The material of ivory is white, so there are no dirt or impurities on it.There are a number of treatments you can use to clean ivory and bring it back to white.Start by brushing your ivory object with a soft bristled brush to remove any dirt.Try cleaning your ivory using more powerful measures if it still looks dirty after brushing.Gloves are required when handling ivory to protect it from further damage.
Step 1: Dust with a paintbrush.
The most delicate way to clean ivory is by brushing with a paintbrush.To avoid spreading dirt or impurities around the surface of the object, be sure to use a clean paintbrush and work in one direction.White gloves should be worn before handling ivory.The ivory's coloring can be affected by the oil from your fingers.If you want to remove a small amount of dirt, brushing ivory is a good idea.The bristles of the paintbrush can be used to remove dirt.
Step 2: There is a white vinyl eraser in the picture.
If you want to remove a lot of dirt, you may need to use more than just a brush.An effective tool for cleaning ivory is a white vinyl eraser.Use a tool to grate the eraser.The vinyl eraser needs to be white.The ivory could be affected by an eraser of any other color.
Step 3: Rub the ivory with erasers.
Rub the eraser over the dirty areas of the ivory.The ivory can be worked against with a soft brush or gloved fingertip.It is easier to work into the nooks of an object if you use a whole eraser.It is possible to clean ivory with a non-grated white vinyl eraser.
Step 4: Put a brush in the debris to remove it.
After using the white vinyl eraser, you should notice that most or all of the dirt has been removed, but that the eraser is still covering the object.If you want to remove them, brush the ivory object with a soft brush.
Step 5: The ivory can be rubbed with a Groom stick.
A museum-standard product that is highly effective in cleaning ivory and other precious materials is Groomstick.To use it, rub a small piece of the Groomstick against the ivory.The dirt should stick to the Groomstick.There is a non-abrasive rubber that pulls dirt from the surface of an object.You don't have to clean the ivory after using it.
Step 6: Put water and soap together.
You will need to do a deeper clean with soap and water if brushing the ivory doesn't clean it.Put a small amount of water in the bowl.Stir the soap and water together with a squirt of mild soap.
Step 7: There is a small piece of ivory.
Put a cotton ball or Q-tip in the soapy water and squeeze out any excess liquid with a paper towel.Rub the ivory with a cotton ball or Q-tip.Try not to make the ivory too wet.The section of ivory you cleaned looks different.If you are working on a delicate object, use a Q-tip.If you are working on a smooth object, use a cotton ball.
Step 8: The ivory section can be cleaned by section.
The cotton ball or Q-tip can be used to work on small sections of ivory.If the Q-tip or cotton ball becomes dirty, throw it away and use a new one.Don't cover the ivory with excess water.The section that you just cleaned should be dry by the time you move on to the next section.If it's still wet, wash it with a cloth.If your ivory object is cracked, don't apply water above the fissured or porous surfaces.It is never a good idea to soak a piece of ivory as it can weaken and compromise the material.
Step 9: The ivory has to be dry.
The ivory object should be dry if you have cleaned it correctly.Before putting away the object, wipe it down with a clean, non-abrasive white cloth to make sure it doesn't get wet from the cleaning.
Step 10: A mixture of alcohol and water.
If you still have dirt in your ivory, you will need to use an ethyl alcohol solution to clean it.The solution can be created by combining equal parts water and ethyl alcohol in a small bowl.This is the most aggressive method of cleaning and should only be used on ivory that does not have cracks or fissures.
Step 11: A cotton ball or Q-tip can be placed into the solution.
You can dip a Q-tip or cotton ball into the liquid after making the ethyl alcohol solution.Use a paper towel to remove any excess Q-tip or cotton ball.
Step 12: Remove dirt from a small area.
If you want to use ethyl alcohol on the entire object, you need to clean an area of the object first.Pick out a small part of the ivory and rub it with a cotton ball or Q-tip.Use a small cloth to dry the area.The ethyl alcohol solution is safe to use if there is no discoloration.
Step 13: The ethyl alcohol solution section is used.
If the spot test went well, you can clean the ivory object section by section, rubbing the barely-dampened Q-tip or cotton ball on the surface.If necessary, dry every section before moving on to the next one.Once you have cleaned the entire object, work in small patches.
Step 14: Use a clean cloth to dry the ivory.
Once you have cleaned the object, wipe it down with a white cloth.The surface of the ivory could be damaged by excess water.