3 planet and people-friendly alternatives to white spirit for cleaning brushes

Stoddard solvent, turpentine substitute, mineral spirit, paint thinner: these are all common names for white spirit. These substances are widely used in painting and decorating, but did you know that they have adverse impacts on both the health of people and the planet? Big yikes. Fortunately, though, there are many safer alternatives to white spirit that will leave less of a dent in your environmental reputation. But first, let’s get into why we’d recommend ditching the stuff for more eco-conscious white spirit alternatives.

what’s so bad about white spirit?

White spirit gets a bad name for a number of reasons, but they all stem from its chemical composition. White spirit is a petroleum-based substance that comes in a clear, colourless liquid form, and the petroleum hydrocarbons floating around in there pose several health and environmental hazards.

how white spirit can affect your health

It’s well-documented that white spirit has some pretty negative health impacts from sustained exposure to the solvent ranging from irritation of the nose, throat and lungs to fits and heart problems on the more serious end.

For this reason, we’d strongly recommend that you wear a solvent respirator, opt for a well-ventilated workspace and reduce exposure when working with solvent-based substances such as white spirit. It goes without saying that you should keep white spirit well away from children at all times.

how white spirit harms the environment

Unlike water-based substances, white spirit isn’t soluble, and this poses many problems later down the line if it seeps into the environment via contaminated water, soil or air.

As it is both highly flammable and insoluble, Public Health England requires that spillages and runoff from white spirit should be prevented from entering any drains and water courses. This is because, when exposed to wildlife, animals may ingest the toxic substance and experience serious health implications. White spirit can also create a persistent, hazardous layer on top of water if spilt or disposed of incorrectly, and this can harm aquatic life.

clean painting, clean conscience

At splat, we’re hopeful thinkers who believe a better world is possible. In the painting arena, we have an ethos of being the best we can be. That means taking responsibility for our environmental impact and making it easier for everyone to build a safer, healthier, happier sustainable home.

From offering up eco-friendly decorating tips to more sustainable options for paints and decorating tools, we’re here to show you that there’s always a greener choice. By switching out your current go-to with an alternative to white spirit for cleaning your brushes, you can keep those tools as squeaky clean as your conscience.

3 greener alternatives to white spirit for cleaning brushes

1.     clean spirit

When it comes to health and sustainability, clean spirit ticks both boxes. But why is this? Well, first up let’s talk about its water-based solution: this high-tech recipe is non-hazardous, virtually odourless and non-flammable, containing low VOC components and all biodegradable ingredients. Hence why clean spirit is far safer to use and is easier to dispose of thanks to its soluble properties.

Even better, it also has a wide application. You can use clean spirit to clean up all water-based paints and almost all oil-based paints from brushes, rollers and paint pads and its conditioning agent will leave your brushes beautifully soft and supple to the touch. Not to mention, it’s cost-effective too! Hearing this, it’s safe to say that it’s the ultimate alternative to white spirit.

2.     methylated spirit

Methylated spirit (AKA denatured alcohol) is a small step up from using white spirit to clean your painting tools from an environmental perspective. The main difference between white and methylated spirit is their respective chemical formulations: white spirit is a petroleum-derived solvent whereas the latter is derived from alcohol.

You will find that methylated spirit will evaporate and dry the fastest out of the pair, but like white spirit, it has a strong odour and its toxicity will vary depending on the additives used to denature the alcohol. Generally speaking, methylated spirit is often considered to have a lower environmental impact due to its biodegradability, but again it will vary from product to product. Methanol, for instance, can be toxic and has different chemical characteristics compared to ethanol.

3.     soap and water

The last, but not least, of our suggested alternatives to white spirit is good ol’ fashioned soap and water. While it may not be as effective as other methods, if you are cleaning a little water-based paint from a brush this might just work. Plus, it gets a splat star of approval for safety and we’re 100% confident you’ll have it in your home.

Of course, you can’t remove strong paints that have been coating the bristles for a long time quite as easily as with white spirit, but you can soak brushes overnight, so that they soften and then give them a good wash and rinse afterwards.

how to clean water-based paints off brushes without white spirit

Whether your paint brushes are looking worse for wear after using water-based paint to upcycle furniture or give your railings a colour refresh, the method for getting rid of the gunk will be the same. And it only takes a few simple steps.

step 1: remove excess paint

Whatever type of paint you are using, cleaning your paint brushes will begin with removing as much of the paint in the bristles as possible. You can do this by wiping it on the side of the paint tin or on some old newspaper.

step 2: rinse with water

Start by holding the bristles pointing down under a running tap – outside preferably – and rise in a little water (warm water if you have access). Using your thumb and forefingers, massage the bristles and dislodge the paint clumped there and keep at it until the water runs clear. This will ensure that you get all the paint near the ferrule and at the centre of the bristles and cover all bases.

step 3: shake & spin

Now it’s time to remove as much excess water as possible. Squeeze the bristles in your hands softly to release the moisture and start to shake it using a flicking motion.

Another option is to spin dry your brushes. Pop the brush handle between your palms and move them like you are rubbing your hands. This will rotate the brush and flick away any additional moisture. You can purchase paint brush spinners to do the job, but these aren’t necessary. Now you can leave your brushes hanging up or lying flat to dry.

step 4: store safe & sound

When the bristles are nice and dry you can give them a quick comb to see them back in the right place. Make sure to store your brushes in a clean, dry place or in the sleeve they came in to keep them in good condition.

how to clean gloss paint from brushes without white spirit

For gloss or oil paints, the method above might not be enough. But not to worry! They are also fairly easy to clean with alternatives to white spirit.

Follow all of the steps above for water-based paints except switch out the soap and water with clean spirit or another alternative. Put the substance in a container – an old jam jar will do for brushes up to 2 inches long – and stir the brush in there to work it well in. Remove the tool from the container and rub with a cloth to work it in some more. From there you can rinse with water, dry and store the brush as we instruct above.

that’s the spirit!

With a positive attitude to DIY, you can reduce the impact your projects have on the health of people and the planet. And the best part is that it doesn’t cost an arm and a leg as these alternatives to white spirit have shown. So, the next time you spring clean your rollers and brushes, cast your mind back to our advice and you can’t go wrong.

After more eco-friendly decorating tips? Then make sure to explore our other climate-positive guides on the rest of the blog.