The accumulation of surface dirt, most commonly deposited through airborne pollutants, is a concern that affects all paintings that are not displayed or stored in glazed and sealed microclimates. A common conservation treatment involves the removal of this deposit, which alters the aesthetic quality of a work of art by shifting contrast and color values of the paint film. Surface cleaning is usually straightforward for paintings that have intact varnish layers, as the coatings protect the paint films and may facilitate the removal of dirt layers. However, removing surface grime from unvarnished artwork is often problematic as unvarnished paint films are frequently sensitive to solvent and aqueous cleaning methods. In such instances it is common to attempt dry cleaning techniques, although these also pose risks. Unvarnished paintings may be damaged by mechanical action produced by the manipulation of the cleaning material against the paint surface. Damage may involve abrasion, changes in gloss, dislodgement of pigment from underbound paint, or even future changes resulting from the aging of residues deposited by the cleaning material. This study examines the potential for residue deposition from Absorene sponges when theyare used for dry surface cleaning.