How to Remove Nail Polish Spills from Different Fabrics


Every person who’s used nail polish knows that a spill is inevitable. It doesn’t matter how careful you are—there’s always something that will cause an accident. 

Fortunately, nail polish spills are easy enough to fix. Before you panic and call your cleaning service company, take a look at some of the ways you can easily remove nail polish from your clothes, carpet, or upholstery.

General Rule for Nail Polish Removal

The general rule for removing a nail polish spill from any fabric is to skip the acetone. Acetone is great if you’re trying to remove nail polish from your fingernails, but they’re not the best option for fabric. Not only can the fumes be harmful during prolonged exposure, but the harsh chemicals can damage the dye and fiber of the material.

Your best option is to use a gentler cleaning formula or a nail polish remover that doesn’t contain acetone. If the nail polish has dried, you will need a knife or razor to scrape off the hardened formula. 

Once most of it is off, grab your vacuum and remove any remaining flakes. If there’s a stain on the fabric, you can blot it off using a gentle cleaning formula or soap and water.

Removing Nail Polish from Your Carpet

Let’s move on to more specific scenarios. For instance, a nail polish spill on your carpet will need a slightly different approach. The key is to act as fast as possible but refrain from panicking. 

Grab a cotton ball or dry cloth and begin to blot the spill. The cotton ball or cloth will absorb most of the liquid. Make sure you’re not rubbing because it’ll only spread the stain out farther and create a bigger mess. 

Once you’ve got most of the nail polish off your carpet, apply some hairspray or rubbing alcohol to get rid of the leftover stain. If that doesn’t work, use hydrogen peroxide and blot it out with a dry cloth.

Removing Nail Polish from Your Clothes

If you’ve got nail polish on your clothes, don’t worry. Remember, don’t use nail polish remover, especially if it has acetone in it, because that’s a sure way to ruin your clothes. Instead, apply a dry cleaning solvent or some hairspray on the spill.

For white clothes, opt for hydrogen peroxide because it’s better at getting rid of stains. It’s even a common solution for women who’ve stained their clothes or sheets during their period. After removing the nail polish, you can wash your clothes the way you normally would.

Removing Nail Polish from Your Upholstery

Removing nail polish from your upholstery will depend on the kind of material it’s made from. If it’s a regular cotton fabric, you can use the methods mentioned above. Ensure you’re blotting and patting, not rubbing, because it might damage your upholstery even further.

If your upholstery is made of suede, apply baking soda and let it sit for fifteen minutes. Once the baking soda has absorbed all the liquid, sweep away the powder using a toothbrush or a vacuum. 

For leather upholstery, all you need is some alcohol and cotton balls. Apply the alcohol to the cotton balls and, as usual, blot the area. Soon your furniture will look good as new.

Final Thoughts

Getting nail polish spills off various fabrics can be pretty easy, so long as you act fast and refrain from panicking. You won’t even have to call in cleaning services to do the job for you. However, if you’ve tried everything you could and the stain’s still there, it might be time to call in some professional help.

If you’re looking for the best cleaning services in Seattle, Washington, Queen Bee Cleaning Services is ready to help you out. Contact our team today to book an appointment!

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