Once a print leaves your premises, how it is treated is out of your hands. A short, clear care sheet is one of the simplest ways to influence that. It reduces avoidable damage, cuts down on complaints, and shows customers that you take the finished product seriously. The best aftercare instructions are brief, specific to the product and written in plain language.
What to cover
- Unpacking: how to open the parcel without cutting into the print, and to handle it with clean, dry hands by the edges.
- Display: keep away from strong direct sunlight, heat sources and damp areas where possible.
- Cleaning: the method you recommend, and what to avoid.
- Storage: how to store the print if it is taken down.
- Who to contact: your details for questions or problems.
Writing a care sheet
- Start from what you know about the product: the media, the ink, and the coating or laminate used.
- Check the coating and media data sheets for any care or cleaning guidance, and keep your instructions consistent with them.
- Test the cleaning method you plan to recommend on a coated offcut, so you know it works.
- Write short instructions, one idea per line, using everyday words rather than trade terms.
- Put the most important point first. For many coated prints, that is cleaning gently and avoiding abrasive or harsh products.
- Ask someone outside the business to read it and tell you what they would do.
Tailor it to the product
Coated canvas and art prints
Explain that the print has a protective coating that helps it resist water, chemicals and abrasion, with UV inhibitors to help guard against premature fading. Then explain the limits: it still benefits from sensible placement and gentle cleaning. Our guide to cleaning coated prints is a good basis for the cleaning section.
Phototex wall graphics
Customers often do not realise that Phototex can be removed in one piece without damaging the surface, then repositioned and reused. Tell them how to peel it back slowly, and how to store it when it is off the wall so the adhesive stays clean. Our guide to repositioning Phototex has the detail you can adapt.
Wallpaper and murals
Cover how to clean the surface, which areas of a room may need extra care, and who to call about damage rather than attempting a repair.
What to leave out
Avoid promising a specific lifespan or guaranteeing that a print will never fade; too much depends on conditions you cannot control. Avoid naming specific cleaning products unless you have tested them. Keep the sheet to a single side so it is actually read, and offer a longer version on your website if needed.
For product information to help you write accurate care guidance, call Landor on 01252 624 411 or use the contact form.