Methylated Spirits - Denatured Alcohol, Features, Uses and Rubbing Alcohol (2024)

Methylated spirits is a clear, colourless liquid that is commonly used across most industrial industries and is often used within the household. The methylated spirits boiling point is 78 °C and the flashpoint is 11 °C. Methylated spirits is often referred to as denatured alcohol which means that it contains a denaturant in it so it cannot be consumed. Sydney Solvents methylated spirits is 99% methylated spirits with a 1% bitrex in it. If it didn’t contain denaturant in the methylated spirits it would be classed as normal alcohol that is safe to drink.

What is denatured alcohol?

Denatured alcohol refers to alcohol that has additives in the product in order for it to be sold as a non-consumable and palatable product. This is because alcohol is used for a lot more uses than drinking, so to avoid the high tax and regulations on drinking alcohol, denatured alcohol was created for industrial, disinfecting and non-drinking uses. The additive in denatured alcohol has the most bitter taste known and is extremely poisonous and unpleasant smelling.

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. You will also find that it is found in a lot of cosmetics such as toners and makeup brush cleaners. It can be used as a window cleaner, spray and wipe disinfectant, and a steriliser.

Methylated Spirits Rubbing Alcohol

Methylated spirits can be used as rubbing alcohol when diluted down to about 65-70%. The reason it needs to be diluted down to this is so it is not as harsh on the skin and so it evaporates off slower in order to kill the bacteria. The higher the strength the more it will flash off but in the circ*mstance when you need to kill bacteria, sometimes the 70% works better as it has longer surface time, therefore, more time to kill the germs.

Methylated Spirits - Denatured Alcohol, Features, Uses and Rubbing Alcohol (2024)

FAQs

What is the difference between rubbing alcohol and methylated spirits? ›

But isopropyl alcohol should not be confused with methylated spirits when it comes to cleaning as these two substances have very different chemical compositions. While isopropyl is pure alcohol with no additives, methylated spirits are ethyl alcohol mixed with other toxic substances like methanol.

What are methylated spirits used for? ›

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.

What is denatured alcohol and its uses? ›

Denatured alcohol is ethyl alcohol which has been made unfit for drinking purpose by adding poisonous substance like metanol ,pyridine , copper sulphate , etc. Ethanol is an important chemicalo. It is supplied at concessional rates to industries . It is therfore, made unfit for drinking purposes to prevent its misuse.

What is the difference between methylated spirits and denatured alcohol? ›

Denatured alcohol, also known as methylated spirits, metho, or meths in Australia, Ireland, New Zealand, South Africa, and the United Kingdom; and denatured rectified spirit is ethanol that has additives to make it poisonous, bad-tasting, foul-smelling, or nauseating to discourage its recreational consumption.

What is methylated spirits called in America? ›

Methylated spirit is commonly known as denatured alcohol.

It is basically ethanol that has certain additives that make it poisonous, very smelly and dangerous to consume. These additions to the ethanol 'denature' it.

What is rubbing alcohol used for? ›

Rubbing alcohol has many uses in your home, including cleaning and disinfectant purposes. You can also take advantage of its antiseptic and cooling purposes on the skin in small amounts. Remember to not drink it, use it on children, or use it near open flames.

What should you not use methylated spirits on? ›

Methylated spirits is safe to use on glass, sinks, chrome taps, ceramic, stone, marble and grout. (Do not use on painted or varnished surfaces).

What are the disadvantages of methylated spirits? ›

Inhalation is not likely to cause problems unless concentrations are high. Irritating to eyes and skin. Though methylated spirits contain about 5% methanol the risk of optic nerve damage is remote unless large amounts have been consumed. Impaired visual acuity, reaction time and co-ordination.

What is another name for methylated spirits? ›

Methylated spirit (also known as denatured alcohol) is mainly composed of ethanol with methanol and sometimes petroleum hydrocarbons. Substances like pyridine and the dye methyl violet are commonly added to methylated spirits to make them toxic and thereby discourage human consumption.

What to do if someone drinks methylated spirits? ›

If you see or know of someone drinking methylated spirits, take steps to ensure they are safe by getting them to medical treatment and calling police.

What is the point of denatured alcohol? ›

' Denatured alcohol is used as a lower-cost solvent or fuel for home-scale or industrial use, compared with the heavily taxed pure alcohol and alcohol used in beverages.

Is there a difference between rubbing alcohol and denatured alcohol? ›

Rubbing alcohol is a generic term and is usually manufactured with isopropyl alcohol. Different brands of denatured alcohol contain various denaturants such as bittering agents. The purpose is to discourage recreational human consumption by including additives that are bad tasting, bad-smelling or nauseating.

Can methylated spirit be used to clean wounds? ›

Methylated spirit heals wounds faster

This is false. Although it is a good antiseptic, it can damage healthy tissues when used excessively or abused. Not all wounds require the use of spirit, only a health professional can deem a wound fit for the use of methylated spirit.

Is vodka a denatured alcohol? ›

Vodka like most potable spirits is distilled on a copper still or has a copper condenser coil somehow this makes the final product less bitter but it is still pure ethanol and water. I recently acquired 5 litres of 99.8% Ethanol there are no additives to denature the ethanol the missing 0.2% is water.

Can I use methylated spirit to clean my face? ›

Just as it is not recommended to use bathroom or glass cleaning products on your face, the same is to be said for burning metho and alcoholic-based concoctions. Men should exchange alcohol-based after shaves for soothing after-shave balms. Never spray fragrance onto the face.

What is a substitute for methylated spirits? ›

White spirit (aka mineral spirits or mineral turps in the US), methylated spirits (aka denatured alcohol in the US), and isopropyl alcohol are each used for preparing surfaces, or removing oily residues.

Is acetone the same as methylated spirits? ›

Actone and methylated spirit are not same. Moreover, acetone is a pure liquid, but methylated spirits have ethanol containing 10% methanol and other additives such as dye. ... Acetone is used as a solvent and as a reactant for different synthesis processes in organic chemistry, whereas methylated spi…

What can you clean with methylated spirits? ›

It is a neutral cleaner. This means it is safe to use on most surfaces in your bathroom, including grout. Methylated spirits is safe to use on glass, sinks, chrome taps, ceramic, stone, marble and grout. (Do not use on painted or varnished surfaces).

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