The Framers Forum

I have just stretched and framed a canvas painting for a customer.
He has picked it up and unfortunately while taking it home he had dirty hands....and has parked the canvas with said dirty hands.

He has phoned and asked if there’s any special tips to take the marks off?

I said I would ask fellow framers to see as I’m not 100% sure and don’t want to recommend the wrong option.

Thanks,

Ian

The method is to try something mild and escalate accordingly.

(Assuming it's done in oils.....)

The first thing is a damp piece of cotton wool rubbed on a bar of soap.

Next thing is White Spirit.

That's as far as you want to go. If it won't shift then the services of an experienced restorer are called for.

** !!!!! If it's Acrylic then DO NOT go near it with White Spirit.

** !!!!! If it's Acrylic then DO NOT go near it with White Spirit

That's interesting.
What happens if you do?

It goes cloudy. I found this out the hard way on a customer's painting. Fortunately I managed to save it by going over it
with the stuff you use to revive plastic bumpers on cars, which I happened to have handy. That was about 25 years ago
and the chap hasn't been to pick it up yet. The painting is fine. It's hanging in my rogues 'gallery'.