What are methylated spirits?

Methylated spirits, also known as denatured alcohol, is ethanol that has been treated with additives to make it poisonous, bad-tasting, foul-smelling, or nauseating, to discourage recreational consumption. The main purpose of these additives is to prevent the liquid from being used as a beverage while still allowing it to be used for industrial, laboratory, and household purposes.

Common additives used in methylated spirits include:

Methanol: A highly toxic alcohol that can cause blindness and death if ingested.
Pyridine: An unpleasant-smelling chemical that can deter ingestion.
Denatonium: One of the bitterest substances known, added to make the alcohol taste extremely bitter.
Dyes: Often a purple dye is added to visually distinguish methylated spirits from consumable alcohol.
Methylated spirits are used in various applications, such as:

Solvent: For thinning paints, lacquers, and varnishes.
Fuel: For spirit burners and camping stoves.
Cleaning: Effective for cleaning glass, metals, and other hard surfaces.
Disinfectant: Sometimes used for disinfecting surfaces and equipment, though it should be used with caution due to its toxicity.
Given the toxic additives, methylated spirits should never be consumed and should be handled with care to avoid ingestion, inhalation, or prolonged skin contact.