Type of paint chemicals and the purpose they serve

Brush and Roller Cleaner

• Restores hard brushes and washes away oil and latex paints as well as varnish.
• Reduces cleaning effort and helps applicators last longer.
• Most formulations will not harm either natural or nylon bristle brushes, but they can harm synthetic bristles. Synthetic brushes should be cleaned in accordance with the manufacturers’ instructions.
• Safer to use and less odor than paint thinner.
• Can also be used to remove paint from hands.

Mineral Spirits

• Also known as paint thinner.
• A petroleum distillate solvent frequently used in the manufacturing and thinning of oil-based paints.
• Odorless mineral spirits have been refined to remove some odorous components.
• Excellent paint thinner and for cleaning brushes or rollers after painting.

Turpentine

• Has greater solvency than mineral spirits, causing it to work more quickly.
• It also has a stronger odor and contains a small amount of resin

Alcohol

• Is available in denatured, wood isopropyl or methanol form.
• Wood and methanol alcohols are extremely toxic and should not be recommended for do-it-yourselfers.
• Denatured alcohol, a safer substance, is used for thinning and for cleaning shellac and pigmented shellac primer.
• Alcohol is excellent for removing grease and oil spots, fingerprints and other smudges.

Lacquer Thinner

• Is available in many grades and degrees of solvency and in several speeds of evaporation.
• An excellent cleaner for brushes and spray guns where lacquer has been used.
• Since it leaves no residue, lacquer thinner does not require cleaned brushes to be washed with soap and water.
• Highly flammable solvent that should be used with extreme caution.

Paint and Varnish Removers

• Are formulated to dissolve or soften old finishes for easy removal on metal, masonry, wood and fiberglass surfaces.
• Available in gel, semi-paste, aerosol and spray-on formulas.
• Some formulations contain methylene chloride as the primary solvent, but due to health concerns, “safe” non-meth strippers are available that are non toxic and non flammable.
• While non-meth strippers are safer to use, they take longer to act and are more expensive than their meth counterparts. However, they stay active longer, which means they can remove more paint layers in a single application.
• Some strippers change color to signal completion of the process, and some removers are formulated so that no after wash or neutralizing is required.

Deglosser

• Prepares surfaces before painting and assists paint and varnish in bonding to old finishes.
• Available in water- or solvent-based formulations.
• Concrete Cleaner is specifically designed to clean and degrease concrete and masonry surfaces and to prepare concrete basement floors to be painted.

Degreaser

• Is available in solid, liquid and aerosol form.
• Used to remove dirt, oil and grease from basement and garage floors, driveways, patios and sidewalks.
• Some formulations are made for concrete only and should not be used on blacktop surfaces.

Rust Remover

• Cuts through and dissolves rust from metal surfaces to form a metal shield that can be painted.
• In jellied form, it clings well to vertical surfaces.
• When brushed on, the rust dissolves quickly.
• These products are extremely harsh on the skin; protective gloves should be worn.
• The solution is applied with a stiff brush or aerosol spray and allowed to dry for 12 to 24 hours, depending on humidity (check manufacturer labeling and literature).

Wallpaper Removers

• A liquid spray-on solution that uses enzymes to break down the paste and destroy its adhesive strength.
• Also available in a water-based gel formulations that can be applied with a brush or roller.

Acetone

• Fast acting thinner, cleaner and remover for resins, inks, adhesives and contact cement.
• Also used for thinning and cleaning fiberglass.
• A heavy degreaser, it can be used as a metal cleaner prior to painting.

Methyl Ethyl Ketone

• Fast evaporating clear, colorless solvent.
• Has solvent characteristics and strengths similar to acetone but is water soluble.
• Primarily used to thin lacquers and vinyl acetate and vinyl chloride copolymers.

Toluene

• High solvency thinner for oil based paint, lacquers, varnish and adhesives.
• Also used to thin certain primers and topcoats.
• Soluble in alcohol and insoluble in water.
• Dries quickly.
• Also used to clean tools and equipment.

Naphtha (VM & P)

• Fast evaporating, clear, colorless solvent.
• Used primarily to thin oil paints, varnishes and enamels for spray applications where mineral spirits drying time is too slow.

Xylol (Xylene)

• Medium evaporating, clear, colorless aromatic hydrocarbon solvent for thinning varnishes and rubber.

(via NRHA.org)