Eco-Solve

Eco-solve works great as a thinner and brush cleaner without nasty fumes. I cannot use mineral spirits because the fumes knock me out, but I can use eco-solve with no problems. I am so happy I found Natural Earth Paints because everything I have used so far works amazingly well and does not bother me in any way.

I am enjoying using this solvent and not feeling ill (I do even with odorless mineral spirits) so this is a great addition to my multi-media kit, and I feel better using something that is eco-friendly.

This is the healthier swap for turpentine or odorless mineral spirits. It does everything you need it to. It’s non-yellowing and archival. I have gotten rid of all the odorless mineral spirits I was using and couldn’t be happier. Health is important.

The product itself works well. However, the cap on the 8oz bottle almost immediately broke when I accidentally over-tightened it. Personally I'd love to have more guidance on how to use/dispose of this properly. But overall I am pleased with my purchase

I was getting so sick from OMS and when I found this I fell in love. I've replaced all OMS with this and I think it's worth the cost ten times over. Being able to work non-toxic means so much!

So pleased to find a non-toxic solvent to clean up brushes. Thank you!

I could not be more pleased and grateful that you make this product available to artists. Ecosolve can be used for thinning paint, making stains, cleaning brushes, sketching, paint removal, etc, etc, and all of it can be done in a non-toxic manner. Love this product. It's one of the very best things you make re keeping humans healthy and creative. Thank you!!

The smell was awful.

Love it and hardly any smell

love this product. love that it has no small and it thins the paint well. I would say it doesn't thin as well as oil of spike lavender so i use both type of products when needed but i buy more of this paint thinner for upkeep of cleaning my oil paint off of brushes and sometimes in painting for big washes (: love this company so much!!

An absolutely fantastic product! Cleans brushes and is an excellent paint thinner as well. My 15 year old grandson is showing interest in oil painting . Feels so good to share the Eco-Solve with him and know he will never have to be exposed to mineral spirits !

Typical solvents give me headaches, this does not. Will buy again.

I have used water miscible oil paints for over 20 years. I've tried about every brand available.
Without going into detail I have never been completely satisfied with the performance of any of them.
I've wanted to get back to using traditional oils but I won't use VOC solvents. I've tried about every alternative to solvents that've come onto the market. The majority of non-VOC cleaning products and methods I've tried work well to clean brushes and palettes and other tools of the craft. That part's easy. I needed a thinner that worked like turpentine. Something that allowed me to thin my paints, make them more "creamy," and apply a wash or thin underpainting just like turps.
When I saw that Eco-Solv was advertised as not only a cleaner but a "thinner" I bought a small container for a trial. Frankly I'd been disappointed enough times I wasn't too hopeful. I tested it in studio and it seemed promising. It pretty much instantly diluted the paint.
When I recently went plein air painting for a week I took the plunge and swapped out my water-miscible kit for traditional oils and a brush washer containing Eco-Solv. I ended up with a half-dozen 8X10 and 9X12 pieces. I used the product just as I would have done in the distant past with a container of odorless turps. The slightest amounts were used when I wanted to thin my paint mixes and when switching colors on a brush or cleaning up after a session I swirled the brush in the Eco-Solv and wiped it on a paper towel just as a would have in turps. I used the same container of product the entire week. At the end of the week my brushes would wash out at sessions end almost as clean as they did at the start of my trip. I use synthetics so I can't speak to how it performs with hog bristle.
I will pour the used product into a glass jar as a test to see how well the particles settle out. My studies are in the drying rack. I can't yet say how the paint film will hold up at this point but several are dry to the touch and there's no tackiness (those of you who use water miscible oils will appreciate that). They "feel" like a nice dry oil painting is supposed to feel. In summary I'm impressed. Not yet so much I'm going to run out and buy a 64 oz. jug but I'm hopeful.

Very good

Fantastic non toxic alternative to mineral spirits. It works well for cleaning oil painting brushes between colors during painting sessions and afterwards. A very impressive product. I’m not limited to water mixable oils any longer! I had been avoiding traditional oils due to the toxic properties of petroleum based solvents. They are absolutely unnecessary and came into use only during the petroleum era with it’s catastrophic results.

I bought this as a non-toxic (thinner alternative) solution to my oil painting and so far am not disappointed. It does have an odor that is a bit irritating (thinner too of course) but I would call it a good trade off for better health. Best to use in well ventilated area.

In case you were wondering, yes, it does get red oil paint out of carpet.

Love that it’s eco friendly, works as cleaner and diluter and there’s no odor

I have used eco-solve thinner for several years and find it to be a great replacement for solven-based thinners. I am sensitive to VOC's and I have no problems with toxic vapors when using eco solve in my studio.

Tried this for the first time today, and this product is exactly what I was looking for. It thins my paint beautifully and doesn't give me a headache. I paint in thin layers, and it offers great consistency and fast drying time. Yes, it has a smell - to me, the smell isn't very strong, but I would say it is "specific". I can understand how some can be sensitive to this odor. I am extremely sensitive to Liquin and Turpentine (even the odor free version) to a point where I get nauseous quickly. But this stuff doesn't bother me at all. I also have a small fan running next to my palette.

I've been using Eco-Solve for about two years now, and absolutely love it. I won't use anything else. For years, I used turps & solvents that gave me headaches or made me nauseated. When I discovered Eco-Solve a couple of years ago, I gave it a try and loved it. Now I make sure I always keep some on hand.I find that it is a little more potent than some other solvents. Cleans brushes very well; although I mostly use walnut oil to clean my brushes, then I finish off with Eco-Solve. I've never seen it ruin any brushes, but it did eat through the paint of the handle from a cheap-brand brush. Other than that, no ruining brushes. And yes, if you get some on the label of its container, it will wash out the ink.Like I said, it is somewhat potent. But on the other hand, it will not harm the painting. It works wonderfully for washes of oil color and it dries pretty fast. I keep some for cleaning brushes between color changes and some for thinning paints or making medium mixes. It can be used in anyway like other solvents.I would be careful, though, not to use too much at once. I had it eat through the bottom layer of a painting once. That was my fault for using too much and not being careful. But once it dried, I was able to fix it.I keep some in plastic bottles...no issues there; it has not eaten through the plastic. I keep silicone pucks in my brush cleaning container filled with Eco-Solve. At first I thought it would eat up the pucks, but after two years, no signs of deterioration.I've had it on my skin with no irritation or harm. I know some people complaint about the scent, but I find it rather pleasing. It has a pleasant smell of anise or liquorice. Does not give me headaches or make me nauseated. Even though it is non-toxic, plant-based and vegan, I don't recommend ingesting it.So, anyway, thought I share my thoughts on this product. I see some reviews go from one extreme to the other, from the best to the worst. I think the best way to find out if you like this product or not is to give it a try and make your own judgement on it.

No bad odor, does a good job. Use with oil paints.

Dang, this is the best brush cleaner I've used, far and above any of the turpentine-based products. Just swish your brush a couple of times, wipe on a paper towel, and it's clean. Low evaporation rate and takes paint off of other surfaces and fabrics too. Look out, for it's strong. I wouldn't use it for glazing as some suggest because it will remove layers of paint including the undercoat. And look out for using it on plastics. I tried to wipe some paint splatter off my laptop cover and it removed the color baked into the molding, some form of plastic, I presume. But this is a great environmentally-friendly product for cleaning oil paint off your brushes, your hands, your clothes and furniture!

Sooooo much better than turpentine. This stuff is amazing. Works affectionately, and doesn’t make me sick. And I love that it’s eco friendly. I recommend getting the earth pigment set to accompany!

Works great, everything is as advertised. I just wish it were more economically priced.

Recently began oil painting and I love it. Except after class and at home I would get these terrible headaches and started feeling light headed all the time. Since switching from the odorless mineral spirits to this about a month ago the problem has stopped. I can paint for hours now and this thinner doesn’t bother me.

I am very pleased with this product and I highly recommend it. It smells like licorice which is not bad at all. Enjoy!

Thank you for my recent order. Every thing arrived fine, except for 1 item. The Eco-Solvent had leaked, thank you for including it in the extra zip lock bag which mostly worked and held almost all of the leakage which was about 1/8 of cup. Flagstaff Az is at about 7,000 feet above sea level and since you are at close to sea level, it's a big difference. Items take on pressure as they come up in Elevation. I wonder if it would help to pour a little bit in an extra container to give more room in the Eco Solve metal container to allow for pressure increase or if opening and closing the can prior to shipping would help?
Just some thoughts. Wasn't that big of a problem, I'm mainly thinking of future orders.
Thank you.
Christopher
Alexander Studio

Very fast shipping considering it was international (to Canada). When shipping was included it was a little costly but since it is a healthier option I wasn't sorry. The same day I received my parcel I saw the Eco Solve on the shelves in my local art supplies store but they didnt include it in their online store and that is why I purchased online. Anyway, these are just logistical problems, I am very happy with my solvent and how company dealt with making sure it arrives as fast as possible and in perfect condition. I will buy again (just a bigger bottle).