Best Paint Thinners & Solvents of 2026
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Paint thinners and solvents are essential products for those who work with paints, varnishes, and other coatings. These products are designed to dissolve and thin out paints, making them easier to apply and allowing for a smoother finish. They can also be used to clean up spills and drips, as well as to clean brushes and other painting tools. While there are many different types of paint thinners and solvents available, it is important to choose the right one for your specific needs. With the right product, you can achieve professional-quality results and ensure that your painting projects are completed with ease.
At a Glance: Our Top Picks
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Top 8 Paint Thinners & Solvents
Vallejo Airbrush Thinner, 200 ml, Beige
The Vallejo Airbrush Thinner is a 200 ml bottle of water-based acrylic paint thinner, perfect for your airbrushing needs. Being non-toxic and non-flammable, it ensures a safe working environment for you. This pre-thinned formula allows you to use it straight from the bottle, eliminating the hassle of mixing. Its water-based nature makes clean-up easy, allowing you to focus more on your creative projects without worrying about harmful chemicals.
Everbuild Safer Spirit – Non-Toxic Paint Cleaner
Everbuild Safer Spirit is an environmentally-friendly alternative to traditional white spirit. Being water-based and non-toxic, it ensures a safer home for you and your family. Its virtually odourless formula means you can clean without the unpleasant smells often associated with paint thinners. Additionally, this product contains biodegradable components, making it a sustainable choice. You will also appreciate the conditioning agent that keeps your paint brushes soft and supple, prolonging their lifespan and performance.
Bartoline Premium Low Odour White Spirit 750ml
Bartoline Low Odour Spirit is perfect for various applications where standard white spirit is used. Its milder odour makes it particularly suitable for indoor use, allowing you to work comfortably in confined spaces without being overwhelmed by strong fumes. This feature is especially beneficial for those who may be sensitive to strong smells. The product is designed to help you achieve a cleaner finish when painting or cleaning, enhancing your overall experience during DIY projects.
Bartoline 2L Brush Cleaner for Oil Paints
The Bartoline Brush Cleaner is specially designed to quickly and effectively remove oil-based paint from your brushes and rollers, saving you both time and effort. Its conditioning formula includes water-soluble ingredients that help keep your tools in great shape, extending their lifespan for future projects. Using it is simple: just dip your brush or roller into the cleaner, work the product in, then rinse thoroughly with water to remove any remaining paint. This product is ideal if you regularly work with oil-based paints and want a reliable cleaning solution that also cares for your equipment.
Zinsser Professional Universal Degreaser Stain Remover Spray
The Zinsser Professional Degreaser is a colour-fast and fabric-safe cleaner that ensures your materials stay looking good while you work. This concentrated solution acts as a powerful cleaner, degreaser, stain, and wax remover, making it ideal for tackling stubborn marks quickly. You’ll find it especially effective against grease and oil, perfect for restoring surfaces to their best condition. Whether you’re preparing areas before painting or just needing a reliable stain remover, this spray offers fast and efficient cleaning to save you time and effort.
Ferris White Spirit Paint Solvent (2 Litre)
Ferris White Spirit is a versatile paint solvent perfect for your DIY and professional needs. Its efficient paint thinning properties help you achieve the desired consistency for smooth application of oil-based paints. This product also reduces drying time, allowing you to complete your projects more quickly. You will appreciate its multi-purpose use, as it not only thins paint but also cleans tools and surfaces, making it an essential addition to your toolkit. Its compatibility with various oil-based products ensures that you can rely on it for a range of applications.
XGAGHB Standard 5 Litre Paint Thinner
The XGAGHB Paint Thinner is a versatile solvent designed for use with paint. It dries faster than conventional thinners, making your painting projects more efficient. You can use it for thinning paint, which helps achieve the desired consistency for application. Additionally, it is effective for removing paint, simplifying clean-up tasks around your workspace. This thinner also aids in cleaning your equipment, ensuring they remain in good condition for future use.
Flood PPG FLD6 Floetrol Paint Additive 1 Gallon
The Flood FLD6 Floetrol Additive is a 1-gallon (3.8 litres) paint additive designed to improve your painting experience. As a product from the trusted Flood brand, it helps you achieve smoother paint application by thinning the paint for easier use. This additive is perfect for those working with various paints, offering better flow and finish. Its generous size means you have enough product to tackle larger projects without frequent replacements, making your painting tasks more efficient and convenient.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. What is the solvent in paint and thinner?
A thinner is a volatile solvent that is used to dilute or extend oil-based paints or cleanup after use. Common solvents used as paint thinner chemicals include mineral spirits, mineral and true turpentine, acetone, naphtha, toluene, methyl ethyl ketone (MEK), dimethylformamide (DMF), glycol ethers and xylene.
2. Is solvent the same as paint thinner?
To clarify, paint thinner is simply an overall term for any solvent that is used to thin paint or to remove paint from brushes, rollers, and other painting tools. Examples of paint thinners include turpentine, acetone, naphtha, toluene, and, of course, mineral spirits.
3. What can be used as paint thinner?
Mineral spirits or acetone are acceptable thinners that can be used as an alternative to traditional ones like turpentine. Both of these common household products can be used to thin oil-based paint. You can purchase either at your local hardware store or home center. Measure out the solvents to use them as thinner.
4. What is the difference between white spirit and thinners?
Paint thinners and mineral spirits are two different products that thin down oil-based paints and clean up oily messes. White spirit is simply paint thinner, a generalised term that describes what it does. A solvent is described as a mineral spirit when it contains a high concentration of minerals.
During our paint thinners & solvent research, we found 155 paint thinners & solvent products and shortlisted 8 quality products. We collected and analyzed 112,795 customer reviews through our big data system to write the paint thinners & solvents list. We found that most customers choose paint thinners & solvents with an average price of £12.61.
The paint thinners & solvents are available for purchase. We have researched hundreds of brands and picked the top brands of paint thinners & solvents, including Vallejo, Best Price Square, Bartoline, Zinsser, FERRIS.
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