How to Remove Nail Polish Stains from Fabric

You might think that if you accidentally spill your nail polish on the couch or your favorite shirt, the colorful stain will stay there forever. But in fact, nail polish is one of the easiest stains to remove from fabric. Refer to the steps below on how to remove nail polish from clothing and upholstery.

Table of Contents

Remove Nail Polish from Clothes

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Place the stained fabric on several layers of tissue paper so that the soiled side of the cloth is on the underside, in contact with the paper. Do this whether the nail polish is dry or still wet.

Apply this method to cotton, linen, silk, denim, and most other fabrics.
Use caution if the fabric contains acetate or triacetate as nail polish remover will melt fabrics containing these chemicals.

Clean the stained fabric with acetone. Use a cotton ball or paper towel soaked in acetone (available at pharmacies, in the nail polish remover section) to clean the back of the cloth. This will loosen the stain and stick it to the tissue underneath.

Wash the fabric and repeat. Put the soiled clothes in the basin and rinse the stained fabric with water to clean it, then turn the stained fabric over several layers of paper towels and repeat with acetone to remove any remaining stains. stick to the paper towel.

Continue washing the stained fabric and bleach with acetone until the tissue is no longer stained with nail polish from the soiled fabric as that means the stain has been removed.
Check the dirty fabric one last time for any nail polish. If you still see a slight tint of paint, dip a cotton pad in acetone and gently remove it with the cotton pad until it’s completely clean.

Remove Nail Polish from Upholstery

Wipe off the paint while it’s still wet. If you see nail polish stains on upholstery fabrics while it’s still wet, it’s much easier to remove the stain. Use a tissue or a cloth to remove as much nail polish as possible.

Try not to spill the nail polish in other places, instead, use a paper towel to quickly and firmly wipe it so that the paint doesn’t splatter around.
Use the best absorbent cloth or paper towel you can to wipe off as much nail polish as possible, avoiding the paint getting inside the fibers.

Use acetone to apply to the dirty fabric. Use a cotton swab or any other similar tool that allows you to precisely dab the stain, dip it in acetone, and then apply it to the stain. Note, only apply on the nail polish stains.

You can try applying it with nail polish stains located in a relatively hidden position. Acetone will react with some fabrics, including those containing acetate or triacetate, and will make nail polish worse if you’re not careful.
Do not pour acetone on the nail polish-stained cloth because it is difficult to control which direction the acetone will spread without using a cotton swab or the corner of a paper towel.

Use a clean cloth to absorb the paint. Note, soak the nail polish on the cloth very carefully and then, use the clean part of the cloth to absorb it again. You can add acetone and continue to soak until the nail polish is gone.

Wash the stained fabric with warm water. Use a sponge to wash the nail polish affected area to remove traces of acetone or hydrogen peroxide. Then let the upholstery dry completely before use.

Use Other Nail Polish Removal Methods

Use hydrogen peroxide. Some fabrics do not react well to acetone but respond better to hydrogen peroxide when the same method is applied.

Apply hydrogen peroxide to the stained area of the nail polish, use a clean towel to wipe it. Repeat this action until the stain is gone.
Hydrogen peroxide acts as a bleach, so test it out a little in an inconspicuous area before applying it to the stain.

Use hairspray. Spray a bit of hairspray onto the bristles of an old toothbrush, then rub gently in circular motions over the stain.

Use insect spray. Some people say that mosquito repellent sprays – the ones you spray on people and clothing to keep mosquitoes and other insects away – work very well at removing nail polish. Spray a little on the bristles of an old toothbrush and gently rub in a circular motion to remove nail polish stains.

Wash and wash. Whichever method you use, you’ll need to clean the stain to remove traces of the cleaners you’ve used.

Advice

With precious or expensive items, it’s a good idea to take them to a professional laundromat before doing anything.
Spray hairspray on the tip of the cotton swab and vigorously massage the paint stain several times. Hairspray will help remove nail polish because it will be able to separate the molecules.
If one method doesn’t work, try other methods until the nail polish is gone because one of them is sure to work. If the paint stain doesn’t go away completely, take your item to a professional laundromat.

Steps

Remove Nail Polish from Clothes

Remove Nail Polish from Upholstery

Use Other Nail Polish Removal Methods

Advice

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