Spilling nail polish is one of those eye popping, stomach dropping events. Your immediate gut reaction is that whatever it lands on, the item is done for–finished, finito, but that doesn’t necessarily have to be the case. Rest easy, my pets, there are ways out of the predicament that don’t involve cussing and throwing your favorites stuff into the trash.
Here’s a quick guide to getting fingernail polish out/off of pretty much anything:
Wood
Here’s the sad truth, odds are, you are going to take the finish off of the wood a bit. Happily, though, it will not have any nail polish. Ha. Spray the spill with cheap aerosol hairspray. Let it sit and marinate for 30 seconds and then wipe it off. You may have to repeat the process–consider it penance for using nail polish on the wood in the first place.
Clothing
This one really depends on the type of fabric. Nail polish remover can actually do MORE damage to some clothing, so do a small, inconspicuous spot test on the fabric. If it discolors {or in some cases melts}, don’t use the nail polish remover. If it holds up, dab the nail polish remover on the stain and gently blot out. Repeat until the stain is gone and then launder as usual. For more delicate clothing, you can try the cheap hairspray. Some dry cleaners also have a solvent that will take the stain out–if the clothing is a favorite and worth the cost of dry cleaning, drive it down and let them work their chemical magic.+
Carpet
This one depends on the color of your carpet. If it is super light, start with nail polish remover and blot, blot, blot until the stain is gone. If it is dark, you are in a bit more of a pickle. Start by using hairspray, if the stain isn’t budging, opt for rubbing alcohol. This may take some time and elbow grease, but eventually, the stain will probably be inconspicuous enough to pass the test.
Linoleum
Don’t use nail polish remover on linoleum, it can ruin the surface. Instead, immediately wipe the stain and add rubbing alcohol. If that doesn’t remove the color, try a little hydrogen peroxide.
Tile
Wipe up the stain. Make a solution of washing soda, water and a few drops of ammonia, apply with a cloth. Repeat until stain is gone. Rinse and wipe well.
Grout
Wipe up the stain. Dip a toothbrush in a little comet {or any other powdered cleaner} add some water and scrub away.
Leather
Weep softly. CAREFULLY remove excess polish. Create a sudsy solution of dish soap and warm water. Shake/swish solution to create lots of suds. Using only the suds/foam, apply to the stain with a sponge. Dab until stain is gone. Gonna give it to you straight: this is a tough one, and stain may never be gone. As a last ditch effort, you can GENTLY sand the erea using a very very fine piece of sandpaper {this will affect the finish, so use this one when it’s this or the trash can.}
Walls
Wipe up stain. Mix 1/4 quart water with 1 tsp Borax. Apply to stain with a cloth. Repeat until the stain is gone. {This works on flat or gloss painted walls.}
How about YOU, any awesome tips for getting nail polish out?
~Mavis
This post may contain affiliate links. These affiliate links help support this site. For more information, please see my disclosure policy. Thank you for supporting One Hundred Dollars a Month.
Karen at A Glimpse Into My reveries says
My daughter and I managed to knock over a bottle of red nail polish onto the rug in her apartment. We wiped up as much as we could without spreading the polish. Then blotted up as much as we could before we started dabbing at the still wet edges with an acetone-wet rag. Eventually, we got rid of the whole stain but it took the whole bottle of acetone. I knew this would work because I tried the same thing years before when I spilled my red nail polish on my mother’s light yellow throw rug. She never did figure out why the rubber backing failed in a giant circle! Ya, red nail polish, spilling and I? We go way back to the 70’s!
Jim Koster says
Another simple trick is to use aftershave lotion. It contains plenty of alcohol and works the same way as hair spray. I was able to clean nail polish stains from wooden furniture using aftershave. Seemed to work fine.
I suppose it should work fine on fabrics and carpets too, never tried though.
Jarle says
For nail polish removal on painted walls, plastics and other things that will get marks from using acetone I use Vademecum mouthwash.