink and encourage waviness in the paper. A frame with a mat keeps the glass off the surface and reduces the chance of condensation touching the print.

If you rotate prints seasonally, store the ones not on display flat in an acid-free sleeve or folder, not rolled tightly in a tube. Flat storage keeps the paper relaxed, which makes the next dusting easier and lowers the risk of creasing.

• Avoid hanging prints directly above radiators, vents, or anywhere with moving hot air.
• Handle prints by the edges only, and keep a clean cloth nearby for the frame.

Your six-step print cleaning routine

1. Clear a flat workspace: Lay a clean towel on a table and remove the print from the wall or frame. Work flat so dust falls away from the paper. Checkpoint: if you cannot lay the print flat, wait until you can.
2. Wash and dry your hands: Oils from your fingers transfer to paper edges and show up later as dark spots. Common mistake: handling the print with lotion or food residue on your hands.
3. Dust dry with a soft brush: Use light strokes from the center of the print toward the edges. Do not press down or scrub. Checkpoint: if the brush leaves streaks, it is too dirty; use a clean one.
4. Blot, do not rub, any smudge: Use a barely damp microfiber cloth or a dry cleaning pad, and test on a border first if one exists. Common mistake: spraying water or cleaner directly onto the print.
5. Air-dry completely: Leave the print flat until every trace of moisture is gone before it goes back in a frame or sleeve. Checkpoint: any coolness or waviness means it is still drying.
6. Reframe and reposition: Return the print behind glass or into a sleeve, and keep it out of direct sun and humid rooms. Next step: dust lightly every few weeks instead of deep cleaning later.

Products that pair well with print care

• Dead By Daylight Soundtrack (Foil Cover): This is a leftover copy of the long out-of-print USA Exclusive Record Store Day release with a foil cover, and it ships separately from other purchases from Canada. If you display the record near your art print, the foil cover is a reminder that specialty items often need their own protective storage, and the separate shipping means it will not arrive in the same box as a print.
• Dead by Daylight - Laptop Sleeve: Available in 13-inch and 15-inch sizes, with the 13-inch measuring 13 1/2 inches long, 10 1/2 inches wide, and 5/8 inch high. A padded sleeve is a practical way to carry a small print or art book flat between rooms or to a convention without bending the paper.

Most Dead by Daylight art prints only need a soft brush and a few minutes every few weeks. Keep liquids away from the surface, store spare prints flat, and your print will stay sharp for the long run.