Remove Fingernail Polish From Carpet

Nail polish is a fun way to change the look of your hands, but applying it yourself can be a messy job. And if you happen to get nail polish on certain surfaces, such as carpet, it can be very difficult to get it off. Cleaning a nail polish spill on carpet is especially challenging if the spill has already dried, but there are ways you can remove nail polish from carpet, even if it’s not a fresh and wet spill.

Steps

Cleaning Up a Fresh Spill

  1. Scoop up the nail polish with a spoon. A fresh nail polish spill is much easier to clean than a dried one, and the trick is to get as much of the polish off the carpet as possible before it dries out. For large spills, use a spoon to scoop up as much of the wet nail polish as you can from the carpet.[1]
    • Once the spoon is dirty with nail polish, wipe it off before going back to the carpet to get more. This will prevent the nail polish from spreading.
  2. Absorb the excess. Once you’ve picked up as much nail polish as you can with the spoon, absorb even more with an old towel, rag, or cloth. Wrap the cloth around a couple of your fingers and dab the nail polish with the cloth. Do not rub, or you will spread the polish around and work it deeper into the fibers of the carpet.[2]
    • After each blot, use a new section of cloth to avoid spreading the stain.
    • Continue dabbing in this way until no more color is coming off on the cloth.
  3. Choose a cleaner to use. There are a number of different cleaners you can try to remove fresh nail polish spills from carpet. Avoid using bleach and acetone, as both of these can damage and discolor the carpet. The most effective cleaner will be non-acetone nail polish remover, but you can also try:[3]
    • Rubbing alcohol
    • Hair spray
    • Hydrogen peroxide (for light carpets only)
    • Window cleaner
  4. Do a patch test on the carpet with the cleaner. It’s important to perform a patch test on fabric before applying new cleaners or products. Dip a cotton swab in nail polish remover or another cleaner, and dab a tiny area of carpet in an inconspicuous area.[2]
    • A good inconspicuous spot for a test patch includes an area of carpet that’s normally hidden under furniture.
    • Check back in a couple minutes to see if the area has been discolored or otherwise affected by the cleaner. If the cleaner you chose did discolor the carpet, try something else.
    • If the carpet hasn’t been damaged or discolored, proceed with cleaning the nail polish.
  5. Blot the area with cleaner. Dampen a fresh clean rag or cloth with the nail polish remover or cleaner. Blot at the stain the way you did with the dry towel. Switch to a fresh section of cloth regularly to prevent spreading. Add more nail polish remover to the cloth as necessary, and keep dabbing until the stain is gone.[4]
    • Avoid pouring nail polish remover and other cleaners directly onto the carpet, as they can soak through and damage the backing.

Getting Rid of Dried Nail Polish

  1. Pick out the dried nail polish. With a spoon, knife, or with your fingers, scrape or pick out as much of the dried nail polish as you can. Scraping off the excess will make the remaining polish faster and easier to clean.
    • You can also try trimming out the surface layer of nail polish with scissors, as long as you don’t trim too much. Trimming too wide or too deeply will leave a noticeable mark in the carpet.
  2. Vacuum the area. Suck up all the remaining flecks of nail polish that are stuck in the fibers of the carpet after scraping. This will give you a cleaner surface to work with, and make it easier to dissolve the nail polish that’s stained into the carpet.
    • Vacuuming is particularly important if you used scissors to trim out the nail polish, because bits of carpet and nail polish will be stuck in the fibers.
  3. Test a cleaner on the carpet. Acetone-free nail polish remover will be your best bet for removing the nail polish, because it was designed to dissolve nail polish. Dip a cotton swab into the remover and apply it to a small and inconspicuous area of carpet. Leave it for a minute or two, and then check for damage or discoloration.
    • There are other cleaners you can try as well, including rubbing alcohol, hair spray, window cleaner, carpet stain remover, and hydrogen peroxide.[3] Do not use hydrogen peroxide on dark carpets, as it can bleach the dyes.
    • Don’t use acetone nail polish remover or bleach, as these can stain and discolor carpets.
  4. Blot the area with cleaner to remove the stain. Dampen a clean cloth or rag with nail polish remover or some other cleaner. Gently press the cloth into the nail polish, and dab the area to loosen and remove the nail polish. Move to a fresh section of cloth to prevent spreading the stain. Add more nail polish remover as necessary to keep the area damp. Keep blotting until the stain is gone.[5]
    • Don’t pour the cleaner directly on the carpet, as this can damage the backing.
    • Avoid rubbing or scrubbing too hard, as this can push the stain deeper into the fibers.
    • You can also use a small brush, such as a toothbrush, to work the nail polish remover into the stain. Don’t scrub too hard or too wide, or the stain could spread.[4]

Cleaning Up Afterward

  1. Soak up excess cleaner and nail polish. When the nail polish stain is gone, press a clean towel or cloth into the carpet. This will soak up leftover polish residue and excess nail polish remover or cleaner.
    • Use fresh towels or a new section of the same towel often. Keep pressing into the carpet until all the excess residue has been removed and the towel comes away dry.[2]
  2. Clean the area with soap. Fill a small bucket with water and add 1 to 2 teaspoons (5 to 10 ml) of liquid dish detergent, laundry soap, or carpet cleaner. Swish the water around to dissolve the soap and work up some suds. Dip a clean sponge into the soapy water, wring out the excess, and scrub the carpet to clean off residue.[4]
    • Rinse out the sponge regularly in the soapy water, and continue scrubbing until the smell of nail polish remover or cleaner has dissipated.
  3. Rinse with water. Fill a clean bucket with water. Dip a clean sponge into the water and wring out the excess. Use the sponge to blot the area and remove excess soap and cleaner.
    • Rinse the sponge regularly in the water, and keep dabbing until all the soap and residue is gone.
  4. Dry the area. Pat the area with a clean towel to absorb excess water. When you’ve removed as much water as you can, set up a fan and point it directly at the wet spot on the carpet. Turn on the fan and let it blow fresh air at the carpet until it’s dry.[1]



Things You’ll Need

  • Spoon
  • Old towels or rags
  • Non-acetone nail polish remover
  • Cotton swab
  • Vacuum
  • Small bucket
  • Liquid dish detergent
  • Sponge

Related Articles

Sources and Citations

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 https://www.electrodry.com.au/helpful-steps-in-removing-nail-polish-from-carpet/
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 https://www.cleanipedia.com/gb/floor-carpets/remove-nail-polish-carpet
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 http://spotremoval.coit.com/how-to-get-nail-polish-out-of-carpet
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 http://www.howtocleanstuff.net/how-to-remove-nail-polish-from-carpet/
  5. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZKi3qb_3hNM
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