Kerosene is a fuel oil that is known by several different names including heating oil, boiler juice and paraffin. It is produced through the distilling of crude oil. There are two grades of kerosene which have different levels of Sulphur.  Kerosene is a clear, thin liquid typically used for lighting, heating, for powering aircraft of various types and in heating systems. Kerosene has been used for years and continues to be one of the most traditional sources of providing light and heat, originally in lanterns.  It is still used worldwide for cooking and providing entertainment.

It is estimated that in the United Kingdom, over 1.5 billion homes use kerosene to heat their homes. This is particularly due to its clean burning properties allowing it to maintain an increased level of heat, while being very economical to use as a primary source of heating.  One of the primary reasons for kerosene’s popularity is its availability.

Although kerosene has been used for heating and cooking for many years, one of its more recent uses is for jet fuel.  Kerosene is highly combustible which makes it ideal for use in jet engines.  Kerosene also has a very low vapor level.  Because of this it has less of a chance of exploding.  All of us who fly can appreciate that!

Another use that many do not know is kerosene is used in entertainment.  Those performers that breathe fire, twirl fire or leap through circles of fire, do so using kerosene.  It has a very low fire temperature.  This makes it a safer fuel to use in these performances while giving very impressive spectacles.  Industry uses kerosene as a degreaser.  Glass cutters use kerosene as a lubricant in their trade.  It cleans the cutting blade while it penetrates the glass.  And you know that sticky residue left after a sticker is removed from glass?  Kerosene is effective in removing that, too.

Believe it or not, kerosene has been used for medicinal purposes.  It is effective in the treatment of lice.  It also has been used for worming horses.  Of course, for that use, it needs to be mixed with something sweet.  Kerosene has an antiseptic quality, making it useful for use on cuts and scrapes and even on burns.  But as with any fuel oil, caution should be used any time there is exposure to one of these fossil fuels.  Ventilation is imperative and prolonged exposure has been linked to different medical complications.