Oh my Sweetums, I have just made the MOST FASCINATING discovery in the history of mankind my life this week. And I must share it with you. Simply must.
But you have to wait because first I’ve got a story to tell you.
From time to time, like today for instance, I’ll walk into the studio and get whacked upside the head by a jolt of creativity that fries my common sense. ZAP! Just. Like That. And the next thing I know I’ll be painting. Which normally is a good thing, being that I’m an artist. But I don’t always walk into the studio with the intention of making art. Sometimes I’m just there to gaze.
I’m good at gazing.
On gazing days I don’t come dressed appropriately. I may even be wearing real clothes, garments that have yet to be destroyed by paint. ‘Have yet’ because eventually all my clothes end up sacrificed to da muse.
Today was a gaze day. Had other things to do but couldn’t stay away. And while I was in there some works in progress, juicy wet oils, called to me. I loved on them just a little bit, I swear it only involved a few charcoal lines, but the next thing I know I was wearing bright orange paint. Which sucked because I really like this shirt.
Now, normally I use cooking oil to clean up oil paint, especially on my skin. But this was a shirt and I couldn’t imagine rubbing more oil onto it and then trying to wash it. No way. I went into the kitchen and that’s when I had the all time best ev-ah AHA moment, at least of the day. Because right there on the kitchen sink was a bottle of Dawn. Dawn, you know, the stuff they use to wash the oil off seabirds when there’s a spill.
Lightbulb time, right there in the center of my brain. I whipped off the shirt, poured some Dawn right on the paint and washed it in the kitchen sink. And the paint came out.
All of it.
Then I threw the shirt in the washing machine with some other laundry. It came out as good as new. Like it never happened.
See? It really is but the lighting is different with both photos. Trust me on this.
And that’s the Arty Life Tip o’ the Day. And if you know anyone who paints with oils be a friend and share this info with them. Who knows how much laundry you’ll save.
Oh, I have so been there with ‘not going to touch the messy stuff in these clothes’ and then finding myself playing with them right there and then while I’m thinking that thought! AND usually paying the price with a stain somewhere on them. Thanks for the tip!
You’re most welcome, Bonnie. And remember this is for still wet oils. I don’t think there’s any hope for dried acrylics but I might be wrong about that.
Awesome discovery! I don’t know anyone who paints will oil, but I would share if I could!
Leanne Chesser recently posted..Increase Your Happiness With Gratitude
I’m thinking this would work for all sorts of oily stains, Leanne, not just oil paint. Next time some grease splatters on my shirt I’ll give it a try.
LOL – love your post. I don’t know how paint learns to jump, but I’m certain I’ve experienced that as well. 😉 Great tip – maybe the best since the Dawn of mankind. Sorry, I just couldn’t help it.
Deborah Weber recently posted..Self-Care: I is for…
Hahaha…uh-huh, I just bet you couldn’t, Deborah. When the pun god speaks we must listen 🙂
I have a small bottle of Dawn that I keep with my laundry supplies LOL. I’m so glad you were able to get your shirt clean and have fun with your creative inspiration, all in one day!
Michele Bergh recently posted..47 Life Lessons I’ve Learned Series
Maybe I’ll do that too,Michele. Certainly better than some of the other stuff I’ve bought specifically to deal with oily stains.
Thanks for sharing this – it make the most sense to me! My problem is going into the studio – being careful, and getting something on my hand and putting my hands on my hips while I gaze too. I often don’t realize I’ve gotten paint on the back of my pants until I either get ready to put them on, and horror or horrors – someone points it out to me. I’m down to just a few pair or jeans with no paint now – I’ll try the DAWN
!!!!
YAY! Glad to help, Vickie. Remember it works when the oils are still wet. 🙂
And I know all about sacrificing my clothes to da muse!