The Unknown Uses For Lighter Fluid

Starting a fire was never the same with the invention of lighter fluid. The basic purpose of lighter fluid is to assist in lighting and sustaining fire. The most popular form in use today is liquid butane and can be found in outdoor grills, torches, and in the millions of cigarette lighters manufactured every day. Due to the very nature of these chemical compounds, lighter fluid can be extremely dangerous and should always be handled with caution.

What most people do not know however, is that lighter fluid has uses in a modern environment outside of simply lighting fires. The chemicals contained in lighter fluid can also be used with caution as a home cleaning product. For example, scuff marks left by rubber soled shoes can be quickly and easily eliminated using just a small amount of liquid butane and a paper towel. Other common stains or marks that can quickly and easily be eliminated include but are not limited to ink, marker, and crayon. As always, extreme caution must be used, but with these stains being quickly eliminated time and money can be saved.

Another uncommon use is for those who have ever had chewing gum stuck to a surface or even deeply engrained in hair. Butane should be applied directly to the gum and in moments the gum will soften or dissolve completely and can be wiped away with a towel or pulled out using a comb. Since lighter fluid has such a low boiling point it evaporates rapidly and leaves no dangerous wet spots or unsightly oily residue on surfaces. This makes it the ideal candidate to remove the glue commonly used in stickers or tape. One of the hardest surfaces in a household to get completely clean and streak free is stainless steel, but just a few squirts and rust spots can be wiped off with a clean cloth. As a final step on stainless a second clean cloth should be used to wipe up the streaks left behind.






Cooks everywhere have always had to suffer through cooking oil stains that seem simply impossible to remove. Yet again, a fast and relatively cheap solution is readily available with liquid butane. All these stains take to remove is just a very small amount put directly onto the spot prior to washing and the stains will be gone.

As always, lighting a fire will be the most common and traditional use for this product, but with the rise of self lighting charcoal for grills this traditional use has seen decline in recent years. Pipes and cigarettes will continue to use this product, and even with the push for smoke free environments the traditional use will always have its place.

Regardless of the intended use of liquid butane, or lighter fluid, must always be handled with extreme caution. Above all it must be remembered that this is a flammable substance and can be harmful or even fatal if swallowed. Always read and follow the proper safety instructions when handling and if necessary seek help immediately.