The foam pad is naturally mold resistant but it is essential you look after it to avoid any problems. Ideally, we recommend that you clean your palette and foam every time you change out the Hydration Paper or Reusable Membrane.
The minimum level of care would be to rinse out the palette and foam and use fresh water before setting up a new sheet of paper.
To clean a Redgrass Hydration foam, always use fresh water and a small amount of dish soap/mild detergent. Massage and agitate the foam with your hands, do not use a brush or scourer. Ensure the foam is thoroughly rinsed to remove any soap. If you are not re-using the foam straight away, lay on a top of a towel on a flat surface and allow to air dry.
Note: As a foam dries out it will begin to contract unevenly. This will result in the foam appearing “wavy” and be much smaller than it was. This is perfectly normal. Re-hydrating the foam as described in our FAQ on wet palette setup will restore it to the normal appearance.
Never dry your foam on or close to a strong source of heat like a radiator.
Take care when storing or handling a completely dry foam, they can be quite brittle in this state.
Don’t use abrasive cleaners.
Never use paint remover, methylated spirits or isopropyl alcohol on the foam pad itself.
The nature of certain pigments used in acrylic paints will mean that overtime coloured stains will appear on your foam and no amount of cleaning will remove them completely. DO NOT WORRY, these stains will not effect the performance of your foam.
It is advisable to replace the foam occasionally.
