After working for Witherspoon Art Gallery and Frame shop for several years and specializing in oil painting restoration I realized the need for framers, antique dealers and collectors to use the correct solutions for cleaning their oil paintings, and removing varnish. I saw so many paintings that had been ruined with the use of soap and water, potatoes, linseed oil, glue, 409 and other home remedies.

As it is difficult to buy supplies in small quantities we decided to form Gainsborough Products co in 1974 and "share" our knowledge of proper restoration methods with others. We have developed a manual, which concentrates on the restoration of oil paintings and includes two chapters on paper art.

Most of our proprietary chemical formulas are made with petroleum distillates. Many of these products are old European Museum formulas, carefully compounded with the finest ingredients, manufactured to the original specifications under scrupulous batch by batch control. We use only time proven organic based formulas of the type used to preserve the oldest artifacts in the world's leading museums.

INSTRUCTIONS

Before beginning be sure to take a photograph of both the front and the back of the painting. If there is any writing on either the front or the back take a close up photo.

Step 1: Lay the oil painting to be cleaned face up on a clean sheet of paper ( Kraft - rolled brown paper). Wear surgical gloves to protect your hands and be sure to have adequate ventilation. Take care not to press down on the canvas too much or you will stretch the canvas. I suggest using several pieces of linoleum or Formica under the area of the painting you are working. This will bringing it up to the height of the stretcher bars, to prevent undue pressure on the canvas. This can be purchased from a counter top manufacturer.

Step 2: Apply Gainsborough Neutralizer ( will act as a cleaner) on a piece of cotton and gently wipe over the face of the oil painting to clean off all the surface dirt. Use a cotton swab to test a corner of the oil painting with Gainsborough Emulsion cleaner and Varnish Remover to determine which product will best clean the painting. Emulsion cleaner will remove dirt and smoke, where as, Varnish Remover will remove yellowed varnish. Immediately after each test, apply Gainsborough Neutralizer on a piece of cotton and gently wipe over the test area to neutralize the cleaning action.

Step 3: After establishing which Gainsborough product to use, you may begin cleaning the oil painting. Dip a 6" wooden Q tip ( cotton swab, do not use plastic) into the Gainsborough cleaning product you have selected. These can be ordered through though Gainsbourough or may find them at your local drug store. Use a rolling motion (not a circular scrubbing motion) when applying the cleaner. Watch your swab carefully to be sure that you are removing only dirt or varnish and not the paint. I recommend cleaning a 2" square area at a time and then neutralizing the area with Gainsborough Neutralizer before proceeding to another area. I suggest doing the sky at one time, then the trees, etc. because it is easier to watch for any color that might be coming off. Always take a half-and-half photograph before you clean the entire painting. Dispose of your used swabs and cotton in a covered metal container, as they are combustible. A photo album showing paintings you have cleaned will be a valuable tool in selling your service to prospective customers.

Step 4: The final step is to varnish the oil painting with Gainsbororugh Gloss Varnish or any other suitable painting varnish.

Additional oil paining restoration instructions can be found at Gainsborough's Complete Manual of Oil Painting Restoration.

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