Cleaning old oil painting

[unframed_mystery]

A friend of mine at work knows someone who recently brought a 90 year old oil painting on canvas from Switzerland. It's a family painting, she wasnt allowed to bring the original frame with her (too bad) but its still on its original stretcher bars. Her question to me was, how can the painting be cleaned? Someone told her friend that she could buy some sort of product to clean it herself with (its been exposed to cigarette smoke for years and is very yellowed). My advice was not to try to clean it herself until she talked to a professional restorer. Is there such a product? How successful is it? Does it need to be professionally done? Or should she just leave it alone? Any advice I can pass on to her would be appreciated. smile.gif

[ArtLady]

I think your friend should see a canvas conservator. There are many chemicals involved that must be identified before a cleaning direction can be determined. There is no one product that does it all.

[AndyPan, CPF]

Unless you've done it before, I woule be EXTREMELY hesitant to attempt cleaning an oil on your own. There are solvents on the market for just such a purpose, but unless you know exactly how to use them, it would be quite easy to cause irreparable damage tot he painting.

I should think she should be able to take the painting to a conservator for just an estimate on cleaning. I don't know if she was a rare case, but we had a conservator next door to our shop, and she used to charge between $40 and $90 for smaller size paintings, depending on the level of cleaning needed, and upwards of $125 for larger ones. At any rate, the cost will vary depending on the level of grime that needs to come off.

My advice is take it a professional. Even if she choooses not to get it done immediately, because the cost is higher than she expected, at least she has an idea what the cost WILL be, and can plan accordingly. smile.gif

[JRB]

Many years ago, when I sold artists supplies, Grumbacher put out a product for cleaning paintings. I tried it several times on different canvases, it did absolutly nothing. If they still make it, it's a waste of money.

If you are unfamiliar with cleaning oil paintings, send her to a pro. The variables are just to many to try it on your own. The condition of the canvas and the paint will determin how it should be handled. If you want to learn more about cleaning and restoration, contact Gainsbouro Products ( spelling? ) They usually run ads in PFM and probably Decor.

John

[Jack Cee]

Depending upon how brave you are, you should either have your client take it to a conservator or to someone that specializes in the cleaning of oil paintings. The are not necessarily the same. I suggest that you have the client take it because of the risk involved, in any case do not accept the responsibility for damage- give your client a warning that all conservators to not conserve and that someone that cleans oils may do a fine job for a reasonable price. We have cleaned some oils if they are in good condition (no cracking or flaking) with a mild detergent and soft water. Be sure that you use clean sponges for the task and test a spot before proceeding further. Just warn your client that you are not proficient in cleaning oils, and you may want to get a signed disclaimer. (although they are quite meaningless if anyone is serious about damages)

I expect that someone may disagree on this but then that is OK, I just do my own thing anyway.

Jack Cee
Expressive Surroundings

[Rebecca]

Paintings conservation is not something that can be self taught. Professionals have 2-3 years of academic and practical training, usually at a post graduate level, as well as lengthy internships. Learning is lifelong. Cleaning solutions are custom made for each painting, and often different solutions/gels are required for different sections of the painting - artists don't paint in a uniform manner, and the painting may not age uniformly. The manner in which cleaning agents are used also affects the final job. The right solution in the wrong hands can have very bad results.

There is incredible variety in the kinds of paints artists use, and the way in which they use them. There is no proprietory solution that works for everything. A conservator makes extensive tests, over the whole painting, before deciding how to approach each cleaning.

Like framing, conservation is a real profession with professional standards. There is nothing secret about what we do, but it does take training to do it.

Rebecca

[unframed_mystery]

Thanks everyone for the input! Your answers were also my initial response. I wouldn't attempt to clean a painting like that on my own! So I will steer her toward a professional restorer.
smile.gif
btw, have I mentioned how much I appreciate all of you..? :cool: (I do)

[Manny]

I would highly recommend to take a 90 year old oil to a professional. Some oils have a varnish on them and a professional will know if the varnish has to be removed. We do superficial cleaning on "factory" oils only, by using Ivory Soap, which is 99.9% PH neutralized. We start at a corner by rubbing lightly in a circular motion and after doing a small portion we use a clean, slightly damp cloth to remove the .1% of the residue. This procedure works very well and it is safe on the oil painting or varnish. I am not by any means a professional, however, this procedure was advised by a professional.

Marie

[Rebecca]

Sorry Manny, but any soap, including Ivory, is very alkaline - the "99 44/100% pure" is just an old advertising slogan (I remember it from my childhood). Adding moisture to oil paintings can be safe, but is not necessarily safe. (The sad call with client crying "My painting is melting!" comes to mind :eek: ) If it works for you great, but keep a painting's conservators phone # handy just in case!
Rebecca

[Manny]

Thanks Rebecca

We'll dig a little further into this procedure and as I emphasised, we only use this on "factory" paintings which have little value.
Thanks for your input.

Marie

[artwolf]

If the cleaning involves stripping of old varnish and shellac, I will not touch it and urge the customer to see a conservator. Ih however it is a case of a painting having been exposed to smoke or every day pollutants, I will take it in for a cleaning job.
I use "Car Wash Detergent" as it does less damage to any oily or waxed surface and use it with distilled water. Works very well. I dry the surface with a hair dryer set on :"cool" setting (DO NOT USE YOUR AIR HOSE)and after 48 or so hours give it a coat of "Kamar Varnish".
I charge usually $40 for an average size picture.
I have had no complaints so far ;)

[Manny]

We just did a little more research on Ivory soap........ of the fifty six one hundredth % that is left (the unpure part, 11% is various alkalines. That would mean that Ivory soap has an approximate PH value of 9 on the scale. ( 7 is neutral) Ivory is, therefore, alkaline, however, upon researching Ivory, we have discovered that Dove has a value of 7 on the PH scale, which makes it neutral. Go figure!

Manny

[Reynard]

I use dove soap for surface cleaning oils.If it is just to remove nicotine staining or smoke damage from a coal fire or whatever it works beautifully according to my conservator!If you need to remove old shellac varnish or varnish that has yellowed then send it away to an expert.There are various oil painting cleaning solutions available but practice on rubbish you pick up at an auction hall before you let yourself loose on a customers work or if you are not sure then don,t do anything to the painting.Get a pro to do it.