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How to Get Rid of Smudge Marks From Oil Pastels

Soft, pliable oil pastels are a popular medium with many artists because they're workable once they're applied to the canvas. But their consistency poses a problem when the pigment transfers from the pastel to the artist's hands and then onto clothing or carpet. When a smudge occurs, minimize the damage by taking steps to quickly remove the smudge.

Things You'll Need

  • White cloths
  • Rubbing alcohol
  • Mineral spirits
  • Tweezers
  • Scissors
  • Soda water
  • Table salt
  • Small broom
  • Dustpan
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Instructions

  1. Clothing

    • 1

      Wet a white cloth with rubbing alcohol.

    • 2

      Dab the smudge to remove as much pigment as possible.

    • 3

      Repeat Steps 1 and 2 with mineral spirits until the color is removed.

    Carpet-Small Smudge

    • 4

      Use tweezers to gently pick any solid oil pastel out of the carpet. Wipe the tweezers between passes so that the pigment doesn't return to the carpet.

    • 5

      Trim the surface of the carpet in the stained area, making short snips to avoid cutting too deeply.

    • 6

      Reexamine the area often to determine progress.

    Carpet-Large Smudge

    • 7

      Pour enough soda water on the smudge to dampen it. Sprinkle with table salt. As the salt absorbs the liquid it will absorb the pigment.

    • 8

      Gently sweep the salt into a dust pan to avoid marking any more carpet.

    • 9

      Repeat Steps 1 and 2 until the salt fails to collect pigment.

    • 10

      Wet the corner of a white cloth with mineral spirits. Dab the smudge--don't rub--to pick up pigment. When one part of the cloth becomes colored, move on to a clean area.

    • 11

      Repeat Step 4 until the pigment is removed.

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