I've found that lacquer thinner works great on most bows. Generally, the original finish on a bow is a two-part finish that is virtually impervious to the thinner. I've also found that if the paint you're trying to remove is not oil based, it is also pretty much impervious to lacquer thinner and has to be sanded off. I've cleaned bows with the lacquer thinner and had all the "extra" paint and gunk come off easier than you'd think possible. Just a quick wipe with the wet rag and the bow sparkled. That's generally the case, BUT all you can do is experiment unless you know what the original finish is.