How to Handle Denatured Alcohol

Denatured alcohol, also referred to as Methylated Spirits, is simply pure ethanol alcohol (the type of alcohol that humans can drink) that has been "contaminated" with one or more toxic chemicals in order to make the alcohol poisonous. Because denatured alcohol is not drinkable it is exempt from high alcohol taxes and is affordable for many scientific and industrial needs. For example, denatured alcohol is used as fuel for camping stoves and for many sanding purposes in commercial wood shops. Under no circumstances should denatured alcohol be ingested as it can cause blindness or death.

Things You'll Need

• Blue or red food coloring
• Glass or plastic container (with tight seal)
• Syrup of ipecac
• Poison label

Instructions

1. Color your denatured alcohol with red or blue food coloring so it does not look like drinkable alcohol.

2. Add 1/2 tsp. of syrup of ipecac to each quart of denatured alcohol to induce vomiting if accidentally ingested.

3. Store denatured alcohol in a tightly-sealed container with a poison symbol on the label.

4. Keep denatured alcohol away from children and animals.

Tips & Warnings

• Small amounts of denatured alcohol on skin are not dangerous and does not need to be washed off. Denatured alcohol can be used for removal of ink and other stains from fabric, but always test an unobtrusive spot on the fabric first to make sure the alcohol will not cause colors to run.

• Keep denatured alcohol in tightly-sealed containers away from children and animals. Keep denatured alcohol out of eyes and mouth, as it can cause severe stinging and even worse reactions. Denatured alcohol is extremely flammable--use caution around open flames.