Clean a painting carefully with cotton swabs.
Paintings can become discolored and yellow over time due to dust, dirt and general grime. Cleaning the surface of paintings risks damaging the painting, so take preventative methods, such as framing under glass, to avoid having to do so. However, at times, cleaning a painting is necessary. This process requires great care to protect the surface. Cleaning methods for oil paintings are tried and true, but the relatively new invention of acrylic paints, which became popular in the 1950s, are more difficult to clean safely.
Instructions
Clean an Oil Painting
1. Lay the painting faceup on a flat surface. Put latex gloves on to protect your hands and to prevent the further transfer of grime and oils to the painting.
2. Dampen a cotton cloth with an oil painting neutralizer. Gently wipe down the surface of the painting with the wet cloth.
3. Dip a cotton swab into emulsion cleaner, or an oil paint cleaner, to remove dirt, dust and grime from the painting's surface. Use a oil paint varnish remover and a cotton swab to remove the painting's varnish if needed.
4. Roll the wet end of the cotton swab on a small area of the painting with light pressure, then gradually move to larger areas. Check for any color that may lift off of the painting. If this happens, immediately stop swabbing the painting and take it to a professional conservationist for repairs and cleaning, since an inexperienced person cannot complete this job without ruining the painting.
5. Apply a layer of varnish to the cleaned surface.
Clean an Acrylic Painting
6. Dust off the surface of the painting by blowing it with compressed air.
7. Brush a soft, sable brush on the surface of the painting. Put a vacuum hose next to the sable brush to suck up any dirt that brushes off the surface of the painting.
8. Put a cotton swab in your mouth or wet a cotton swab with deionized water, making the tip as lightly damp as possible, then roll it on the painting's surface very gently and evenly to remove any remaining dirt; testing in a small area first. If not done correctly, this can damage the painting.
