Cleaning Smoke Dust on Statue

[iceprince_x]

My house nearly got burned down recently if not my staff was able to come in time to stop the fire caused by an over heated electrical fan; The house was covered by black smoke when he came in. No one got hurt including my pug who was left alone at that time as I was on a business trip.

Now that everything is settled and accounted for, I checked all my collection and they have the smoke residue and black particles lingering to them. Water seems not effective and I fear alcohol or soap will damage the paint.

Any advice to clean the statues?
Also do prolong sticking of this substance affect the paint? I have a thousand statues and I am the only one who will be cleaning them.

[UnicornPegasus]

Dawn (dishwashing soap), warm water, a soft toothbrush, and a lot of gentle work. IPA or any kind of solvent could react very poorly with paint.

In extreme cases I've seen people mention the oil based stuff like Goo-Gone, etc, but I've not tried that on any painted items, so I can't give that a recommendation based on any first hand experience.

[nearmint]

Originally Posted by iceprince_x

I have a thousand statues

Wow.

[iceprince_x]

Originally Posted by UnicornPegasus

Dawn (dishwashing soap), warm water, a soft toothbrush, and a lot of gentle work. IPA or any kind of solvent could react very poorly with paint.

In extreme cases I've seen people mention the oil based stuff like Goo-Gone, etc, but I've not tried that on any painted items, so I can't give that a recommendation based on any first hand experience.

Thank you. I used Johnson?s Johnson baby shampoo. So far so good. No way to quicken the process but better do it slow than be sorry with the damage.

[Halcyon]

Originally Posted by iceprince_x

My house nearly got burned down recently..
..Any advice to clean the statues?
Also do prolong sticking of this substance affect the paint? I have a thousand statues and I am the only one who will be cleaning them.

Originally Posted by iceprince_x

Thank you. I used Johnson?s Johnson baby shampoo. So far so good. No way to quicken the process but better do it slow than be sorry with the damage.

Sorry to hear. Goodluck with cleaning them.
Can't imagine cleaning by hand.. 1000 / about 3 statues a week = 7 years of work

Do you have or can use someones sauna / steam room ??
Example, Use flower sprayer with the baby shampoo on a few statues / one hour steaming / and then rinse afterwards with lukewarm water / drying for few hours.
Or something like that ?

[iceprince_x]

Originally Posted by Halcyon

Sorry to hear. Goodluck with cleaning them.
Can't imagine cleaning by hand.. 1000 / about 3 statues a week = 7 years of work

Do you have or can use someones sauna / steam room ??
Example, Use flower sprayer with the baby shampoo on a few statues / one hour steaming / and then rinse afterwards with lukewarm water / drying for few hours.
Or something like that ?

Will the heat of the sauna affect the resin like make it bend? Will try the flower spray method. May hit a wider coverage than using qtips and cotton. Thank you for this suggestion.

I started with my Skottie young animated marvel, I have done already half way. Not yet doing the 1:6 scale ones. I truly dread the mixed media ones with fake leather.

[iceprince_x]

Originally Posted by nearmint

Wow.

I collect smaller statues since 2007 so its truly accumulation for nearly 20 years of collecting.

[Halcyon]

Originally Posted by iceprince_x

Will the heat of the sauna affect the resin like make it bend? Will try the flower spray method. May hit a wider coverage than using qtips and cotton. Thank you for this suggestion.

I started with my Skottie young animated marvel, I have done already half way. Not yet doing the 1:6 scale ones. I truly dread the mixed media ones with fake leather.

All the loose thin long parts you still should do by hand.
I was thinking the sauna so you have more floor-space for a few statues at once (just for soaking the dirty layer a bit with the soap and water vapor). Room temperature up to 40-celsius (105 F) should be possible/enough i think.