How to Clean Smoke Residue from a Canvas Oil Painting

Cleaning an oil painting might best be left to the professionals, so if the painting has extreme monetary or sentimental value it may be a good idea to take it to a pro.  If you’re willing to give cleaning it a try yourself, here are two methods. The Quick and Easy Cleaning can be used on paintings you’re not concerned with potentially harming. If you have a painting you are concerned with saving, the Cleaning Like a Professional method should be a safe one but you must take your time and follow all directions carefully.

You Will Need:

• A slice of white bread
• White vinegar
• Water, preferably distilled
• Some cotton balls

Steps to Clean the Painting:

1. The easiest thing to do is simply rub a slice of white bread over the painting. The nicotine buildup will hopefully transfer to the bread, so turn the bread to a clean area as needed. Bread is slightly acidic, so it can cut through the nicotine.
2. If the bread doesn’t work, you will need something stronger. Mix one part white vinegar with three parts water in a bowl or other container. Only a spoonful or two should be needed for each ‘part’ measurement. If you have hard water where you live that usually leaves a white hazy film on surfaces, use distilled water instead.
3. Dip a cotton ball in the vinegar mixture, then squeeze it to wring out the excess moisture.
4. Gently rub the cotton ball over the painting. Try to only rub one direction (either up to down or left to right, etc.) if the paint is flat or if the paint is thick, try moving with the direction of the paint strokes.
5. The nicotine will transfer to the cotton ball so switch to a new one as needed.
6. Go over te painting again with plain water on a cotton ball to remove the vinegar residue and help to neutralize it (water has a pH might higher than vinegar).

You Will Need:

• Gainsborough Neutralizer or similar
• Gainsborough Emulsion Cleaner or similar
• Large sheet of clean paper
• Cotton balls
• Cotton swabs with long (6″) wooden handle
• Varnish for Oil Paintings (optional)

Steps to Remove the Residue:

1. Lay the painting face up on a large sheet of paper. (If you have anything you can place under the canvas of the painting to keep it from stretching downward as you apply gentle pressure, it will help to protect your artwork.)
2. Apply neutralizer to a piece of cotton. Wipe it over the surface of the painting, changing dirty cotton balls as needed, to clean away surface dust or dirt. Although the neutralizer should be perfectly safe, begin in a corner to test it before you cover the entire painting.
3. Use a cotton swab to test the emulsion cleaner in a corner of the painting. If the painting does not pass the spot test, stop now and call in a professional restorer. If the painting does pass the spot test, continue to the next step.
4. Clean in small sections, about 3-4″ square at a time, by rolling the cotton swab with emulsion cleaner over the surface using only gentle pressure. Do NOT scrub, the rolling motion is very important.
5. After you clean each section, go back over it with the neutralizer on a cotton ball. Make sure you work in sections small enough so that the emulsion cleaner does not dry on the surface before you use the neutralizer. This is an important step. You must neutralize the cleaning agent in order to prevent possible damage to the painting.
6. If desired, finish with a gloss varnish to preserve and protect the painting.

• Plan to spend a great deal of time on this project. Always spot test, use gentle strokes and take care not to over wet the painting.
• You can probably find the necessary supplies for the professional-style cleaning in a local artist supply store. The brand name is not important, as long as the product is intended for the same purpose as the ones indicated above.
• When in doubt, call in a professional to complete the cleaning.