Baby Oil vs Oil Paint

[MKathleen]

I have a good friend that I paint with once a week at her studio. After we had finished painting for the day I noticed she was putting "baby oil" on her hands.

Thinking she was using it because her hands were dry; but that wasn't the only reason.
She was using it to remove oil paint from her hands! I could hardly believe my eyes baby oil removing oil paint!

It was true it took it right off of here hands and smelled good too.
You would think something you'd use on a baby would remove something as strong as oil!
I now use it all the time and also condition my oil brushes with it.

I don't know how it works or why just that it works!

Best,
Kathy :D

[lori]

hi kathy...

strangely enough oil gets out oil. infact most good brush soaps are HIGH in fat/tallow.

it makes sense to me...:)

and you get the added bonus of your hands being as soft as a baby's bottom...who can complain about that...lol

[cagathoc]

I noticed also that dishwashing liquids (like Dawn) that claim to be good at removing grease from dishes work really well on hands.

But I am going to try the baby oil - for the sofening effect. :)

[paintfool]

Originally posted by lori
strangely enough oil gets out oil.
Yep! 'tis true. As the owner of a janitorial company for 20 years now i can tell you that what puts it on takes it off.
Cheryl

[milna]

:) Wonderful Idea . I am also going to try that.

[MKathleen]

Hi Everyone:

I just remembered to check back with this forum, and there you all were.
Thanks for the additional tips too!
Regarding dish detergent and oil--I remember when severaly years ago a lot of sea birds here in CA. got into some oil. The bird santuary used Dawn detergent soley to get the oil off those poor birds. I've used it ever since and it goes work too.
I like the smell of the baby oil!

Best,
Kathy:D

[llis]

A word of caution about baby oil:

Yes, baby oil will clean your hands and brushes, but before you use those brushes again, make sure that they are washed out really well with turp before beginning your next painting session.

If you do not wash the baby oil completely out of your brushes, the baby oil will cause "bloom" which causes your painting to develop blotches that can not be worked over.

I learned this the hard way. :( I was using baby oil and going right back into my painting which was a big mistake. I also was using the baby oil to clean my brush so I could use another color during the same painting session. Now I use safflower oil .... which works just a good...but maybe doesn't smell as good.... and safflower oil is okay with oils...as a matter of fact, some colors already have safflower oil in them. :)

Use the baby oil on your hands.... use the safflower oil on your brushes.

[paintfool]

good advice llis!