Nail polish is one of the most common causes of house wear and tear. It’s not just tough to remove, but it also stains clothes and carpets. Fortunately, there are several ways to remove nail polish from objects with ease.
When it comes to removing nail polish from clothes, some people prefer to soak the items in a tub of cold water for a few minutes. Others use acetone or alcohol-based cleaners. When using these methods, be sure to test a small area first to avoid damaging your clothing.
Household cleaners will work best if they are fresh and free from chemicals. If you’re struggling to remove nail polish from clothing, try using a natural cleaner like baking soda or white vinegar instead. These cleaning agents are gentle and won’t damage your garments or furniture.
What will you need
To remove nail polish from clothes, you will need:
- A clean cloth or sponge
- A cotton ball or cotton swab
- Rubbing alcohol, nail polish remover (non-acetone if the item is delicate or if the care instructions specify not to use acetone), hairspray, or hand sanitizer
You may also need a small container or dish to hold the rubbing alcohol, nail polish remover, or hand sanitizer.
It’s a good idea to test the rubbing alcohol, nail polish remover, or hairspray on a small, inconspicuous area of the clothing before applying it to the stain to make sure it doesn’t cause any damage or discoloration.
Steps to remove
Here are the steps to remove nail polish from clothes:
- Blot the nail polish stain with a clean cloth or sponge to remove as much of the excess polish as possible.
- Choose a cleaning solution (rubbing alcohol, nail polish remover, hairspray, or hand sanitizer) and apply a small amount to a cotton ball or cotton swab.
- Gently blot the nail polish stain with the cleaning solution, starting from the outside of the stain and working inward to prevent spreading the stain.
- Continue blotting the stain until it is no longer visible.
- Wash the item according to the care instructions. If the stain is still visible after washing, repeat steps 2-4 until the stain is removed.
It’s important to act quickly when trying to remove a nail polish stain, as the longer it sits, the harder it will be to remove. It may also be helpful to pretreat the stain with a laundry stain remover before washing.
Tips for removing specific types of nail polish
No matter how careful you are, it’s inevitable that you’ll accidentally get nail polish on your clothing at some point. While it can be tempting to just reach for the nearest bottle of acetone, this harsh chemical will actually do more harm than good to most fabrics. To safely remove nail polish from clothes, you will need to take a few extra steps.
The first thing you need to do is identify the fabric of the clothing item that is stained. Nail polish can be removed from natural fibers like cotton and linen with relative ease. However, synthetic fabrics like polyester and nylon are much more difficult to treat. Once you know what kind of fabric you’re dealing with, you can choose the right removal method.
For natural fibers:
- Soak a cotton ball in rubbing alcohol and gently dab at the stain until it disappears.
- Make a paste out of equal parts baking soda and water and apply it to the stain. Let it sit for 30 minutes before washing the item as normal.
- If rubbing alcohol and baking soda doesn’t work, you can try using vinegar. Soak a cotton ball in vinegar and dab at the stain until it fades away.
For synthetic fibers:
- Apply WD-40 or another lubricant to the area surrounding the nail polish stain. This will help to prevent the nail polish from spreading further into the fabric.
- Using a dull knife or another solid object, scrape away as much of the nail polish as possible. Be sure not to damage the fabric in the process!
- Once you have removed as much polish as possible, apply hairspray or nail polish remover to a cotton ball and gently dab at the remaining stain until it disappears.
Tips for removing nail polish from delicate fabrics
To remove nail polish from delicate fabrics, start by blotting the area with a clean, absorbent cloth to remove as much of the polish as possible. Next, mix together equal parts water and rubbing alcohol, and use a clean cloth to dab the mixture onto the stain. Finally, rinse the area with cold water and blot it dry.
Prevention
Here are a few tips to help prevent nail polish stains on clothes:
- Be careful when applying nail polish. Make sure to hold the bottle far enough away from your nails so that the polish doesn’t accidentally drip onto your clothing.
- Protect your clothes when painting your nails. Wear an old shirt or apron to catch any drips, and consider using a nail polish protector to prevent polish from getting on your skin or clothes.
- Remove nail polish stains immediately. The longer the polish sits on the fabric, the harder it will be to remove.
- Store nail polish bottles upright. This will help prevent accidental spills and drips.
- Keep nail polish remover and other cleaning solutions on hand in case of a nail polish stain emergency.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are a few frequently asked questions about removing nail polish from clothes:
Can you use acetone to remove nail polish from your clothes?
Acetone is a strong solvent and can be effective at removing nail polish from clothes, but it can also be harsh and may damage or discolor certain fabrics. It’s best to use a non-acetone nail polish remover or rubbing alcohol if the item is delicate or if the care instructions specify not to use acetone.
Will vinegar remove nail polish from clothes?
Vinegar may help to remove nail polish from clothes, but it is not as effective as rubbing alcohol, nail polish remover, or hairspray. To try using vinegar, mix equal parts water and vinegar and apply the solution to the nail polish stain with a cotton ball or cotton swab. Blot the stain and rinse with water.
Can you use baking soda to remove nail polish from clothes?
Baking soda can be used to remove nail polish from clothes, but it is not as effective as rubbing alcohol, nail polish remover, or hairspray. To try using baking soda, make a paste with equal parts baking soda and water and apply the paste to the nail polish stain. Let it sit for a few hours, then wash the item according to the care instructions.
Can you use bleach to remove nail polish from your clothes?
Bleach should not be used to remove nail polish from clothes, as it can damage or discolor the fabric. It’s best to use a non-acetone nail polish remover, rubbing alcohol, hairspray, or hand sanitizer to remove nail polish stains.
Conclusion
To summarize, there are several methods you can try to remove nail polish from clothes, including using rubbing alcohol, nail polish remover, hairspray, or hand sanitizer. It’s important to act quickly when trying to remove a nail polish stain, as the longer it sits, the harder it will be to remove. Be sure to test the cleaning solution on a small, inconspicuous area of the clothing before applying it to the stain to make sure it doesn’t cause any damage or discoloration. If the stain is still visible after washing, repeat the steps until the stain is removed. To prevent nail polish stains, be careful when applying polish, protect your clothes when painting your nails, remove stains immediately, store nail polish bottles upright, and keep cleaning solutions on hand.
