How to Remove Nail Polish from Any Surface

Everyone knows that nail polish can stain surfaces, but most people like to sit on the sofa with nail polish or paint their toenails on the floor, which makes furniture easy to get dirty. If you do get nail polish on carpet, wood, sofa or other surfaces, don’t worry. Chances are the solution to the problem is already in your home.

Table of Contents

Remove nail polish on the wall

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Start with rubbing alcohol. Pour some rubbing alcohol on the rough side of the sponge and rub it over the nail polish, trying not to let the alcohol get on the outside of the stain. Scrub with small circular motions. ^{[1] X Research Source}

Continue scrubbing. Stains can be completely removed after a few minutes of gentle scrubbing. You can add more alcohol to the sponge while scrubbing if necessary. ^{[2] X Research Source}

Wipe clean with soapy water. When you feel you’ve removed as much of the paint as you can, clean the surface and any remaining stains with dish soap and warm water. Dip a soft cloth into the solution and gently rub the surface of the wall to clean it. ^{[3] X Research Sources}

Dry the wall. After you have cleaned the dirty area, be sure to dry the wall with a soft cloth. ^{[4] X Research Sources}

Remove nail polish from fabrics and clothes

Scrape off nail polish. If possible, scrape off any nail polish from your clothes with the edge of a knife or plastic spatula. Do not use a paint rag, as this will only make the stain worse.

Use nail polish remover. Test the solution on a cloth before use, as nail polish remover can react with some dyes and fabrics (it will melt the acetate). ^{[5] X Research Sources}

Choose a spot on the inside of the fabric to test.

Try rubbing alcohol. Pour a small amount of rubbing alcohol on the nail polish stain and use a clean rag to remove the stain. Use a strong and quick dot, remember not to wipe the stain, because wiping will cause the nail polish to spread and be pushed deep into the fabric. ^{[6] X Research Source}

Remove paint stains with baking soda. Baking soda is a very effective material for removing nail polish without damaging clothes. Dampen a clean rag with water and dip it in baking soda, then dab it lightly on the nail polish stain. Press hard and fast to clean the stain. ^{[7] X Research Sources}

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Wash the item with water. After using detergent to remove the paint stain, you will use water to clean the dirty area. ^{[8] X Research Sources}

Put clothes in the washing machine if possible, but you should always hand wash items that can’t be machine washed by dabbing them with a clean rag dipped in warm water.

Remove nail polish from carpet

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Never rub nail polish on the carpet. Your first reaction may be to grab a towel and rub the paint, but don’t do that. This action will only push the nail polish deeper into the carpet fibers and spread around. Instead, you should use a plastic spatula, spatula or knife edge to scrape off the paint, then use a clean rag to dab the stain to clean it. ^{[9] X Research Source}

Try glass cleaner. This works best for dark or medium colored carpets. Spray glass cleaner on the nail polish stain, then wipe it off by dabbing a clean rag over the stain. ^{[10] X Research Source}

Remove nail polish with nail polish remover. This method is best for white or light colored carpets, do not use for dark colors as it can discolor the carpet. Pour a small amount of clear, non-acetone nail polish remover on a clean rag and dab over the stain until clean. ^{[11] X Research Source}

Make sure the nail polish remover does not contain dye to avoid further staining.

Remove nail polish stains on wood and laminate

Gently scrape off the paint. Use a plastic spatula to scrape off nail polish from wood or laminate surfaces. The paint may come off easily, but if it’s still sticky, wet a rag with warm water and apply it to the stain for 30 seconds. This will help remove the stain.

Use denatured alcohol to remove nail polish. Apply some denatured alcohol to the cloth and gently rub it into the stain. Do not scrub too hard or for too long as the alcohol can strip the paint or finish of the wood. Always scrub in the direction of the wood grain. ^{[14] X Research Source}

Try using steel wool to remove stubborn stains. 0000-grade fine steel wool is smooth enough to scrub off nail polish without damaging the wood. Remember to rub gently and in the direction of the wood grain. ^{[15] X Research Source}

Remove nail polish from floors and tiles

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Clean the nail polish on the floor surface. For granite, cement, concrete, brick, sandstone, tile or similar surfaces, you’ll need a soft scouring brush and some detergent to scrub away spilled nail polish. ^{[16] X Research Source}

Quickly scrape off nail polish. Use a plastic spatula or the edge of a similar object to scrape off as much nail polish as possible. Shave slowly and gently so as not to damage the floor. ^{[17] X Research Source}

Use acetone. Dip a clean rag in acetone, then dab on the nail polish with strong pressure until the paint comes off. ^{[18] X Research Sources}

Scrub the stain with a soft brush. Mix a cleaning solution with baking soda and water, then scrub away any remaining dirt with a soft brush or sponge. Rinse with warm water when you are satisfied with the results. ^{[19] X Research Source}

Warning

Don’t use nail polish remover on wood. It will only make the stain worse! Even removing nail polish will damage the finish.
Always test the cleaning solution on a small area of clothing or carpet before use.

Steps