Mineral spirits is a low-odor petroleum distillate that is a pure-grade solvent. It is less combustible than turpentine or other solvents, making it a favorite for removing varnishes. Kitchen cabinets are finished with a layer of polyurethane or varnish, and when deciding to refinish your kitchen cabinets, consider using mineral spirits. more »

Use mineral spirits to show where sanding bowl scratches are. Learn what to do when there are bowl scratches from a woodturning specialist in this free crafts video. more »

Shoe polish is a great recycled design medium that can be spread out with mineral spirits. Experiment with shoe polish with tips from an artist in this free design video. more »

There are two types of acrylic paints: solvent-based and water-based. Solvent-based acrylics are soluble in mineral spirits. Water-based acrylic and acrylic emulsion paint are water-soluble. more »

Oil painting techniques include using mediums with the paint like mineral spirits, paint thinner and quick-drying agents. Discover oil painting techniques with tips from an artist in this free video on painting. more »

Black shoe polish is a combination of different types of wax, lanolin, fats and mineral spirit solvents. Shoe polish is made by heating wax and fats with mineral solvents. Dye is added to produce color. more »

Wood floors are highly sought after by many people. They can add shine and beauty to any home or business. That is, they can if they are well taken care of and still look somewhat new. To keep your wood floors from becoming dingy and an eyesore, you can spot clean your floors with mineral spirits. While this isn't quite the same as a refinishing job, it can help make your floors look nicer during the couple decades in between refinishings. more »

Most commercial T-shirt shops screen print with plastisol ink, a PVC (polyvinyl chloride) ink that cleans up with mineral spirits. Plastisol is known for its ease of use and versatility. It can be used for most garment screen-printing jobs, as there are a variety of plastisol inks available for specific printing situations. Plastisol ink must be heat cured to remain adhered to the shirt. It can be messy in the hands of an inexperienced user, as it will not dry without heat curing. more »

Painting over varnish can be done by lightly sanding the surface, rubbing it down with mineral spirits and applying either an oil-based or water-based paint. Prep a varnished surface before painting it with helpful tips from a professional artist in this free video on painting techniques. more »