Cleaning An Old Oil Painting

[TommyC]

Can anyone please suggest any useful tips for cleaning the dusty and grimy surface of a small but quite old (60+ years ?) oil painting in a frame, which has been hidden away in a corner for far too long ? I believe there's a standard substance used by the experts, but I don't know what it's called or where to buy it. The painting isn't worth anything very much and is quite small, but I'd like to clean it gently prior to selling it - or just giving it away.

[Atheist]

Saliva. Start with a cotton bud moistened with the tongue (don't eat or drink prior to this, other than water). Try a bit that's hidden by the frame to see how it goes.
It won't remove old varnish, but that's best left to an expert.

[dustypuss]

Domostos and a brillow pad . Only joking .

[dustypuss]

https://www.riseart.com/guide/2395/how-to-clean-an-oil-painting#:~:text=The%20easiest%20way%20to%20remove,remove%20some%20of%20the%20paint.

[pastafreak]

From a site called Riseart...


Removing dust from oil painting canvases

Perhaps your oil painting is collecting dust? The easiest way to remove a thin layer of dust, grime or residue is with a soft cloth and soapy water. Due to its low pH level and mild properties, olive oil-based soap is often considered the most effective soap to use. Make sure you don’t use anything that contains alcohol as this could remove some of the paint. Gently blot your painting with your damp cloth and you’ll instantly see how much dirt comes off. For the corners, or if the painting is particularly textured and impasto, you can always use cotton buds to get into pockets of dirt that have built up over time.

[pastafreak]

Dustypuss wasn't there when I went on my search.

[Atheist]

Hey! I juust found an old post recommending spit! I don't know how to do a link, but here's a bit of an answer.

"Just use a soft cloth and a mild detergent . As long as the painting is not flakey this will do the trick . I also was told that professional restorers also use spit ! This may work but dosn't sound very hygenic , and if its a large painting a lot of hard work ... "

I'm not as mad as some think.