Cleaning xylene and Mineral Spirits

Is there a way to clean old mineral spirits and xylene? We bought two new full buckets, but they are already cloudy with yellow paint now due to a mix up. We tried letting it settle, but it's just going too slow. We tried coffe filters and paper towels in a funnel, but to no avail. Is it still safe to use the xylene to clean even with some paint in it (its very thinned down). What about storing with Mineral Spirits that have a little clouding from paint? Thanks!

The only way to clean mineral spirits would be a centrifuge, it will settle out in time. Xylene may never settle out to where it's clean, it can still be used to thin a like color with. How did you get a whole can of thinner dirty?

We were using it to clean a machine and the guy I work with didn't wait until the paint had pushed all the way through the hose, so we ended up with about half a hose of paint in with our bucket. Then he recirculated it back into the bucket with the clean stuff in it, so it fouled the whole thing. Same thing happens with the mineral spirits. Didn't push all that now cloudy xylene through the tube and sprayed it into the mineral spirits. There'll be some remedial training soon!

Should be pouring it into a coffee can and using the coffee can as a cleaning can. You could build a still and re distill it, when done you could then make some good hootch.

Place one sealed bucket at a time on the Old Ladies Maytag. Turn it on the Spin Cycle!........TaDA! Instant centrifuge! CAUTION! Do not smoke near the machine. Safety First! Fonz

Hey, Fonz, where you been?

Thank you for the nice welcome back Straightline...thank you. I sold my business 2 years ago. I'm 66, retired after 40 years with Fords, and the old legs and back said it was time to quit. I do miss the friends and fun I used to have on here. Stripers are all great guys..........but.........I still like Strippers better!! Fonz

I took a long vacation. Doing all I can to avoid work.

Retired A, now you can write for the Red & Green show. Missed your responses on practical ways to solve problems. You bring a smile to my face with some of them.Welcome back and don't stay away so long. Beer is on me.