Don’t Try This At Home: How To Avoid Art Restoration Disasters

Superglue, Bleach, Tape… all alarming words when we hear about damaged artwork. Well-meaning clients and technicians can unintentionally worsen the damage to valuable items by attempting untrained repair methods. Our conservators are often alarmed by broken ceramics bonded with household glue and paintings deteriorating due to harsh cleaning techniques.

Above: a painting damaged by inappropriate cleaning techniques 

While quick fixes might seem like a good idea in the chaos of an emergency, they often lead to additional and avoidable costs when it comes time for professional restoration.

When faced with amateur repairs, our team must spend hours reversing the damage before beginning proper conservation treatments. This article explores the most common DIY repairs we encounter, the myths that surround them, and how these efforts often do more harm than good.

Sticky Situations

Common glues are often seen as a quick and easy fix. When something breaks, many people immediately think “I can fix this myself!” without realizing how precise the adhesive choice and application need to be.

A clean break is rarely simple. Tiny fragments may be missing, and the break line will usually be uneven and unstable without careful filling and retouching. A professional uses a minimal amount of conservation-grade adhesive to prevent leakage when rejoining the pieces.

Above: a sculpture damaged with an amateur glue repair – before and after restoration by our team

In contrast, amateur glue jobs tend to seep out and get wiped away, leaving sticky residue as it dries. Even if it looks clear at first, the adhesive and break line will eventually discolor. And the acids in superglue? They penetrate the ceramic’s pores, causing additional damage that takes time and expertise to reverse.

Similar to superglue, tape leaves behind acidic residue that turns dark yellow over time. We frequently find tape on the back of torn canvases or holding broken objects together. Removing strong tape, such as duct tape, complicates treatment—and can even damage the decor further.

What Should You Do With Broken Decor?

Gather all fragments, no matter how small, and store them together in a container. Use packing paper or padding to prevent them from rubbing or knocking against each other in transit.

Above: a porcelain lid with residue from a previous repair – before and after restoration by our conservator 

Contact our team promptly, and we’ll assess the damage and provide a professional treatment plan. If we don’t have to undo a previous repair attempt, the restoration process is usually more straightforward. Our conservators use careful, sensitive techniques to ensure a safe and seamless result.

Cleaning Calamities

After disasters, we often see paintings that have been subjected to untrained cleaning attempts. It’s natural to want to quickly remove smoke, stains, mold, or other contaminants—but applying industrial cleaners, bleach, or even household cleaning agents is a major mistake. Even rubbing with a cloth can damage delicate surfaces.

Above: inappropriate cleaning techniques can lead to cloudy moisture damage and chemical contamination – as seen above on this discolored oil painting 

Paintings, whether modern or antique, must be carefully evaluated to determine the best approach. Some paintings are varnished, but not all, and others may have cracks or loose paint hiding beneath the surface. Wiping or scrubbing without understanding the painting’s materials can result in severe and irreversible damage.

What Should You Do With a Dirty Painting?

If your artwork is discolored by smoke or mold, contact our team before doing anything. We will safely collect the piece for initial testing. Once we know the materials used, we apply customized treatments with precision tools like a tiny cotton swab.

Above: a baroque portrait halfway through professional cleaning and varnish removal 

Conservation cleaning is meticulous and it can take many hours or even days. It’s not something that can be handled with a quick DIY approach or without precise scientific training.

Repair Myths

Over the years, our team has heard about many unconventional and unsafe repair techniques. These “old wives’ tales” often do real harm.

Here are just a few examples of what not to do:

• Rolling bread over a painting to lift stains
• Painting over damaged, cracked and flaking areas
• Attempting kintsugi with no experience
• Using household bleach to clean mold
• Taping both sides of a torn canvas
• Rubbing a surface with potato or banana skins
• Washing artwork with soapy water
• Using nail polish remover to “clean” an artwork
• Applying cleaning liquids to the back of a canvas
• Trying to glue ceramics back together with milk, resulting in a sour smell and internal damage

Conservators rely on years of experience and a scientific approach to repair. Every artwork is unique and requires a personalized treatment plan for a safe outcome.

If you’re ever unsure of what to do after damage occurs, contact our team before anyone attempts a DIY fix. We’re here to help.

Contact Us

If you have any questions about art restoration and conservation, please do not hesitate to get in touch. E-mail us via info@fineart-restoration.com or fill out the form below.