Art pieces (old icons) are affected through time by the actions of external factors such as
temperature, humidity, light, pollution, microbiological attack, usage degradation, etc. Their
actions result in the modification of their overall aspect and structural integrity. For such
modifications, one can use cleaning systems, methods for removing adherent surface covers.
Such methods have been already mentioned and promoted by their authors in the past. They are
based on physic-mechanical processes of fine asperities and washing solutions with mixes of
organic solvents or water solution or on natural extracts of vegetables and medicinal plants
decocts.
Washing systems and intervention methods are chosen based on the chemical and
physical nature of the materials which are to be removed and the state of the original materials,
painting type, conservation state, age and its value [1-6]. As already mentioned, the ecological
cleaning system with natural extracts and medicinal plants decoct were frequently used in the
past. Remarkably, they show a series of advantages (minimum aggression, high synergy, low
cost, zero toxicity, etc.). When using such an ecological system, we ran first the washing test on
very small surfaces for representative painting degradations.
The cleaning process imposes the study of the dirt/deposits and the varnish, as well as the other
painting components (pigments, links / adhesives, filling materials, kits, etc.) as well as the
support.

References:
[1] Sandu, I. C. A.; Sandu, I.; Luca, C. Aspecte moderne privind conservarea bunurilor culturale,
vol. II. Autentificarea şi stabilirea stării de conservare a picturilor vechi, Ed. Performantica:
Iaşi, 2005.
[2] Sandu, I. C. A.; Luca, C.; Sandu, I.; Vasilache, V.; Hazashi, M. Authentication of ancient
easel-paintings through materials identification from polychrome layers. II. FTIR
Spectroscopy. In: Revista de chimie, 2008, vol. 59, 384-387.
[3] Sandu, I.; Sandu, I. C. A.; Sandu, I. G. Colorimetria în artă, Ed. Corson, Iaşi, 2002, p. 273;
[4] Brandi, C. Restauration Theory. Einaudi Editori: Torino, 1977.
[5] Perusini, G. Restoration of paintings and wooden sculptures. Del Bianco Editore, Udine,
1990.
[6] Brunetti, B. G.; Matteini, M.; Pinna, D.; Porcinai, S.; Sandu, I. C. A. “Il survey LabSTECH
sui materiali e metodi (MM) impiegati per la conservazione e il restauro dei manufatti e
monumenti in Europa”. In: I congresso nazionale dell’igiic - lo stato dell’arte: conservazione
e restauro, confronto di esperienze. Torino, 5-7 giugno; 2003.