Over time these react with negatively charged components of oil called fatty acids, which have been severed from the rest of ...

While you should be able to easily clean most wall art and decor in your home, if you have an oil painting, a family heirloom or a vintage piece of art that needs more attention or needs restored ...

My grandfather was a heavy smoker. -- Karen G., Santa Fe, New Mexico Karen, you can find a product called a painting restorer for cleaning old paintings. Many art supply stores carry it.

Most of the grime tends to be just dirt and cigarette smoke, he said. You should avoid cleaning a painting without that protective layer, as you could wind up taking off the paint itself.

According to Wil Bias, owner of MB Painting and Maintenance Services, LLC, in New Orleans, cleaning walls depends primarily on whether the paint is oil-based or latex. To safely clean latex ...