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How to Clean a Paint Palette

Contributor
By eHow Contributing Writer
(1 Ratings)

As much as you may try to keep your palette clean, it's easy to forget occasionally and end up with a palette covered in rock hard dried oil paints. Dried oil paint is never easy to clean, but with some turpentine and a razor blade you can get it back to a usable state again.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy
Instructions

Things You'll Need:

  • Well-ventilated room
  • Clean rags
  • Turpentine
  • Razor blade
  1. Step 1

    Wipe the palette clean after each painting session to prevent oil paint from crusting onto the palette in the first place. You can use some turpentine or linseed oil and a rag to remove all paint residue.

  2. Step 2

    Start with a well ventilated room. Open windows in the room and set up a window fan, if you have one. Breathing in turpentine fumes is hazardous to your health.

  3. Step 3

    Wipe up any excess paint that hasn't yet dried onto the palette.

  4. Step 4

    Use a clean rag to dab turpentine onto the dried oil paint.

  5. Step 5

    Allow the turpentine to soak into the dried oil paint for about 30 minutes.

  6. Step 6

    Scrape the softened dried paint off the palette with a razor blade.

  7. Step 7

    Consider using disposable palettes, if you find that you often forget to clean up well after a painting session. Cheap plastic palettes can be purchased from craft stores, or you can cover a wooden palette with plastic wrap. You could also try a pad of palette paper.

  8. Step 8

    Soak a paint palette covered in dried acrylic paint in fabric softener. The paint will soften and come off very easily.

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