Because polish looks great on your nails, not on your floor
Painting your nails on the bedroom or living room floor is one of those things you know is a bad idea, but you do it anyway. Of course, when your child knocks over the burgundy bottle of polish or you drip some sparkly silver topcoat on the rug, you remember why it’s best to polish your piggies on a mat. Don’t worry; we all make mistakes. When your nail polish bottle tips onto the floor, this guide can show you how to get nail polish out of carpet.
Nail polish is made to stick. You might have noticed that even when a manicure chips, it doesn’t wipe away. The reason stain removal is so difficult is because you need to actually dissolve the nail polish to remove it from the carpet, and soap and water typically aren’t enough. A chemical solvent—like acetone or ethyl acetate—is the key. It breaks down the hardened surface, allowing you to wipe the nail polish away.
Of course, traditional nail polish remover that contains acetone is very harsh and could discolor a rug. Instead, you’ll need to find an alternative method. Most people turn to alcohol-based cleaning products (even an alcohol-based hairspray) or acidic solutions (think: vinegar or a nail polish remover with ethyl acetate).
Most people try to remove nail polish stains on their own. Some cleaning methods are better than others, but if none of them work, you may want to hire a professional. The cost of carpet cleaning is typically $120 to $230.
Before you attempt to remove a nail polish stain, you need to make sure the method is right for your carpet. Always perform a spot test in an area that won’t be noticeable and consider the following:
If you have a dark-colored carpet, you may want to avoid using nail polish remover or ammonia-based cleaner because it can bleach out some of the color. Instead, opt for rubbing alcohol or hairspray.
If your carpet is a light color, you can use clear, non-acetone nail polish remover. Avoid colored liquids like ginger ale and dyed soaps that can stain the carpet.
You need to make sure that whatever spot treatment you use works with the fiber of your carpet. Nail polish remover can dissolve synthetic fibers. Water can damage wool fibers. Always check the manufacturer’s instructions—both for the carpet and cleaning solution.
Recent spill? You need to act fast. If the nail polish is still wet, start by blotting the stain. Dampen a paper towel with water and blot to pull as much nail polish as you can from the carpet. When removing tough stains from the carpet, be careful not to rub or scrub, which will just spread the color. Once you’ve blotted out as much of the stain as possible, use one of the following spot treatment methods.
Hairspray is one of the most effective ways to get nail polish out of carpet, largely because of its high alcohol content. In other words, this won’t work with an alcohol-free hairspray. To use this method:
Wet the stain with cold water
Spray a generous amount of hair spray on the stain
Add a splash of rubbing alcohol
Use a toothbrush or small soft-bristle brush to scrub out the stain with cold water
Let the carpet dry
It may seem obvious, but nail polish remover can definitely help remove nail polish stains—just make sure you use one that’s clear and doesn’t contain acetone. It’s also worth doing a spot test to ensure that the acetone won’t discolor your carpet. To use this method:
Saturate a cotton ball with nail polish remover
Dab the stain with the cotton ball
Dab the stain with a clean paper towel or cloth
Repeat the process until the stain lifts
Avoid using nail polish remover on carpets that contain acetate, triacetate, or modacrylic. For example, acrylic carpets are often used as wool alternatives, but nail polish remover ruins the fibers. Regardless, always use as little nail polish remover as possible to get the job done.
You can use rubbing alcohol to remove nail polish the same way you would use non-acetone nail polish remover. Saturate a cotton ball with rubbing alcohol, and alternate between dabbing the stain with alcohol and a clean paper towel. Make sure to swap out materials when they start to get saturated with nail polish so you don’t accidentally blot the stain back onto your carpet.
Put dishwashing liquid and vinegar to work! Make a DIY cleaning solution by combining the following ingredients in a spray bottle:
A squirt of dish soap
A tablespoon of vinegar
Warm water
Once you’ve mixed your solution, spray it on the nail polish stain. Make sure the area is totally saturated, and let it sit for about 10 minutes. Dab the stain with a vinegar-soaked rag or paper towel, then scrub the area and rinse with clean water.
An ammonia-based window cleaning spray can help loosen nail polish, but keep in mind that this is a harsh solution. Never use ammonia alongside chlorine bleach because it creates hazardous fumes. You should also do a spot test to make sure the ammonia won’t discolor your carpet. To use this method, just spray the cleaner on the stain, and blot it up with a clean cloth.
Dry cleaning solvent is an excellent option for cleaning wool, which can be damaged by water. It’s sold as a powder, so measure out a teaspoon, and apply it to the stain. After that, scrub the stain with a toothbrush, working the solvent into the fibers. Let it set for about 10 minutes.
Once the solvent has set, wet your toothbrush and scrub the stain in circles until it lifts. Once the nail polish is removed, you can wipe the area down with a paper towel and vacuum up the excess solvent.
There are many ways to clean a carpet, but baking soda is one of the best spot treatments for most stains. Keep in mind that if you use ginger ale, it can stain a white rug. You may want to swap it out for club soda. As Scientific American points out, it seems like the bubbles are what matters, though there’s no strong scientific basis. To remove nail polish stains with baking soda:
Cover the affected area with a layer of baking soda
Soak the area with ginger ale
Let this mixture sit for 10 minutes
Blot the stain with a paper towel or rag until it lifts
Vacuum the area once the spot dries
The best way to get nail polish out of carpet is to act fast. You have a better chance of removing the stain before it dries. That being said, stuff happens. If the nail polish is dry, here’s what you can do.
Try to scrape up the stain using a knife, but mind the fibers of your carpet and your fingers. Once you’ve scraped off as much as possible, vacuum the area and use one of the stain removal methods listed above. Hairspray is typically the go-to for dried nail polish, but you can try another method if that doesn’t work.
Nail polish remover will soften and start to dissolve dry nail polish. Use the same blotting technique (with a saturated cotton ball) as if it were a wet stain. It may take longer to remove, and remember to use a non-acetone nail polish remover.
If all else fails, you can always trim the carpet fibers. Get a sharp pair of scissors, and snip out the hardened nail polish. This method won’t be as obvious on carpets with a longer shag.
Even if you use the right cleaning solution, that doesn’t mean it’s going to work. In some cases, it can actually make it worse—but these tips can help. The most important thing is that you act as quickly as possible. Nail polish is much harder to remove from carpet once it dries.
It’s also important to always blot and never rub. Rubbing a nail polish stain can spread it across your carpet, even if it’s dry. If you do need to scrub, like in instances that require a toothbrush, limit the scrubbing to a very small area.
Though most people attempt to clean up spilled nail polish on their own, there are times that you might want to bring in a professional. Did the nail polish shatter and splatter? Is it a large stain or a stain in a very noticeable spot that just won’t budge? Is it a delicate, antique rug? A local carpet cleaner will know how to best remove the stain without damage.
If you do hire a carpet cleaner near you, make sure they specialize in stain removal. Always ask three different contractors for quotes to find the best deal.
As long as the stain is wet, non-acetone nail polish remover will quickly lift a nail polish stain. If that’s not an option, rubbing alcohol can dissolve the stain before it dries.
Vinegar is acidic, so it works to break down the chemical composition of the nail polish. Once the nail polish dissolves, it’s easier to blot away.
The main ingredient in traditional nail polish remover is acetone, which is extremely harsh on carpet fibers. Instead, you should use a non-acetone nail polish remover and perform a spot test. All nail polish remover can have a bleaching effect, which is bad news for a colored carpet.
It’s best to use white distilled vinegar so it won’t stain your carpet. Red wine vinegar or balsamic vinegar will leave a hard-to-remove stain, particularly on light-colored fibers.
