4 Advice to Choose a Thinning Cleaning Agent

All paint thinners are not made equal. Some are designed for cleaning brushes, guns and equipment; others are for use with oil-based paints, stains and varnishes to provide a superior finish. The key to achieving a top-notch paint job is understanding which type of thinner to use for which situation.

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What are paint thinners?

The term' paint thinner' refers to a generic group of solvents and solvent blends that can dissolve oil-based coatings and reduce their viscosity. The most commonly used chemicals in thinners include:

• Acetone, Dimethylformamide (DMF)
• Glycol ethers
• Methyl ethyl ketone (MEK)
• Mineral spirits (white spirit)
• Naphtha
• Toluene
• Turpentine
• Xylene

What's the difference between thinners for cleaning and thinners for spray application?

Purity is the weapon of a paint thinner - the more pure; the better the finish. Thinners that contain a high volume of particles and recycled solvent content are only suitable for cleaning. The debris will clog your spray gun and contaminate your finish if you try to use these lower quality thinners with paint.

What happens if I don't use paint thinner?

Thinner is used to allow the paint to atomise through thespray gun correctly and give a fine finish. If you are using a high pressure airless paint system then you may not require thinner as the pump will force the paint through the nozzle at high pressure.

However if you are using a conventional spray gun without thinner, the paint could dry matt, have orange peel effect or a very uneven finish.

Can I use gun wash or standard thinners in my paint? We would never recommend using gun wash or standard thinners in paint. These products are recycled solvent and have varying quantities of water in the solution.  When putting this in paint it will likely cause major problems including not drying, blooming, going matt or flaking off the substrate.

Paint Blooming sometimes known as Blushing is explained here:

Can you use too much thinner?

If you put too much thinner into a paint mix it can cause major problems with your finish. Solvent can get trapped in the layers of paint and this causes solvent popping.

Get a view of what solvent popping is here:

If you add too much thinner to your paint mix, the paint can become too thin and you get runs and sags in the finish. Drying times can also be affected with the paint drying too fast and going matt, or too slow and staying soft.

Watch why slow paint drying times can cause various issues apart from the obligatory ' watching paint dry':

What happens if I use the wrong thinners?

Sometimes you are lucky and it has no adverse effect. However mostly it will either react straight away in the tin and separate or will do it later when it has been sprayed onto your substrate.

Top-rated thinner products

Rust-oleum Green

Uses: DIY and commercial paint stripper.

Rust-oleum Green is a powerful, quick-acting paint stripper that makes light work of removing old layers of paint, varnish or glue. It doesn't contain methylene chloride and can be used at low temperatures, making it safe to use in more vulnerable environments and in the home. Rust-oleum Green will remove all types of oil and alkyd-based paints, emulsion, varnish and most two-component products from metal, mineral and wooden substrates.

It's worth noting that you cannot place paint stripper in paint. Paint stripper is a purpose produced chemical to strip paint off a substrate. If you add paint stripper to paint as a thinning fluid then it will result in the paint simply falling off your project.

Check out the video below for paint lifting from surfaces:

Ultrimax Heavy Duty Paint Stripper

Uses: paint stripper

This industrial-strength paint stripper does what it says on the tin. Use it to remove any coating, including two-pack acrylic and polyurethane.

White Spirit

Uses: general brush cleaning and clearing up paint spills

White spirit cuts through oil and oil-based paints with ease.

NOTE: Rust-oleum Green, Ultrimax Heavy Duty Paint Stripper and white spirit are too harsh to be used as a cleaning agent or paint thinner.

Panel Wipes

Uses: metal surf

Surface Preparation is the main use for this product.

Panel wipes are designed to lift dirt and particles from metal panels in preparation for painting. This product evaporates quickly to leave a streak-free clean surface.

Methyl Ethyl Ketone (MEK) Paint Thinners

Uses: specialist degreaser, solvent and thinner for epoxies, resins, adhesives and lacquers

MEK is a strong, slow-drying thinner for epoxies, lacquers, adhesives and polyester resins used in fibreglass repairs. It is also ideally suited to removing these materials from cement, tools and other surfaces.

CAUTION: MEK is a highly volatile and flammable solvent that evaporates quickly. Always use and store this product as specified on the manufacturer's product data-sheet.

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Acetone Thinners

Uses: cleaner for spray equipment and removal of excess paint from spray lines

This aggressive solvent is ideal for cleaning. Don't be tempted to use it as a paint thinner unless you're looking for the "rippled finish" effect!

Cellulose Thinners (Standard)

Uses: brush and equipment cleaner, thinner for single-pack primers

Standard cellulose thinner is an excellent brush cleaner and gun wash thinner. It can also be used as a thinner for single-pack primers but isn't pure enough to be used with topcoats.

Cellulose Thinners (Premium)

Uses: topcoat thinner

If you want to achieve a high-gloss finish, this is the product for you.

The short video below explains the difference between standard and cellulose thinners in detail:

Jotun Thinner (No.7)

Uses: equipment cleaner and thinner for the Jotun acrylic, vinyl and antifouling coatings

No. 7 can be used as a cleaner for pumps and tools before and after painting and is designed to improve the flow of a range of Jotun coatings, including Conseal TU and Pilot.

NOTE: It is advisable always to use a same-brand paint system as the thinners, primers and topcoats are formulated to withstand and work with each other.

High Gloss Thinner

Uses: thinner for single-pack paints

This high-gloss thinner will achieve a premium glossy finish with most single-pack paint systems, including alkyd and acrylic.

Xylene

Uses: cleaner, degreaser and single-pack paint thinner

Xylene is an excellent all-rounder and a top-selling Ultrimax product. It contains very little recycled product, making it a suitable thinner for inks, varnishes and all single-pack paints that will be topcoat finishes. Use it with Ultrimax 1, Ultrimax Gloss, Ultrithane, Ultriprime , & Ultrimax SGX. Xylene can also be used as a cleaner or degreaser.

Etch Thinners

Uses: thinner for etch primers

Etch Thinners is a specialist product fur thinning etch primers (used to coat surfaces such as galvanised metal and aluminium that require an etch). Not recommended for thinning topcoats.

2K Thinners

Uses: thinner for two-pack paints

A universal slow thinner for most 2K acrylic and polyurethane paint systems.

Struggling to get your hands on industrial thinners for your paint shop?

Industrial quantities of thinner are like gold dust these days. Transporting the base chemicals needed for these products is a challenge, and there is a rising supply issue as a result. But don't worry. Ultrimax has you covered. We have an excellent supply network, allowing us to stock quantities of 5 litres and above.

Maintaining a regular cleaning and sanitizing schedule is integral to preventing cross-contamination and food-borne illness. There are four main types of cleaning agents used in commercial kitchens:

1. Detergents
2. Degreasers
3. Abrasives
4. Acids

For effective cleaning, be sure to use the correct cleaning agent for the type of item to be cleaned, the cleaning method you’ll be using and the type of soiling on the item. Learn about the four most common types of cleaning agents and when to use them.

1. Detergents

Detergents are the most common type of cleaning agent and are used in home and commercial kitchens. They work by breaking up dirt or soil, making it easy to wash it away.

The detergents used in commercial kitchens are usually synthetic detergents made from petroleum products and may be in the form of powder, liquid, gel or crystals.

2. Degreasers

Degreasers are sometimes known as solvent cleaners and are used to remove grease from surfaces such as oven tops, counters and grill backsplashes.

Methylated spirits or white spirits were commonly used as degreasers in the past. Most food businesses now try to use non-toxic, non-fuming degreasers in their operations to prevent chemical contamination.

3. Abrasives

Abrasives are substances or chemicals that depend on rubbing or scrubbing action to clean dirt from hard surfaces. In commercial kitchens, abrasives are usually used to clean floors, pots and pans.

Abrasives should be used with care as they may scratch certain types of materials used for kitchen equipment such as plastic or stainless steel.

4. Acids

Acid cleaners are the most powerful type of cleaning agent and should be used with care. If they are not diluted correctly, acid cleaners can be very poisonous and corrosive.

Acid cleaners are generally used to remove mineral deposits and are useful for descaling dishwashers or removing rust from restroom facilities.

Properly handling cleaning agents

Remember that exposure to chemicals used in cleaning agents can lead to skin irritations, chemical poisoning, respiratory problems and, in extreme cases, even death. In a food business, all employees should be properly trained in understanding chemical hazards, how to handle products safely and what personal protective equipment should be worn when handling the product. Best practices for handling cleaning agents include:

• storing chemicals in a secure place in their sealed original containers, well away from food or any equipment may come into contact with food
• wearing personal protective equipment required to be worn when handling the product, such as gloves or safety glasses
• following the manufacturer’s instructions when using the product or disposing of the product
• cleaning and sanitising cleaning equipment such as brushes, mops and other janitorial tools after use and storing them in a well-maintained, dry, locked area
• using different cloths for wiping and cleaning, and replacing them regularly

Always follow cleaning with sanitizing

Cleaning is only the first step to a germ-free kitchen. Cleaning is done using detergent, but it doesn’t kill bacteria or other microorganisms that can cause food poisoning. To kill bacteria and ensure a clean workplace, you must follow cleaning with sanitizing.

Effective cleaning and sanitizing also helps to:

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• prevent pests from entering your business
• prevent cross-contamination
• prevent allergic reactions caused by cross-contamination