How to Get Fingernail Polish Out of Carpet, Clothes, and Fabric5 min read

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 brightly colored and sticky, spilling nail polish on carpet, clothes, fabric, and upholstery will send most of us into a panic.

That stubborn, gooey liquid seems impossible to remove and fingernail polish remover can do as much damage to fabric as the spill itself. Although getting out fingernail polish can be a tedious task, there are proven cleaning methods to remove nail polish from carpet and other fabric.

Here are a few options to get your furniture and clothes looking as clean and polished as your nails:

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How To Get Nail Polish Out Of 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.

Using hairspray or rubbing alcohol to remove the stain is your first line of offense. You can also try hydrogen peroxide using a small dropper and blotting out the fingernail polish with a cloth. If you have light colored carpet, a non-acetone remover may be your best bet for removing a fresh nail polish spill. 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 to not remove the dye from the carpet.

How to Remove Nail Polish From Carpet After It’s Dried

If you see a dried nail polish spill on your carpet, we’ve got you covered. Scrape and pick off the dried polish with a knife or razor. Get as much off as you can and use a vacuum to pull up the rest of any dried pieces.

From this point on, follow the same method you would to remove wet polish. Test a section of your carpet with a cleaning solution, blot the stain with the cleaner, and scrub with soap and water to get out all the embedded particles.

How to Remove Nail Polish From Clothes

The fabric you’re mostly likely to spill nail polish on is your clothing. Whether it’s your jeans or your favorite sweater, getting nail polish out of clothes can be a challenge. First of 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 fingernail polish on white clothing, use hydrogen peroxide to bleach the stain away gently. Once you’ve removed the stain, launder your clothes as usual.

For delicates like silk or wool, test your cleaner on an inside seam to make sure it won’t harm the fabric. Delicate fabrics can usually hold up to most stain removers, but scrub cautiously to avoid damage.

The best tools to get nail polish out of clothes are probably things you already have in your home—laundry detergent, cotton swabs, and nail polish remover. Start with laundry detergent, dabbing gently to get the polish out. For tougher nail polish stains, cautiously dab a small amount of nail polish remover, changing to fresh cotton swabs as needed.

How To Get Nail Polish Out Of A Couch

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, spot test first to make sure your cleaner won’t harm the fabric.

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.

If you find a nail polish spill on a suede couch, you’ll need a different cleaning approach. Apply baking soda to the stain and let it soak up the excess nail polish for 15 minutes. Use a toothbrush to gently sweep away the stain-soaked powder from the couch surface. For persistent stains, apply some 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.

For leather couches, removing nail polish spills isn’t as difficult as you might think, even if the stain is from a bright red or pink polish. All you need is rubbing alcohol and some cotton balls. Pour some rubbing alcohol onto a cotton ball and blot the stained area. If you don’t have any rubbing alcohol, use hairspray instead. Continue blotting the stain using fresh cotton balls until all of 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 gently, circular motion. Dry the area thoroughly with a cloth.

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.