What Are the Best Acetone Alternatives? A Complete Guide 

Have you ever wondered if there are any good acetone alternatives?  

Acetone is a powerful yet popular solvent that’s used in a variety of applications—but it’s not without its downsides. 

In this blog, we will look at the uses of acetone, its risks, as well as potential alternatives for both industrial and household uses. 

Ready? Let’s get started! 

What Is Acetone? What Is It Used For? 

Acetone is an organic solvent that has impeccable dissolving power.  

With its varied applications, it has not only been heavily utilized for industrial purposes and manufacturing, but households as well. This solvent is appreciated for having no color, as well as having a mild odor.  

Some common residential and industrial applications that you may be familiar with include: 

• Nail polish remover 
• Paint thinner 
• Degreasing textiles 
• Creating lacquers for cars 
• Producing plastics 

Removing nail polish is probably the most well-known application of Acetone. Nail polish remover does an excellent job at dissolving nail polish in only a few swipes when applied on something like a cotton pad.  

However, this example also highlights how this solvent has its risks and can potentially cause harm. 

Why Acetone Might Not Always Be the Best Choice 

Acetone can be incredibly irritating to the skin, and even more so if inhaled or ingested. It is also highly flammable.  

These are both household and industrial risks. As a result, to mitigate these risks, you may want to consider an alternative. 

Best Acetone Alternatives 

A solvent very similar to acetone is methyl acetate. Both behave similarly, are flammable, and may cause irritation.  

However, comparing against acetone, methyl acetate is overall: 

• Less irritating to the human body 
• Better when used in water or moist environments 
• Is more electrically resistant 
• Better for the environment 
• Able to remove heavier contaminants 

As you can see, there are many benefits to using methyl acetate over acetone. 

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Photo by Sharon Pittaway on Unsplash