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Simple home remedies for cleaning oil paintings on canvas or paper
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The surfaces of oil paintings are unique and sensitive, and over time, they can collect dirt, grime, and stains. While water, alcohol, and household cleaners to get the job done would damage your artwork, you can use simple household items like water, gentle soap, and a soft cloth to clean oil paintings. Let us paint you a picture of exactly how to clean an old oil painting—from easy home remedies to when to contact a professional art restorer. Plus, we’ll give you the top tips on keeping your oil painting well-preserved and dirt-free in the future!
The Best Way to Clean Oil Paintings
Gently dust the painting with a dry, soft cloth. If it needs more cleaning, slightly dampen the cloth with a mixture of warm water and olive oil-based soap. If there’s still visible dirt or grime, contact a professional art restorer. Avoid using cleaning sprays or alcohol-based solvents.
Steps
Section 1 of 3:
Cleaning an Oil Painting on Canvas
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Place the oil painting on a stable surface. If the painting is stable where it's already hanging on the wall, you can leave it in place to clean it. However, it’s usually recommended that the painting be taken down and placed on a flat, stable table or propped up against a sturdy easel for the best results.
- Removing the painting from the wall also allows you to look at the painting in different lighting conditions and get a better view of the dirt on the surface.
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Use a soft white cloth or very soft brush to clean dust from the painting. Take your dry cloth or soft-bristle paint brush and gently swish it against the painting. Start at one of the top corners and work your way down to ensure the dust is removed rather than just moved around. [1] X Research source- Be extra gentle on areas where the paint has a raised texture. Brushing too hard on those areas can cause the textured paint to break off.
- Use a cotton bud to clean out any corners that have pockets of dirt stuck in them.
- Sable bristle paint brushes are known for their softness and considered to be safe for this procedure. [2] X Research source
- Avoid using anything abrasive, like a coarse cloth, paper towel, or feather duster.
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Use a soft cloth and olive oil-based soapy water to remove dirt. Slightly dampen your cloth with a mixture of warm water and olive oil-based soap . Gently blot your oil painting with a damp cloth to take off any residual grime. If there’s still grime left, seek the help of a professional art restorer. [3] X Research source
- Stronger art cleaning products contain chemicals that could ruin your painting if you use them incorrectly.
- Some museum curators and other professionals use a saliva-coated cotton swab for this step, as the enzymes in saliva can gently break down dirt and grime.
- If you do try using the spit method to clean your oil painting, test your swab on a small section of your painting and make sure no paint color shows up on the swab.
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Avoid water, rubbing alcohol, baby oil, harsh soaps, and food products. Using water can change the appearance of the oil paint on the canvas, and rubbing alcohol can remove the paint completely. Some people think that baby oil can return suppleness to the surface of an oil painting and make the colors look brighter, but baby oil actually makes the surface sticky and even more susceptible to attracting dirt. [4] X Research source
- Similarly, avoid popular soap products like Murphy’s Oil Soap and Dawn Dish Soap. These products are great for cleaning oil painting off something, so they shouldn’t be used if you want to preserve your painting.
- But you can use Murphy’s Soap and Dawn dish soap to clean oil paint off of paint brushes ! [5] X Research source
- Some amateurs will tell you that wiping the surface of an oil painting with a slice of doughy bread or a cut potato is a great way to remove dirt and grime from the surface. However, food-based cleaning techniques can leave behind crumbs and residue that will further damage your painting. [6] X Research source
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Take valuable or antique oil paintings to a professional conservator. The surface of an oil painting is fragile, and it can be permanently changed or damaged by trying to clean the canvas at home. If your oil painting is old, worth money, or holds great sentimental value, cleaning it at home is not recommended. Take it to a professional conservator to have it cleaned. [7] X Research source
- Get valuable paintings insured before allowing a professional to clean them.
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Take oil paintings to a professional conservator to remove varnish. Varnish is a clear protective layer on the surface of an oil painting. Unless you’ve been trained or have experience with removing varnish, don’t attempt it. [8] X Research source
- An oil painting can be permanently damaged if this is done improperly, affecting both the aesthetic and monetary value of the painting.
- If you decide to attempt this yourself, use a professional cleaning kit made for removing varnish from an oil painting.
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Expert Q&A
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QuestionHow do you remove dust from art?Kelly Medford is an American painter based in Rome, Italy. She studied classical painting, drawing and printmaking both in the U.S. and in Italy. She works primarily en plein air on the streets of Rome, and also travels for private international collectors on commission. She founded Sketching Rome Tours in 2012 where she teaches sketchbook journaling to visitors of Rome. Kelly is a graduate of the Florence Academy of Art.If there's dust that dried into the paint, you won't be able to remove it. If it's just on the surface, wipe over the painting carefully with a static-free microfiber cloth.
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QuestionWhat is Gainsborough neutralizer?This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.wikiHow Staff EditorStaff AnswerThis is a product designed to stop the cleaning process of other Gainsborough products and/or remove residues from these products. It can also be added to other Gainsborough products to dilute them. You can look up exactly which products work with the neutralizer on Gainsborough's site.
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QuestionI have a family painting from the '30s that I love but it is dark and some of the paint is starting to crack and I'm afraid it will chip. Is there anything I can do?Community AnswerIt sounds like it needs to be professionally restored. You can do an online search for restoring services in your area.
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Tips
- If your oil painting has smoke damage from a fire, it’s best to consult with a professional art restorer. In the meantime, leave the painting in the room it’s in and avoid touching the surface for any reason. [16] X Research sourceThanks
- Store your oil painting away from any open doors and keep it tightly sealed to prevent any dust or dirt particles from attaching to the surface.Thanks
- Be wary of using brushes or sponges to clean an oil painting, as they can damage the surface of the paint. If you do use them, avoid using them for too long or too vigorously.Thanks
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Things You'll Need
- Soft white cloth or soft-bristle paint brush
- Warm water
- Olive oil-based soap
- Cotton buds (optional)
References
- ↑ https://www.bobvila.com/articles/how-to-clean-a-canvas-painting/
- ↑ https://lorimcnee.com/how-not-to-clean-an-oil-painting/
- ↑ https://artincontext.org/how-to-clean-an-oil-painting/
- ↑ https://lorimcnee.com/how-not-to-clean-an-oil-painting/
- ↑ https://youtu.be/2gMDf1Bwo9o?t=250
- ↑ https://www.agora-gallery.com/advice/blog/2016/04/12/cleaning-and-protecting-paintings-what-you-need-to-know/
- ↑ https://agifineart.com/advice/cleaning-and-protecting-paintings-what-you-need-to-know/
- ↑ https://fineart-restoration.co.uk/news/how-do-you-clean-oil-paintings-at-home/
- ↑ https://www.eden-gallery.com/news/how-to-clean-a-painting
- ↑ https://www.eden-gallery.com/news/how-to-clean-a-painting
- ↑ https://mci.si.edu/caring-your-paintings
- ↑ https://www.bapcr.org.uk/advice/care-for-your-paintings/
- ↑ https://www.bapcr.org.uk/advice/care-for-your-paintings/
- ↑ https://mci.si.edu/caring-your-paintings
- ↑ https://www.bapcr.org.uk/advice/care-for-your-paintings/
- ↑ https://fineart-restoration.co.uk/guides-and-advice/what-to-do-if-your-artworks-are-fire-damaged/
About This Article
Article Summary
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To clean light surface dust from an oil painting, lay the painting down on a flat, stable surface, like a table or desk. Grab a dry, soft paintbrush or microfiber cloth and gently swish it back and forth across the painting, starting in one of the top corners and working your way down. Go over the rest of the painting in small sections, always moving from top to bottom, until you’ve dusted the entire thing. For extra stubborn grime, moisten a high-quality cotton swab with saliva and gently dab the soiled area with it. This may sound gross, but the natural enzymes in your saliva will break down dirt without damaging the painting. Take old or valuable oil paintings to a professional conservator for cleaning. To learn how to preserve an oil painting, scroll down!
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Reader Success Stories
- "I purchased a canvas painting from a retail store. When the sun shone on the picture, it looks as if the store tried to clean it with a dirty cloth as you would do with glass. The bread removed the cloth marks." ..." more
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"I purchased a canvas painting from a retail store. When the sun shone on the picture, it looks as if the store tried to clean it with a dirty cloth as you would do with glass. The bread removed the cloth marks."
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"I bought a small Patti Rock that was very dirty,and this worked wonderfully. The brush work and colors are more wonderful than I imagined. Thank you so much."
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"The step by step instructions, combined with the assurance that it is used by conservators, assisted enormously."
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