Before actually cleaning an oil painting, take some time to prepare your materials and work space. The necessary cleaning materials include an emulsion cleaner, varnish remover, neutralizer, gloss varnish, 6-inch wooden handle cotton swabs, surgical cotton, surgical gloves and a small plastic container. Choose a work area that is sufficient for the size of your painting and has adequate lighting. Clean your work area to ensure that no excess dirt will get on the painting.
Lay the oil painting out on your work area with the side to be cleaned facing upward. Put on your surgical gloves and soak some sponges in the neutralizing agent. Wipe this solution over the entire oil painting to clean off any excess dirt and grime. With the painting prepped and ready, dip one cotton swab in the emulsion cleaner and one cotton swab in the varnish remover. Test each cleaning agent in a small corner of the painting to determine which one will work best to clean your painting.
Emulsion cleaners are best suited to remove dirt and smoke. Varnish remover is used to removed yellowed, aged varnish. Begin to clean the painting with cotton swabs by rolling them across the canvas. Once a swab has been used completely, start with a new one. Do not re-dip swabs into cleaning agents once they have been used. Clean a 2-inch square at one time to monitor the color quality as the painting is being cleaned.
Once the painting is cleaned, the final process is to varnish the painting. This step will seal the newly cleaned painting and protect the color tone and quality for years to follow. Soak cotton sponges in the varnish and gently apply it to the painting. When all of these steps are completed, gather all swabs and sponges used in the cleaning process and seal them in a metal container for proper disposal.