How to Get Nail Polish
Out of Clothes, Carpet, and Fabric

If you’ve been painting your nails for a while, you’ve likely had an accident. When you’re unsure how to get nail polish out of clothes and fabrics, spilling fingernail polish feels like a bad dream. That thick, gooey liquid seems impossible to remove, and polish remover can damage the fabric as much as the spill. Although removing fingernail polish from wood furniture and hardwood floors and fabric is challenging, The Maids® has you covered. Now it’s time to learn how to get nail polish out of clothes, carpets, and upholstery.

How to Get Nail Polish Out of Clothes and Carpets Without Acetone

Because The Maids is one of the only residential cleaning companies that cleans for health, we recommend a green cleaning approach. While nail polish remover with acetone may seem appropriate, it can remove dyes and damage fibers. Acetone is also very flammable and can cause dizziness and headaches. Here are eco-friendly cleaning alternatives and tools that remove nail polish without harsh chemicals.

• Distilled white vinegar
• Baking soda
• Hydrogen peroxide
• Rubbing alcohol
• Hairspray
• Dish soap
• Toothbrush
• Microfiber cloths
• Paper towels

Always read the care label before you begin cleaning the fingernail polish stain. Care labels provide essential information for general cleaning and stain removal. 

How to Get Nail Polish Out of Clothes

Your clothing is the fabric you will most likely spill nail polish on. Knowing how to get nail polish out of fabrics like cotton blends and synthetics is challenging. But if you follow these field-tested tips, you can save the day. Once you know how to get nail polish out of clothes, rest easy knowing you’re prepared for your next nail polish emergency. 

• Dab the stain with liquid dish soap to soak up excess nail polish. 
• Soak the stain with hair spray and wait 10 minutes.  
• Use a clean, damp microfiber cloth to gently scrub the area and soak up the rest of the stain. 
• Test your cleaner on an inside seam for delicates like silk and wool to ensure it won’t affect the fabric.

Immediately wash the clothing alone following the care label. Once the wash cycle is done, let the clothing air dry. If you dry the clothes in a dryer, the heat permanently sets any remaining nail polish. If the stain remains, repeat the steps above. 

How To Get Nail Polish Out Of Carpet

The first step for learning how to get nail polish out of carpets is to act quickly. The sooner you get the fingernail polish spill cleaned up, the better. You need to get as much excess polish off the carpet as possible, especially if it’s a fast-acting dry polish. 

• Remove excess nail polish by dabbing the stain with paper towels. 
• Soak the nail polish stain with distilled white vinegar. 
• Lay a vinegar-soaked cloth on top of the stain. 
• Wait 10 minutes and blot the stain with paper towels to remove the dissolved nail polish.
• Use a damp microfiber cloth to gently scrub the stain and remove the residue. 
• Add a few drops of your favorite essential oil if the vinegar aroma is too much. 
• Let the carpet air dry, and check your handiwork. 

You can also use hydrogen peroxide as a last resort to remove nail polish from carpets. Because hydrogen peroxide is a natural bleaching agent, proceed cautiously, especially on dark-colored carpets. Add a couple of drops of hydrogen peroxide and blot the nail polish stain with a paper towel. Use a wet microfiber cloth to remove the residue and let the carpet air dry. 

How to Get Nail Polish Out of Carpet After It’s Dried

Dried nail polish on your carpet may look permanent, but when you reliquify it, cleanup is simple.

Here’s how to get nail polish out of carpets even if the stain has dried.   

• Scrape the dried polish with a butter knife and remove the pieces with your fingers. 
• Soak the dried nail polish with cold water and wait five minutes. 
• Spray hairspray on the stain and add a few drops of rubbing alcohol. 
• Wait five minutes and scrub the stain with a clean, damp cloth.
• Let the carpet air dry. 

Do you need to know how to get out nail polish from a rug? Follow the processes above, but lay the rug on a few towels to prevent staining your floor. If the nail polish spill has stained the backing, you may want to call in a carpet cleaning pro.

How To Get Nail Polish Out of Fabric

You sit on the couch to paint your nails and spill hot pink nail polish on the sofa. Again, acting quickly gives you the best chance of removing the stain for good. Knowing how to get nail polish out of fabric can save your curtains, bed pillows, and more. As always, check the care label first.

 Scrape off dried nail polish with a butter knife or use paper towels to blot a fresh stain.

• Use cotton swabs soaked with liquid dish soap to remove the nail polish.
• Run cold water through the stain for items you can take to the kitchen sink. 
• Use a damp sponge to remove the nail polish and cleaning residue if you can’t rinse the material.  
• Let the fabric air dry. 

How to Remove Nail Polish From Suede Fabrics

• Apply baking soda to the stain and let it soak up the excess nail polish for 15 minutes. 
• Use a toothbrush to gently remove the stain-soaked powder from the material. 
• For persistent stains, apply rubbing alcohol to a cotton ball and blot the polish away, using fresh cotton as needed.
•  Let the suede fabric air dry and brush the material using a suede brush.

How to Remove Nail Polish From Leather Upholstery

• Pour some rubbing alcohol onto a cotton ball and blot the stained area. 
• Continue blotting the stain using fresh cotton balls until all the polish is removed. 
• Fill a small bowl with water and a couple of drops of dish soap. 
• Apply some of the detergent solution onto a soft cloth and wipe away all of the polish and residue using a gentle, circular motion. 
• Dry the area thoroughly with a cloth.

If you paint your toenails sitting on the floor or fingernails sitting on a couch, you’re flirting with disaster. To prevent drips and spills, place a tray or piece of cardboard beneath your nails when painting them. Use an old towel to protect your clothing, and keep the nail polish bottle at arm’s length to avoid spilling.  

The Maids: Your Partner for Simplified Housekeeping

Now that you know how to get nail polish out of clothes and fabrics, you won’t have to stress out over your next mishap. Whether you rely on our handy housekeeping guides or invest in residential cleaning services, The Maids wants you to enjoy a clean and healthy home more often. If a consistently clean home without the work sounds good, get your personalized cleaning quote today.