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Paintings can be maintained for years as long as some care and attention is given. Two lessons in the care of paintings are to minimize conditions that cause damage and the second is to follow directions or guidelines in cleaning oil paintings.
By following step-by-step instructions you can clean and refurbish your paintings like a professional. Below are instructions on how to clean an oil painting.
The instructions to clean your paintings are made up of five steps . Make sure to read the directions before you begin and carefully follow the instructions.
Step 1 : Take a photograph of the front and back of the paintings so you'll remember what your paintings looked like before you clean them.
Step 2: Lay the painting on a clean sheet of paper. Wear gloves to protect your hands and be sure the area is well ventilated. Don't press down on the canvas too much or you'll stretch it.
Step 3: Apply a neutralizer on a piece of cotton and gently wipe it over the painting to clean off any dirt on its surface.
To determine which product will clean paintings best, use a cotton swab with emulsion cleaner and varnish remover to test a corner of the painting. Emulsion cleaner removes dirt and smoke. Varnish remover removes yellowed varnish.
Step 4: Now start to clean the oil painting. Dip a 6" wooden Q-tip into the cleaning solution. Use a rolling motion (not a circular motion) when applying the cleaner.
Make sure that you are removing dirt or varnish and not paint. Take another photograph before you clean the entire painting. Dispose of used swabs and cotton in a covered metal container.
Step 5: Varnish the oil painting with gloss varnish or any other suitable painting varnish.
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