Find the nearest office
Request an estimate
There’s a reason why our “How to Get Fingernail Polish Out of Carpet and Fabric” post is a popular one, and it’s not because it’s the cool thing to do. Accidents happen. Especially when it comes to drippy nail polish and its bright pink hue. So what’s a gal to do when, in preparing to paint the town red, she accidentally paints her hardwood floors (or antique end table or dining room chairs)?
Experts say: Keep calm and grab the alcohol—rubbing or denatured that is. (You can drink wine when you’re done with the stain.)
Here are some things to consider when removing nail polish from wood:
- Understand what you are dealing with. Because of its porous qualities, wood may never fully release the color, and some woods are naturally more porous than others. Oak, for example, is more porous than maple, cherry or birch. Wood flooring is its own separate beast too, so take stock with what you have in front of you.
- If the nail polish is still wet, apply even pressure to the stain using tissues or a cotton swab to soak up the excess, making small swipes as necessary to bring it up.
While experts can agree that rubbing or denatured alcohol is a good bet for removing nail polish from wood, how gentle you are in the removing process will determine the end result. Use a clean, soft cloth (felt works great) and try to go in the direction of the grain. Aim for light pressure. Rubbing the stain too aggressively may damage the wood.
- If you have some 0000-grade steel wool lying around, you may be able to gently buff out the stain without the use of chemicals. Again, gentle pressure is key to work the nail polish away from the wood, and make sure to go with the grain.
If you do happen to be overzealous, spot treat the bare wood with a wood touch-up product; stain markers are available at any hardware or big box store.
- Need to know how to get nail polish out of wood floors? If you have some rubbing alcohol somewhere in your house, you already have your solution. Soak a piece of cloth or sponge in rubbing alcohol, set on the stain, and lightly scrub after a few minutes. You should see the nail paint come right off!
And, while we are all for empowering do-it-yourselfers, it’s important to know when to walk away. If the spot is large or on a particularly valuable piece of furniture, you may need to call a professional. Whatever you do, DO NOT use nail polish remover. While it seems counterintuitive, using nail polish remover on wood will likely do more harm than good, making quick work of removing the wood’s finish along with the unwanted color.
Once the polish is removed you may find yourself wanting to do a deep clean around the house. With your nails shining so bright, you don’t have to worry about messing up the paint. Give The Maids a call at 1-800-THE-MAIDS! We’re more than happy to make your home sparkle from top-to-bottom.
Do you have any nail polish horror stories?
Nail polish remover might be used on tile but never, repeat never, on wood. I know that from personal experience 🙂 it harmed the table and changed its color and this is irreversible. When you accidentally spill your nail polish or drop a dribblet on wooden surface, no matter table, floor or chair, I suggest you to remove it immediately using a tissue or a piece of cloth. Do not let it dry on the surface because you will have a way more heavy task to deal with.
Thanks for sharing your story & tip Molly!
I wish this article was there when I spilled nail polish in the furniture we rented for our wedding anniversary party. We had a victorian themed party and I spilled nail polish on one of the french victorian furniture we had rented. I tried everything I know to remove the stain but failed. Finally we decided to keep the furniture and give them the money. We have it now at home, let me try your method on that.
Our girls used to spill all the time in their rooms on the carpet so we made the rule they had to paint their nails in the kitchen where it’s wood. Just because it is wood does not mean it is easier to clean than the carpet, we learned that the hard way.
I spilled nail polish all over my wooden bathroom dresser, and I didn’t even realise until weeks later when it had dried! Sprayed it down with some hair spray, and left it to break down for forty or so seconds, then I gently rubbed and picked the polish all off! Not even a remaining stain, I was so relieved!
So glad that technique worked for you, Ashleigh! Who knew hairspray could be so multi-purpose! 😉
Thank you. Floor polish fills scratches and protects the finish against future damage and over-cleaning. Before polishing, as well as every week, you should give your floors a thorough cleaning. This simple maintenance will keep your hardwood floors looking like new for years to come.
Good quality ,, tough , durable, ,, long wire ,,, cheap,,, sober ,, and comfortable to use …. go for it!!
I was painting my nails on my wooden desk, and after a week I realized that I had spilled paint on it! I always thought “it’s going to come off eventually”, but 2 month later, it’s STILL here with new colors (I may have accidentally spilled a lot more. Oops!). What should I do? The tricks above won’t work!