How to Clean An Oil Painting

If it’s a good oil painting, one that’s worth money or means something special to you, have it cleaned by a professional. It will cost a lot of money to have the painting cleaned, but you can just destroy a nice painting if you try to clean it without knowing what you’re doing.

Water or water-based cleaning solutions will make the paint crack and flake off. If you have to clean the painting, use a cleaning solution that’s made just for cleaning oil paintings and follow the directions really carefully.

You can use a soft paintbrush or even an old toothbrush to brush dirt or dust off of a painting. You can also use the tip of a soft cloth as long as it’s smooth.

They sell cleaning products for oil paintings at craft and hobby stores. Most of these cleaners are for removing yellowed varnish from a painting. You apply the solution with a cotton swab a little bit at a time, being really careful not to press too hard orlet the emulsion pool up and make the canvas wet. Test the product on your least favorite corner of the painting first, just a tiny little space, in case it makes the paint start to come off of the canvas.

Whoever runs the store will just have to know the best way to clean a dingy oil painting. After all, they have to clean all of the ones they’re going to sell!

never ever used any cleaning solution because I’m 100 percent sure it will never be the same again since the chemical reaction will affect it thats why you will notice they always advise to varnish it precisely because the varnish will cover the imperfection hehehe. Not even the most experienced restorer can prevent it, the color will always be disturbed. the pigments will blend with the dirt. the safest way to keep it as good as the first time it left the artists hand is to dust it every 3 mos with a very soft dry brush to prevent dust and smoke build up assuming that its already completely dry.the color and condition will always be as good as the first time you took it home.