But, the key difference between acetone and methylated spirits is that the acetone is colourless liquid, whereas the methylated spirit is a violet coloured solution. Moreover, acetone is a pure liquid, but methylated spirits have ethanol containing 10% methanol and other additives such as dye.
Commonly used methylated spirits is a general-purpose alcohol which is not fit for drinking. This is because approximately 10% methanol has been added to it, along with additives such as pyridine, isopropyl alcohol, acetone, methyl ethyl ketone, and methyl isobutyl ketone.
Methylated spirits is safe to use on glass, sinks, chrome taps, ceramic, stone, marble and grout. (Do not use on painted or varnished surfaces).
Methylated Spirits Uses
Denatured alcohol can be used to disinfectant, sterilise medical equipment, as a window cleaner, and there are many more uses. Methylated spirits are also perfect for indoor or outdoor methylated heaters. It is an effective solvent in the paints, lacquers and varnish industry.
Briefly, no. Acetone and mineral spirits are not the same, and should not be treated as if they are. Part of the confusion comes from the fact that both are used as thinners. Painters commonly use mineral spirits, for example, to thin the paint that they put into paint sprayers.
Methyl acetate is a suitable substitute for acetone due to its lower environmental impact, reduced toxicity, and less flammable nature. It has similar solvency properties as acetone, making it effective in paint, coating, and adhesive production.
Mineral spirits contain only one ingredient: purified, distilled petroleum, while paint thinners can include many ingredients. Acetone differs from both of these solvents in that it is an organic compound found in trees and plants, says Bob Vila, that is mixed with other additives (via Verywell Health).
Mineral turpentine is considered to have more solvency than methylated spirits. This means that it has the greater ability to dissolve with other solvents. Turpentine is considered to be more dangerous than methylated spirits as it is highly flammable and can irritate the skin and eyes.
Methylated Spirits is a solvent suitable for thinning paints, lacquers, varnishes and also can be used for cleaning paint brushes.
Commonly known as Denatured Alcohol, Ethanol (Ethyl Alcohol) is mixed with a small quantity of Methanol to make it unfit for consumption, and dyed purple.
Glass Cleaner
Add a cup of vinegar or half a cup of methylated spirit to a bucket of hot water to clean your windows. Finish with a squeegee. This also works well on mirrors.
Most people prefer using either turpentine, white spirit or methylated spirit, but the choice is yours, really. Turpentine is stronger than both of these alternatives, though.
Cleaning showerscreen glass
To clean, apply a reputable, ammonia-free glass cleaner or methylated spirits to the glass. Wipe in a circular motion with a clean non-abrasive lint-free cloth. Polish the surface with a clean lint-free cloth.
Turpentine and acetone are similar chemical solvents that can be used for many of the same industrial applications as a solvent or cleaning agent. Both turpentine and acetone can be used as additives in paint thinners, stripping agents, and lacquers.
Methanol has a typically polar hydroxyl group and a methyl group, whereas acetone has a carbonyl group and two methyl groups.
To remove your nails, you need to have: Pure acetone which you can purchase from professional salon retailers or hardware stores such as Bunnings.
Methylated spirits for removing mould can be equated with the use of commercial mould removers. However, it does not remove the mould spores that are responsible for the spread of mould. Spirit, just like all other household remedies such as vinegar, has little or no spore-killing effect.
Avoid using this solution directly on wooden and plastic surfaces, especially polished ones. The acid of methylated spirits can damage the surfaces, making them lose their shine. Plastic things cleaned with denatured alcohol can lose their colour and fade over time.
White Spirit is known by a number of names. In the US/Canada it is most commonly known as Mineral Spirits. In Australia and New Zealand it is known as Mineral Turpentine.
Denatured alcohol (called methyl hydrate in Canada; methylated spirits, metho, or meths in Australia, Ireland, New Zealand, South Africa, and the United Kingdom; wood spirit; and denatured rectified spirit) is ethanol that has additives to make it poisonous, bad-tasting, foul-smelling, or nauseating to discourage its ...
Using bicarbonate of soda can neutralise the smell of white spirit. However, the best thing to do is simply let the white spirit evaporate, which it will do pretty quickly.
Preparation of existing painted surfaces
The easiest and least expensive solution is to moisten a pad with methylated spirits, then rub the surface. If the existing paint softens or dissolves it is an acrylic paint and it can be painted with any acrylic coating.
Acetone: Often the main component in nail polish remover, acetone can be used to thin paint and lacquer and to remove adhesive, epoxy and ink. Acetone can also be used as a paint stripper and to clean up after projects.
The acetone will damage the plastic's surface, softening it, smearing it, or even dissolving the plastic. At Miller Plastics, we've seen how acetone affects certain plastics, and we never second-guess the chemical resistance chart.
MEK or Methyl Ethyl Ketone is stronger than Acetone, because it has a slower evaporation rate and boils at a higher temperature. These differences are why MEK can be a stronger cleaning agent than acetone.