Home Improvement

Painting chemicals are confusing, and sometimes dangerous. It isn’t always easy to determine which you should be using, and which ones are safest for your home and needs. Decoding the chemicals involved can be hard work, but many of them are self explanatory. This list is designed to help you figure out just what these are, and what it means for your paint job.

First on the list are mineral spirits. These are paint thinners that are designed to de-gunk paint and make oil based paint a bit thinner than usual. They allow you to paint a smoother surface, and even clean your brushes upon completion. Turpentine also does the same job, but has an extremely unpleasant odor.

Alcohol is also a common chemical used, but not exactly what you think. It’s not your average disinfecting alcohol. There are three types of alcohol used, including denatured, wood isopropyl, and methanol alcohol. Many DIY jobs do not call for the last two types, especially since they are extremely dangerous to use around children and if you have no idea what to do. Denatured alcohol is safe, effective, and great for many different purposes.

Lacquer thinner is a special solvent used to thin out lacquers, and there are many varieties available for use. Since this is extremely flammable it isn’t recommended to be used by those who are unfamiliar with the safety measures needed for safe usage. It’s also residue free, which is an added bonus.

Paint and varnish removers are also a pretty commonly used chemical, and very useful to rid your walls of an ugly paint job or something you have outgrown. These chemicals are also potentially toxic, but you can find environmentally friendly and safer types at most hardware or home improvement stores.

If you are thinking about repainting or shining up an old surface, then a deglosser is what you need. It helps paints and wood varnish bond. There are different formulas available, and they should be used carefully. Labels are tricky, and you don’t want to use a deglosser intended for concrete on your grandmother’s vintage dresser.

Wallpaper removers and acetone are the most effective for removing adhesives. If you have ever used nail polish remover, you know how it works. Both types are designed to safely and effectively remove wallpaper without any residue so that you can paint or re-wallpaper the walls without leaving behind gunk.

There are plenty of other chemicals that are used for painting, including Methyl Ethyl Ketone, Toluene, Naphtha, and Xylene. Each serve comparable purposes, but are used differently and have slightly different properties.