These two common solvents have much in common, but their differences are equally important.

Plants infested with mealybugs or red spider mites can be sprayed and wiped with diluted denatured alcohol to cure the infestation.Īnother name for denatured alcohol is ‘methylated spirits.’ Mineral Spirits vs Denatured Alcohol It can be used to remove or revive an old shellac coating, to correct mistakes while applying new shellac, or to thin shellac before application. Denatured alcohol dissolves the common wood finish, shellac. In woodworking, denatured alcohol is applied to freshly sanded wood with a clean cloth to clean and prepare the wood for finishing. Best of all, it’s quick evaporation time means that it won’t damage or corrode metal. From glue and tape residue to thick layers of grease on automotive parts, denatured alcohol can handle it all. When mixed with equal parts water, spraying denatured alcohol on mold and mildew will help remove it.ĭenatured alcohol is often called into service to combat stickiness. Denatured alcohol can remove ink stains from certain fabrics. When properly diluted, denatured alcohol is an excellent streak-free glass cleaner. The fumes can cause dizziness and nausea. It is highly flammable, and should be kept away from sources of ignition.Īppropriate personal protective equipment for handling denatured alcohol includes safety glasses and chemically resistant gloves. It can be used as a solvent, cleaning agent, fuel additive, or even an extermination aid. Denatured Alcohol Usesĭenatured alcohol has many applications. Thus, you can purchase denatured alcohol without needing to show an ID. Since the alcohol cannot be used for recreation, it is not taxed or regulated like pure ethanol or commercial alcoholic beverages. Denatured alcohol is often required to be sold with coloring added, usually blue or purple, to make the dangers clear. Methanol is particularly toxic, and can cause blindness or even death if ingested. These additives make the alcohol unfit for human consumption.

Read our comparison on denatured alcohol and acetone. Methanol is the most common ingredient used to denature alcohol, other substances used include isopropyl alcohol, acetone, castor oil, gasoline, benzene, and pyridine. The purpose of the additives is to make the ethanol unfit for human consumption. It is also one of the primary ingredients in a popular wood finish, shellac.ĭenatured alcohol is composed of ethanol and various additives. What Is Denatured Alcohol?ĭenatured alcohol is a clear, watery liquid used as a solvent, degreaser, and wood finish remover. For this reason, it is often used to prepare surfaces such as wood or metal to accept a finishing product or adhesive. Mineral spirits evaporate within 15 or 20 minutes, leaving behind no residue. Garden tools that have become logged with sap can be soaked in mineral spirits to remove the sap and improve their performance. The residue from price tags will quickly wipe off with an application of mineral spirits. Mineral spirits are effective at dissolving both natural and synthetic adhesives. In fact, an application of mineral spirits can be used to revive or revitalize clear wood finish. It can be used to clean wooden objects and furniture without damaging the finish. Mineral spirits will not dissolve hardened or cured wood finishes, such as polyurethane, varnish, lacquer, or shellac. After wiping up excess spirits and allowing the metal to dry, it is clean and ready to be relubricated. Mineral spirits also dissolve automotive grease, making them an effective cleaner when stripping or replacing parts. The refining process reduces odor, limits the toxicity, and decreases the amount of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) released by the substance. Mineral spirits are very similar in composition to paint thinners, but have been more refined.

Methylated spirits vs denatured alcohol