This is especially important for paintings that don’t have a sturdy backing.
Saliva is a tried and true cleaning method that’s stood the test of time—plus, you already have most of the supplies on hand! Consider testing a tiny corner of your painting with saliva before rubbing it over your entire painting. If the spit seems to clean off the painting, feel free to continue cleaning with it. Only use moisture to clean your painting as a last resort. [6] X Research source If you don’t want to use saliva, you can dip your cotton swab in a tiny amount of deionized water instead. You can find this water online, or in some grocery stores.
Always clean your painting on a clean, sturdy surface, like a table.
Brushes with natural bristles are best for this. Don’t use feather dusters or hard-bristle brushes to clean your oil painting, as these may damage the surface.
You can find neutralizers online or at most art supply shops. As the name suggests, this product cancels out the effects of the emulsion cleaner. Varnish removers are sometimes used to clean and brighten the surface of a painting, but you shouldn’t use them unless you know what you’re doing.
Don’t soak a dirty swab with more emulsion cleaner. If your swab is dirty, feel free to use a new, clean one instead. Always roll your swab across the painting instead of scrubbing the surface.
Don’t try to remove any varnish from the painting. Even if you’re really careful, you may end up damaging the painting.
Set the wire nearby for whenever you reassemble the painting.
If you jostle the painting while removing the nails vertically, there’s a chance that you could damage the artwork.
If you think the painting is stuck to the frame in some way, ask a professional for help.
