Denatured Alcohol

DENATURED ALCOHOL also referred to as methylated spirits, for the most part just plain alcohol (ethyl alcohol). The
main additive is 10% methanol, which is highly toxic, but it may also include isopropyl alcohol, acetone, methyl ethyl
ketone or other substances. The additives make poisonous liquid that are added specifically to deter people from
drinking it.
Denatured alcohol is highly effective as a solvent and cleaning agent for several industries as it is not heavily
regulated, affordable, and is mixable with water. It is an applicable solution in a number of scenarios ranging from
general at home cleaning to industrial facilities, a frequently used solvent for removing grime from hard surfaces,
appliances, floors, machinery, and finished products. It is a great choice for killing mildew on surfaces such as leather
as long as it has not been dyed. For this application, it must be mixed equally with water to avoid damage to the
surface. The agent is an option for removing paint, dirt, or debris from wood surfaces. As a solvent, denatured alcohol
works well for dissolving glue, wax, grease, and grime from multiple surface types. A rag containing the agent can
easily be used to remove excess glue or existing wax coatings from finished products such as furniture.
Typical applications of denatured alcohols include:
-Cleaning Agent
Denatured alcohol is a superior, fast-evaporating cleaner that can be used to clean glass, metal, printing inks, shoe
polish stains, and porcelain. It can also be used to clean untreated wood surfaces after sanding and shellac brushes
after use. It works best as a spot cleaner and should be applied with a cloth or rag rather than poured directly onto a
surface and wiped. Along with other hard surfaces like tile, wood, metal and plastic, denatured alcohol works great on
glass. Because this type of alcohol evaporates very quickly, it will not leave streaks behind on windows or mirrors, and
is even safe to use on color-safe fabrics. Although the denatured alcohol is usually considered a mild solvent, it easily
dissolves grease and has been known to remove light scratches from some surfaces.
Cleaning Instrument Strings - Another use for denatured alcohol is the cleaning of strings on your bass guitar.
Do not add any water to the instrument. Soak the strings for 12 to 24 hours. After removing them completely
dry the alcohol off the strings with a dry, clean rag. Make sure the strings are completely dry before installing
them back on the guitar. Do this cleaning process as often as needed, as it will not affect the durability of the
strings.
Window Cleaning - Its great as a glass cleaner! If youre going to use it in hot conditions, dilute it with water.
For removing stickers and sticker residue from car windscreens and other surfaces.
A General Metal Cleaner (Cleaning Bike Disc Brakes, Cleaning Electronics, Cleaning CD/DVD Discs etc.)
How to Use:

Use denatured alcohol directly from the container with a clean cloth. You can also put the alcohol in a spray
bottle ,use a quick spraying motion to cover the entire surface, and dry thoroughly with a clean rag. For very
stubborn stains, leave the alcohol on for several minutes and then rub off with your rag. You can repeat this
procedure several times until the stain is removed.

For some things that may be sensitive to it: The application must be mixed equally with water to avoid damage
to the surface.

Denatured alcohol works greasy spots in the kitchen. In some cases, you may need to buff the surface dry with
a second clean, dry cloth.
-Fueling of Small Camping Stoves - In fueling stoves, methylated spirits burns very cleanly; a little too cleanly in fact as
it can be hard to see the flame.
-Removal of Stains
Removing Red Wine Stains - Spilled red wine can quickly stain clothing, upholstery and carpet. Martha Stewart
recommends removing a red wine stain by soaking the stained area in denatured alcohol. After applying the
alcohol, flush the area with white vinegar to remove all residual red wine. This stain treatment is even safe on
delicate fabrics.
Methylated spirits can be used to remove ink stains, nail polish and glue from upholstery or clothes.
Remove permanent marker stain from pvc plastics.
-Pharmaceutical Uses
Rubbing alcohol used for wounds and other skin conditions is also a type of denatured alcohol. Denatured
alcohol is suitable for many cleaning jobs, as it acts as a de-greasing agent and works well on many hard
surfaces not affected by most soaps and detergents.
Disinfectant
-Pest Extermination
Killing Mildew - You can use denatured alcohol to remove mildew from leather surfaces, according to "Good
Housekeeping" magazine. Combine equal parts denatured alcohol and water, and apply the mixture to
mildewed leather using a cotton ball. Don't use denatured alcohol on suede or leather that has been dyed.
-Woodworking
Use It with Shellac -Many woodworkers and carpenters like to mix their own shellac or varnish for protecting
wood. Shellac is merely a natural resin, but when it is mixed with denatured alcohol, it creates a sticky

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substance that brushes easily onto wood and protects it from things like scratches and UV rays. Although
premixed shellac products and varnishes can be found on the shelves of most hardware stores, mixing shellac
and denatured alcohol at home is usually a better choice for true woodworking enthusiasts. When buying
these premixed products off of the shelf, one never knows how long they have been sitting there and runs the
risk of buying an expired product. Furthermore, mixing ones own shellac varnish ensures a lighter, more pure
form of the product, and allows the mixer to make only as much as he/she needs for the project at hand. The
usual ratio for a good mixture is two pounds of shellac to two gallons of denatured alcohol. This ratio is
referred to as a two pound cut.
Use It as a Sanding Aid - When working on a carpentry project that requires sanding wood, denatured alcohol
can help achieve a softer, smoother finished surface. First, sand the wood until a good amount of sawdust has
built up. Next, use a cloth soaked in denatured alcohol to efficiently wipe away any excess sawdust that may
have wedged itself within the grain of the wood. As was mentioned above, one of the qualities of this type of
alcohol is that it evaporates very quickly. This evaporation process will, although almost imperceptibly, raise
the grain on the surface of the wood. Although one might not be able to see the raised grain, once it is sanded
the result will be a surface that is noticeably smoother to the touch.
Cleaning Wood - "Real Simple" magazine suggests using denatured alcohol to clean dirt and debris from wood
furniture. You can also use denatured alcohol to remove paint and fingernail polish from wood. Wet a rag with
denatured alcohol, and rub it on your wood furniture to remove unwanted paint. Don't rub too hard or for too
long to avoid removing the wood's finish. Martha Stewart recommends using denatured alcohol to clean and
restore antique furniture. Use a rag doused with denatured alcohol to remove old dirt from the wood's surface.
Dissolve Glue - You can remove glue from wood surfaces using denatured alcohol, according to "Real Simple"
magazine. If after repairing wood furniture you have excess glue visible, use a rag soaked in denatured alcohol
to remove the glue while it is still wet.
Remove Wax - If you want to refinish wood furniture, you'll need to remove any wax coatings before you can
add new stain or paint. Remove the wax finish easily by rubbing the piece of furniture all over with a rag
soaked in denatured alcohol.
-Paint Removal
For cleaning paint brushes as an alternative to fossil fuel based solvents.
As a solvent for thinning paint
Caution: Alcohol in any form is unsuitable for cleaning fabrics, carpet, upholstery, vinyl, leather or any object with
unsealed paint. It can cause discoloration if allowed to remain on surfaces vulnerable to solvents in general, such as
acrylics and other plastics.
WARNING: Do not attempt to drink methylated spirits. Methanol can cause blindness, brain damage and death. While
some people do drink it regularly, they are usually severely impaired after a while and others have died after their first
try. Drinking as little as 10 ml of methanol (two teaspoons) can cause blindness.
WARNING: Denatured alcohol, while versatile, is both toxic and flammable, and care must be used in handling and
storage. Store denatured alcohol in tightly closed, original containers and out of the reach of children. Dont use
denatured alcohol near open flame, and be certain ventilation is sufficient to avoid concentrating flammable fumes.
Caution: To reduce shock and fire hazard, never pour liquid of any kind onto any electrical appliance.
WARNING: This type of alcohol is not a suitable cleaner for acrylic, vinyl or surfaces that are not painted or coated. It is
also not suitable for porous fabrics which include draperies, upholstery and clothing. Inhalation in a poorly ventilated
environment is capable of causing dizziness among other complications. The substance should never come in contact
with a persons skin or eyes during use. Those applying denatured alcohol to an object as a general cleaner or as a
degreaser should wear protective clothing, goggles, and gloves to prevent these occurrences.
Warning: Keep it away from skin, eyes and face; and if you accidentally have contact immediately rinse the affected
area with cool water. Because of the flammability of alcohol keep it away from open fires. Keep your room well
ventilated during your cleaning project -- do not inhale the fumes. Make sure to test a small patch of your cleaning
area to ensure the alcohol does not remove the finish. Use cleaning gloves to protect your hands.

CLEANING FURNITURE & CABINETS

Using old towels or t-shirts cut up- I apply a little odorless mineral spirits on it and then wipe down the piece.
1: The rag should be slightly damp, but not dripping! I like to use real Mineral Spirits (Denatured Alcohol).
Take your rag and place it on the opening of the Mineral Spirits. Flip the container a couple of

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times in different areas of the rag. (Think like how you would put nail polish remover onto a cotton
swab or ball)
With a tiny bit Denatured Alcohol on your rag, rub the piece in the direction of the grain of the wood. The
Denatured Alcohol on the rag will go over the grease or dirt. Again, I always do this prior to painting a cabinet
job. In the bath- I wipe off residual toothpaste and in kitchens- the cabinets near the dogs food dish or
garbage can are the dirtiest. Such as life though- and we all live in our homes versus using them as a show
room.
After wiping down your piece with Denatured Alcohol, give it a bit of time to allow it to totally evaporate prior to
painting. (If you are doing a few pieces- by the time you finish cleaning the last piece- the first will be ready.) Or, if you
are a patient person, clean the piece then give it a day before painting. (I never do this- but then again- sadly patience
in not my strongest virtue. I wish it was!)
The washing with Denatured Alcohol will remove any residual oil or grease from the wood if there is any. Mineral spirits
will evaporate from the wood completely without leaving any residue. This is the purpose in waiting some time up to
a day after cleaning with Denatured Alcohol - to evaporate completely.