Cover faded oil paintings with a damp, clean cloth for 3–4 hours (preferably soaked in rainwater) to revive them. When the cloth dries, remove it and apply a thin layer of linseed oil evenly across the painting’s surface using a piece of canvas.
To restore the painting’s shine, apply hydrogen peroxide or wipe the surface with a cut onion.
For gilded frames and cornices, clean them with a cut onion and polish them with a fine, soft cloth. Alternatively, wash frames with a sponge soaked in alcohol or turpentine, then dry them with a soft cloth.
Mash boiled peas into a thick paste and apply the paste to gilded bronze items. Let it sit for several hours. Then rinse the bronze with boiling water and wipe it with a clean cloth.
Alternatively, place gilded bronze items in a soapy solution and boil them. Remove the items and wipe them with a soft cloth or brush. Wash the items in warm water, dry them, and polish the dry bronze with chamois leather.
