Is Pine SOL Flammable? Here Is What We Found Out

Pine SOL is a great cleaning product that acts as an effective disinfectant as well. However, as is true with most things, it is important to know the safety precautions that must be taken when using it. One such avenue happens to be if Pine SOL is flammable or not? Let’s answer that question.

Is Pine SOL flammable?

Yes, Pine SOL is quite flammable. Pine SOL is, after all, a chemical concoction and while the exact components of Pine SOL aren’t known, most cleaning agents use a few common chemicals. Many of these are flammable.

We do not need any guesswork here though as the manufacturers themselves ship this product with the warning that it is combustible and should not be used or stored near an open flame. That is as clear as a manufacturer can get regarding the flammable nature of Pine SOL.

Why is it flammable?

Pine SOL is a complex mixture of various chemicals. Some of these are different types of alcohol. Some petroleum derivatives are also added. Finally, there are some chemicals meant to make Pine SOL better suited for spraying.

While they all do a great job, they come with the downside of being extremely combustible and even explosive. Thankfully, they form only a small part of the entire solution.

This stops a bottle of Pine SOL from turning into a grenade but it is still flammable. The good news is that it won’t spontaneously burst into flames if stored or used properly as we shall see in the next section.

Another important thing to keep in mind is that each chemical component of Pine SOL has been carefully chosen to ensure that they do not start an exothermic (heat releasing) reaction among themselves.

As such, you should never mix Pine SOL with other chemicals. Even if you are well-versed in chemistry, remember that there are many chemicals in Pine SOL that aren’t public knowledge. Be on the safe side and always use Pine SOL in a standalone manner or after dilution with water.

How to avoid setting your house on fire while using Pine SOL?

This product is meant for use in homes and as such, the safety precautions you need to take to avoid starting a fire aren’t too complicated. The first and most obvious precautionary measure is to never use Pine SOL near an open flame, even in a diluted form.

While it might not catch fire as readily as something like gasoline, it can still ignite fairly easily and if additional fuel in the form of clothes, paper, wood, and other common household items are available, a small ember can turn into an all-consuming fire very quickly. It is not just open flames that you need to be wary of.

Stay away from extremely hot surfaces. Always clean yourself properly before cooking if you have just cleaned with Pine SOL. In the unfortunate event of a fire, do not panic and cut the oxygen supply to the fire either by covering the fire with a wet blanket or by using a fire extinguisher if one is available. Seek immediate help if things get out of control. However, things do not need to go to such extremes. Just follow the precautionary steps mentioned above.