Acrylic emulsion paints are sensitive to traditional cleaning with solvents and water. Dry cleaning methods offer an alternative, but there are few in-depth studies on their use. Selected dry cleaning methods (commercial erasers and sponges, and homemade bread) and non-contact methods (atomic oxygen and carbon dioxide snow) were tested on 25-year-old acrylic emulsion paints and an acrylic emulsion gesso test panel from real and simulated fires. Water and solvents were used for comparison and as a link to scientific research on wet cleaning. Paint surfaces were examined visually and microscopically and analyzed by gloss meter and colorimeter. Water, Absorene sponge and homemade bread removed soot on the acrylic gesso panel without causing any visible surface alterations. Organic pigments in acrylic paints were more susceptible to removal by cleaning.