To some, the thought of spilling fingernail polish is like a bad dream. In fact, when I paint my fingernails, I put down layers and layers of protection for that very reason. Because fingernail polish tends to be so brightly colored, the thought of it lingering on my favorite beige couch or white carpet is like fingernails on a chalkboard. Or maybe it’s because that stubborn gooey liquid seems impossible to remove and the so called “remover” of fingernail polish can do just about as much damage to furniture as the spill itself.
Although getting out fingernail polish can be an arduous task, there are steps to take to get rid of the spill and get your carpet or fabric looking like new. How you remove the stain depends on where you spilled the polish. Here are a few options to get your furniture looking as clean and polished as your nails:
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Cleaning Fingernail Polish From Carpet
How do you get nail polish out of carpet? By acting quickly. The sooner you start to get the stain out the better. First, you’ll need to get as much of the excess polish off of the carpet as possible, especially if it’s a fast-acting dry polish. Blot gently and don’t rub, as you want to make sure you don’t make the stain larger by spreading it around.
If you have light colored carpet, a non-acetone remover is your best bet in getting the polish removed. Place a small amount on a cloth or sponge and blot the stain until no color remains. If your carpet is dark or has a variety of colors, you must be careful as to not remove the dye from the carpet. Using hairspray or rubbing alcohol to remove the stain may be a safer option, if you’d like to try that first. You can also try hydrogen peroxide using a small dropper and blotting out the paint with a cloth.
Removing Nail Polish From Fabric or Upholstery
You were sitting on your couch painting your nails and somehow that lovely hot pink color you were so fond of is now dripping down the side of your light gray loveseat. Again, by acting quickly you have the best chance of removing the stain for good. When removing nail polish from fabric you’ll need to make sure that if you use nail polish remover it won’t harm the fabric itself. (Sometimes it will actually dissolve the fabric, so spot testing is a must!) If you have access to a dry cleaning solvent, try that first. If you still need help getting the stain out, apply some hydrogen peroxide to the area and blot gently. Then apply water with a sponge to remove any remaining residue and gently dry with a clean cloth.
How To Get Fingernail Polish Out Of Clothes
The fabric you’re mostly likely to spill nail polish on is your clothing. Whether it’s your pants or sweater, getting nail polish out of clothes can be a challenge. First off all, you might want to put that bottle of nail polish remover down. The chemicals in the remover can have an adverse reaction with certain fabric dyes. Try using hair spray on the stain or use a dry cleaning solvent. If you spilled on white clothing, use hydrogen peroxide to gently bleach the stain away. Once you’re done getting rid of the stain, launder your clothes as usual.
Once the stain is gone, take a deep breath and remind yourself that when painting your nails, an easy-to-clean surface such as your bathroom floor may be your best bet.
If you find yourself stressing about giving your home a good clean after the stain, just give The Maids a call at 1-800-THE-MAIDS or start your estimate now. We’re more than ready to give you a helping hand.
Using of alcohol or ammonia cleaning solutions is a best source for cleaning. However using of vinegar is also a best way to making your carpet clean and helpful to removing the stain. Thanks for sharing the helpful and effective tips.
Thanks for the tips!
Now we just need something that will remove the glitter nailpolish. I’m pretty sure that stuff could survive the apocalypse.
the best way to remove polish from carpet (the plush kind) is to NOT wipe the stain with any cleaners, and instead gently trim off the tips of the carpet fibers once the nail polish has hardened.
Thanks for sharing your tip, Anastasia.
The best way to get rid of the stains is certainly the natural old-fashioned products such as lemon, vinegar and ammonia. Great tips!
What if you already used nail polished, rub it instead of blotting it, and you’re out of nail polish remover and the stain is still there??? D:
Also, it’s a VERY light colored carpet and a super bright pink nail polish.
Give hydrogen peroxide or rubbing alcohol a try using a small dropper!
I can’t thank you enough!! This was the perfect remedy! Unfortunately the same situation happened on my couch in April and I went to this site but it was too late. But I was on time for this one but omg thank you!!
I just dropped a little drop of red nail polish on my carpet. I read several articles and finally decided to try a product I’ve used for years, and I knew it removed paint from floors, because I’ve done that. It is called, LA’s Totally Awesome. It can be purchased at Dollar General, or Dollar Tree. It works on tons of stuff. You can use it full strength, or dilute it with water depending on what you are using it on. I just removed the nail polish by spraying it onto my light tan carpet. Used a toothbrush, then blotted it up with a white cloth. Stain is gone, and did not discolor my carpet.
My husband had a product called Goof Off, and it worked!
Thanks for sharing Judy! 🙂
This was literally a life saver because I spilled black nail polish everywhere and if I told my mom I would be killed but I got it out using these tips. Thank you so much! <3
We’re happy it worked for you!
Soap and water works the best on carpet.Then apply some hydrogen peroxide after that and the STAIN IS GONE!
Thank you for the additional tip, Alora! The more methods we have for stain removal, the better.
Thank you so much! My dog chewed on our nail polish pen, and it leaked all over the carpet. It only took about 15 minutes to get it out, and our carpet looks as it did beforehand! Thank you so so so much!!!
We’re glad we were able to help, Sarah! Thanks for sharing your experience with us!
How can I get it off of a teddy bear?
Hi Rosa – That’s a great question! Stuffed animals are tricky, but we were able to pin down a step-by-step process here: http://www.ehow.com/how_10025736_nail-polish-off-stuffed-animals.html
Let us know how it works, and good luck!