The Liquid To Have On Hand When Trying Out A Messy Wood-Painting DIY

Whether you frequent local antique stores or you've got the money to throw at your own wood lathe, having nice wooden furniture or other accessories can be a good conversation starter. Painted wooden objects have had a variety of purposes throughout human history, from practical furniture like chairs, to signifiers of nobility like figurines, to religious ceremonial pieces like Torah arks. However, even the best paint jobs may only last 10 years, especially for items that are frequently in use. If you have a piece that's scratched and worn without needing to be refinished, or you're working with a DIY paint recipe to give outdated wood a modern refresh for your next upcycle, messy paint projects are made so much easier when you have mineral spirits at the ready.

Mineral spirits — often sold as odorless paint thinners under brand names like Gamsol — have a variety of uses when it comes to DIY painting projects. They are lipophilic organic solvents (meaning they dissolve in fats) derived from petroleum-based mixtures like naphtha, and so they work best to thin out oil paints before use, to clean paint out of brushes, or even to treat paint stains in fabric. This also makes mineral spirits perfect for wiping down antique furniture pieces after sanding the old coat of paint, prepping them for whatever new colors you might be imagining.

The main difference between mineral spirits versus paint thinners is that mineral spirits are distilled entirely from petroleum and refined to be less toxic, whereas paint thinners can have any number of other chemical compositions. If you're DIYing a messy paint project on wooden furniture, mineral spirits are an invaluable addition to washing and prepping the piece. After washing the wood in a hot (but not scalding) mix of 1 gallon water to 2 tablespoons turpentine and 4 tablespoons linseed oil, you can dry the piece and then give it a once-over using a soft cloth that's been moistened with mineral spirits. This helps dissolve old polish, wax, oil, and grime, as your next coat of paint is more likely to fail if the wooden surface has residual film or other microorganisms still crawling about.

Mineral spirits are also a great way to clean any messes you make after the fact. As mentioned, the way they dissolve with fats makes for a great material to clean oil paints out of your brushes and your clothes. For the latter, start by sponging off any afflicted areas with a commercial cleaning product. Treat the stain with mineral spirits, and after that use a liquid detergent on those same spots. If those stains linger, you can soak the fabric in hot water overnight, and then repeat the process however much you need.

Although mineral spirits are a very useful tool in your arsenal when it comes to DIY paint projects, you also have to be cautious about the dangers if mismanaged. For example, because mineral spirits are lipophilic, it's easier for them to be absorbed through skin contact and cause irritation — or even dermatitis from repeat exposures. Accidentally drinking mineral spirits can be fatal, and taking in too many fumes can lead to issues ranging from headaches and dizziness to the potential of slipping into a coma. This is part of why you should aim to use less-hazardous brands of odorless mineral spirits rather than materials like turpentine, especially if you're in a tight workspace, and also why you should wear synthetic neoprene gloves when cleaning your brushes.

Beyond the effects of exposure like skin cracking or respiratory irritation, mineral spirits — being a petroleum product — are also flammable as both a liquid and vapor. If mineral spirits light up, treat them similar to a grease fire: do not use streams of water. Foam or CO2 fire extinguishers are ideal. This warning might scare you away from using mineral spirits for any messy DIY projects that involve wood, especially with antiques, but mineral spirits are still useful for cleaning your wooden furniture. As with any big DIY, just make sure to plan ahead and be careful.