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1914 Lion Oil Painting Cleaner 250ml

Mild, yet effective and can do little harm to old and delicate paints. Instruction sheet free with every bottle.

NOTE: We have no control over the way you may use any cleaners, and therefore cannot accept any liability for damage caused by its misuse. 

This is a solution for cleaning surface grime and smoke from old paintings. It is safe when used as instruced. However, if in any doubt at all, test on a small part of the painting which is out of sight.

1) The solution is ready to use from the bottle. Pour a little into a shallow dish.

2) Have several swabs of cotton wool ready and prepare to work using both hands. Dip one swab into the solution and squeeze out the excess. Have a dry swab in the other hand. Apply the solution by starting in one corner, over an area about 25mm x 25mm.

Use a firm wipe and immediately wipe off with the dry swab.

3) Check the swabs for colour loss and, if all is well, continue systematically across the painting. Change the swabs as they become dirty. Tip: If you keep the swabs in a tray you can see how much dirt has been removed.

4) The first cleaning may well show a startling improvement to the picture. However, it is very likely that a second clean will be beneficial. Always leave the painting to rest for 3 days between cleanings.

'Impasto' Paint

Before starting a second cleaning look carefully at the painting. Many paintings have some areas of impasto or textured paint. This technique is used by artists to accentuate certain parts of the painting, such as clouds or the foreground. 

The texture of the paint will often hold the dirt in the grooves and it will not come out by wiping with cotton wool. For the second cleaning, use cotton buds which as easy to work with in these textured areas. 

Note: Never leave the oil painting solution on the surface of the painting. Always wipe off any drips immediately.