The Distinction Between Mineral Spirits and Mineral Oil

Photograph: Patrick Hatt (Shutterstock)

Mineral oil and mineral spirits might each have a spot beneath your sink or on a shelf in your storage, however regardless of sounding related, they’re very completely different. Unsure which to make use of in your challenge? Right here’s what to know.

What’s the distinction between mineral spirits and mineral oil?

Each begin with the phrase “mineral,” and are clear liquid byproducts of the distillation of petroleum, however the similarities finish there.

Listed here are among the distinction between mineral spirits and mineral oil:

Mineral spirits

Frequent makes use of:

• Thinning paint or ink
• Cleansing paintbrushes and different instruments
• Cleansing paint spills
• Stripping built-up layers of polish, wax, and oils on wooden
• Prepping wooden earlier than staining or portray
• Eradicating residue from stickers
• Restoring backyard instruments
• Cleansing window frames
• Eradicating scuff marks from the ground
• Degreasing auto components and different instruments
• Cleansing plastic outside furnishings
• Eradicating sap from backyard instruments

Comparable to:

• Turpentine
• Acetone
• Denatured alcohol
• Charcoal lighter fluid

Security considerations:

• Flammable
• Should be utilized in well-ventilated space
• Irritant to eyes, pores and skin, and lungs (put on goggles and gloves)
• Not food-safe
• Even odorless mineral spirits are harmful if inhaled

Mineral oil

Frequent makes use of:

• Circumstances wooden furnishings
• Gives wooden with a barrier in opposition to humidity
• Protects wooden from mould progress
• Prevents wooden from absorbing water
• Used to deal with butcher block countertop, slicing boards, picket utensils, picket plates and bowls, picket poker chips
• Protects blades on instruments from rusting
• Varied well being/magnificence makes use of (e.g. to deal with dry pores and skin, dandruff, calluses, earwax, constipation)
• Lubricates door hinges to cease squeaks
• Prevents rust on metallic outside furnishings
• Cleans and polishes stainless-steel home equipment
• Silences squeaky floorboards

Comparable to:

• Beeswax
• Coconut oil
• Beeswax-based board lotions

Security considerations:

• Mildly flammable
• Meals protected/unhazardous
• It’s a laxative, so ingesting an excessive amount of may cause gastrointestinal misery