The Tool Desk
Outbyte PC Repair FREERepair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Outbyte Driver Updater FREEScan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →One WOOD Magazine contributor reported using a recycled laundry-detergent jug to dispense mineral spirits in his workshop—but that account is not proof that detergent jugs are safe for every thinner or solvent. The magazine’s 2020 tip also warns that the plastic may not withstand stronger solvents.
What the workshop tip actually describes
In a shop tip published February 26, 2020, WOOD Magazine described reusing a laundry-detergent jug with an integral push-button dispenser. Contributor Tom Jeffers of Margaretville, New York, said he used one for mineral spirits. He reported that after eight years the dispenser had not leaked and delivered accurate, no-mess pours with little effort. This is one person’s account, not an independent test or a general durability finding. Read the WOOD Magazine tip.
Does that mean a detergent jug works for paint thinner?
No broad compatibility claim follows from the anecdote. Although the headline says “paint thinner,” the tip’s subheading and Jeffers’s description name mineral spirits. Paint-thinner products and other solvents can differ, and the article does not identify the jug’s plastic resin, manufacturer, or model, nor report compatibility testing. It cautions: “These plastic jugs may not hold up to stronger solvents.”
Do not infer that a reused detergent jug is suitable for a particular liquid based on its appearance or on one person’s experience. Check the solvent’s product label and safety data sheet (SDS) for handling and storage directions. OSHA’s hazard-communication rule requires manufacturers and importers to develop SDSs for hazardous chemicals, with required information that includes handling and storage. OSHA’s Hazard Communication Standard.
Free tools Windows power users keep installed
One-click scans. No signup required.
#1 Best Overall
- WHAT YOU GET: one 1-quart (946 mL) bottle of odorless mineral spirits, packed by Alliance Chemical in Taylor, Texas
- ODORLESS MINERAL SPIRITS: a petroleum distillate solvent (CAS 64742-47-8) with low odor for work indoors and in shops; UN1268, Class 3, PG III as printed on the container label
- THINS OIL-BASED FINISHES: thins oil-based paints, varnishes, stains and enamels for brushing or spraying, and cleans them out of brushes, rollers and spray guns
- CLEANS AND DEGREASES: wipes grease, oil, wax and adhesive residue off tools, machine parts and metal surfaces, and preps surfaces before finishing
- FLAMMABLE, HANDLE SAFELY: flammable liquid and vapor (H226), may be fatal if swallowed and enters airways (H304), may cause drowsiness or dizziness (H336). Keep away from heat, sparks and open flames, use with ventilation, wear gloves and eye protection, and see the Safety Data Sheet
Workplace storage has additional requirements
For covered general-industry workplace storage, OSHA’s flammable-liquids rule requires approved containers and portable tanks, subject to the rule’s definitions, limits, and exceptions. That is a workplace requirement, not a universal statement about every household use. Whether a container is permitted depends on the applicable rule and situation; Jeffers’s account does not establish that a detergent jug is approved. OSHA 29 CFR 1910.106.
OSHA guidance discusses conditional circumstances for polyethylene containers used to store combustible and flammable liquids. It does not establish that a particular laundry jug qualifies or that its plastic is compatible with a particular solvent. OSHA guidance on polyethylene containers.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- Capacity: 4pcs of 500ml (17oz)
- O.D×Height: 2.91’’×7.2’’(74mm×183mm), the diameter of mouth is 1.36’’ (34.5mm)
- Material: Bottle is made of LDPE(Low Density Polyethylene) material which has good flexibility, elasticity, and Impact resistance, draw tube is made of PP(Polypropylene).
- Superiority: High sealing performance, effectively prevent the volatilization of liquid
- Appearance: The wash bottle has a label with chemical name, the chemical formula of the International Chemical Society (ICS) and the Chemical Abstract Service (CAS) number, cap in yellow color.
Rank #4
- The Brush Tip Glue Bottle, with a larger, more even application area than the Needle Tip Glue Bottle, is a better choice for liquid solder.
- 50cc Brush Tip Glue Bottle,50cc needle tip glue bottle,For different application scenarios
- Needle Tip Squeeze Bottle - Resuable, easy to use and squeeze, washable, could be filled with glue, glaze, paint, or other liquids.
- Precision Tip Applicator Bottle - Use them for any cool art projects in class or home
- Glue Applicator Bottles - Great for DIY and other projects that require small drops or fine lines of glue
Rank #3
- Amber glass construction protects light and plastic sensitive fluids
- Alcohol imprint for demarcation
- Wide opening - easy to fill - perfect for alcohol dispensing
- Lasting-touch pump
- Made in the United States of America
Rank #2
- WHAT YOU GET: two 1-quart (946 mL) bottles of odorless mineral spirits, packed by Alliance Chemical in Taylor, Texas
- ODORLESS MINERAL SPIRITS: a petroleum distillate solvent (CAS 64742-47-8) with low odor for work indoors and in shops; UN1268, Class 3, PG III as printed on the container label
- THINS OIL-BASED FINISHES: thins oil-based paints, varnishes, stains and enamels for brushing or spraying, and cleans them out of brushes, rollers and spray guns
- CLEANS AND DEGREASES: wipes grease, oil, wax and adhesive residue off tools, machine parts and metal surfaces, and preps surfaces before finishing
- FLAMMABLE, HANDLE SAFELY: flammable liquid and vapor (H226), may be fatal if swallowed and enters airways (H304), may cause drowsiness or dizziness (H336). Keep away from heat, sparks and open flames, use with ventilation, wear gloves and eye protection, and see the Safety Data Sheet
Practical takeaway
- Treat the WOOD Magazine example as a mineral-spirits anecdote, not a recommendation for all paint thinners.
- Use the specific solvent’s label and SDS to determine appropriate handling and storage; do not guess at container compatibility.
- For workplace storage, check the applicable OSHA requirements and use a container approved for the intended liquid and use.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
