What is Varsol Solvent, and How is it Used?

Varsol solvent - also referred to as white, mineral, and turpentine - is a petroleum distillate used to thin oil-based paints. Varsol is a petroleum derived clear liquid that has a very foul, irritating, and offensive smell.

The purpose of the development for varsol was to replace kerosene in solvent applications as it is a cheaper alternative and more eco-friendly. Varsol can be found in industrial, professional, and consumer product applications. 

Learn about solvent recycling and recovery 

How is varsol solvent used?

Varsol is an effective cleaner solvent used to touch up greasy, oily, and other dirty areas of certain finished products. Varsol is mainly used as a solvent for removing stains and thinning paints. 

Varsol is a highly-approved product by generations of contractors, as its efficiency and cost-effectiveness benefits have surpassed other solvent alternatives. These alternatives include denatured alcohol, charcoal lighter fluid, acetone, and soap with water. 

Varsol solvent acts as a heavy-duty cleaner with a light touch on specific surfaces like wood, plastic, steel, and concrete. Varsol solvents have been approved as well for the safe delicate surfaces like chrome, acrylic, and synthetic fibers. Some products that Varsol uses to clean include bicycle chains, paintbrushes, furniture, and cars. 

The process of varsol cleaning

The process of varsol cleaning is simple yet effective. First, the damaged product or item is placed in a container that is filled with Varsol. The product is then left in the container for two to three minutes and after is brushed down with a brush or steel wool. This will allow the extra grime and build up to be removed from the product. 

Once the product has been washed down, repeat the process of placing the product into Varsol. After completion, scrub down the remaining grease, and oil on the product and place it in a cloth to dry off.

Threats of varsol solvents

Varsol is an effective cleaning solvent that has been approved for generations. Recently, however, varsol has experienced some external threats which has hurt the usage rate of varsol as a cleaning solvent. 

Varsol is seen as a hazardous solvent as it contains highly concentrated chemicals that can cause damage to the user’s organs when inhaled or contacted. The long-term health effects of varsol include muscle weaknesses, depression, bone marrow damage, and increased chances of developing pneumonia. 

Varsol solvents are also highly flammable, making it a cautious product when being used or left unattended. Varsol as well is a dangerous hazard to not only humans but the environment, wrongly disposing of varsol can lead to pollution. 

It is important to recycle and dispose of varsol effectively as government regulations require proper treatment of this solvent after usage. 

Current market conditions of varsol 

The market for varsol has begun to see an increase in demand again over the past year. With the increased production of manufactured products like cars, furniture, and wood appliances, varsol has seen an increase in its usage rate making it a highly demanded product. 

In 2021, the US reported over 6,289 million US dollars in sales with its expected sales in 2028 to be over 9,416 million US dollars. In this span, its compound annual rate has been analyzed at 5.50%. These market values have been driven by the expansion of its application in the end use of industries in paints, coatings, adhesives, dyes, and inks. 

Varsol solvents can be found worldwide in continents including North America, South America, Europe, Asia, and China. Varsol is not a monopoly however as it has a high volume of competitors that manufacture the solvent like ThaiOil, Indian Oil Corporation limited, ExxonMobil, and Total SA. 

Interested in learning more about Varsol Solvents and its market capitalization opportunities? Contact us today!