DOES ANYBODY KNOW HOW TO 'CLEAN' PAINTINGS?

This one and the painting included in the comment, were rescued from going to the bin... They hung in my aunt's house, and I know they have brought them from Slovenia, Ljubljana in 1954 approx... I would love to keep them. Their conditions though, are not very good. The frames just broke up because of humidity, but the paintings are in oils. I think the only thing that I'd need to do is clean them... But how? I would greatly appreciate any help!!!!

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Comment by Silvana M Albano on February 8, 2014 at 11:18: Wow Pandalana!!!!!! Thank you sooo much! I think I will try the bread one first... and if it doesn't work, I will see where I can get those specific cleaning products! i really appreciate you remembering! :)!

Comment by Pandalana Williams on February 8, 2014 at 7:40: I found this link for using bread dough to clean a painting safely.

http://www.biddingtons.com/content/mrscleanpainting.html

I also found info on a product that is suppose to be really good:

http://www.gainsboroughproducts.com/cleaning_article.html

And to use a very soft squirrel or badger brush to dust it with.

Do not use any water as it can get under the skin of the varnish (especially pre-1940 paintings) and cause blanching (or a chaulky white film)

Comment by Michael J. Severin on December 17, 2013 at 16:41: This particular book is a technical manual on the properties of all aspects of painting concerning chemistry, permanence, chemical breakdown of paint, mediums, supports, etc.etc.

Comment by Silvana M Albano on December 17, 2013 at 16:05: Oh! Thanks Michael! I wonder if it is worth the trouble and/ or money of looking for a professional.... I don't even know who has painted them! It's just more a sentimental issue than the art in itself.... I'll look Ralph Mayer up! Thanks!

Comment by Michael J. Severin on December 17, 2013 at 15:39: Hi Silvana. I just read about cleaning oil paintings from "The Artist's Handbook of Materials and Techniques". The author is Ralph Mayer. Anyway, there is a complete chapter on this and it is a very complicated process that really would require a professional restorer.

Comment by Silvana M Albano on December 17, 2013 at 10:10: Thank you all so much! I think I will be able to get rid of the dust, but I think the colours are much duller than what they should be... I haven't thougt about the lead... being old paintings I suppose there is quite a lot in them!!!

Comment by Jeri McDonald on December 17, 2013 at 7:21: I have some old paintings as well and I simply use my feather duster on them. It gets most of the dust off and will not harm the painting.

Comment by Michael J. Severin on December 17, 2013 at 5:51: I do agree with Manneherrin 100% on that.

Comment by Manneherrin on December 17, 2013 at 4:58: everywhere I look it says to seek a qualified professional if your painting is covered in dust. Not only that I would think that special precaution is needed just in case the paints used contain lead.

Comment by Michael J. Severin on December 17, 2013 at 3:44: No. soap and water would not be the answer. I have a good reference book on that. Let me take a look at it and I will get back to you with an educated answer ..not a guess.