How to Get Nail Polish Out of Clothes and More

Home remedies for removing nail enamel from fabric fibers

Tips for Removing Nail Polish Stains

The Spruce / Adrian Mangel

Project Overview
  • Working Time: 10 - 30 mins
  • Total Time: 1 - 2 hrs
  • Skill Level: Intermediate
  • Estimated Cost: $5 to 10

Fingernail polish is designed to be a hard, durable color finish, so it's no surprise that it is one of the more difficult stains to remove. Still, with the right solution, you can get it out of clothing, linens, couch cushions, and carpeting from home.

Never try to get nail polish out of acetate or triacetate. No home cleaning method for polish removal is safe for these fabrics, potentially dissolving the material. Take it instead to a professional dry cleaner.

For many other fabrics, you'll likely need to use acetone-based nail polish remover or rubbing alcohol and a microfiber cloth to blot the nail polish up; then rinse it away with tepid water and dish soap. Here's precisely how to get rid of nail polish stains on fabric surfaces in your home.

Warning

Acetone is toxic; work with good ventilation and avoid skin contact. Acetone can also ruin some furniture and plastic finishes, so protect your furniture while working on the stain.

Stain type  Oil-based
Detergent type  Heavy-duty
Water temperature Depends on the fabric type
Cycle type Varies depending on the fabric type

What You'll Need

Equipment / Tools

  • Old credit card or dull knife
  • Eyedropper (optional)
  • Vacuum

Materials

  • Acetone or acetone-based fingernail polish remover
  • Absorbent white cloths or paper towels
  • Cotton swabs (Q-tips)
  • Rubbing alcohol

Instructions

How to Remove Nail Polish From Washable Clothes

  1. Test the Fabric

    Find a hidden seam on the item's fabric, then apply a dab of acetone-based fingernail polish remover to ensure it does not change the material's color.

    testing nail polish remover on a hidden area of the garment
    The Spruce / Ulyana Verbytska  
  2. Remove Excess Fingernail Polish

    Do not rub or attempt to wipe up the stain because that can push the polish deeper into the fabric or spread it. If cleaning a big glob, use the edge of an old credit card or dull knife to lift it as quickly as possible.

    removing excess nail polish off of a garment
    The Spruce / Ulyana Verbytska  
  3. Dab Stain With Acetone

    • Place white paper towels under the stain to absorb the acetone.
    • Dip a white cloth or cotton swab in the acetone.
    • Work from the outside of the polish stain toward the inside to keep it from spreading. Continue to dab at the stain as it transfers from your garment to the white cleaning cloth or swab.
    • Keep moving to a clean towel area or change to a new swab as the stain is absorbed until all traces of the polish are gone.
    dabbing the stain with acetone
    The Spruce / Ulyana Verbytska  
  4. Remove Traces With Rubbing Alcohol

    If any color remains, try using rubbing alcohol after you rinse the garment clean of acetone. Dab the alcohol on the remains of the stain with a cotton swab and blot away the color.

    Tip

    The key to getting all nail polish out of the fabric is to work slowly and with patience—dab with gentle motions to avoid damaging the fabric.

    dabbing peroxide on the nail polish stain
    The Spruce / Ulyana Verbytska  
  5. Launder the Garment

    After removing the stain, launder the fabric as usual to remove the cleaning solution.

    laundering the garment
    The Spruce / Ulyana Verbytska  

How to Remove Nail Polish From "Dry-Clean-Only" Clothes

If the garment or fabric is labeled as "dry-clean-only," the safest bet is to get it to a professional cleaner and point out and identify the stain as soon as possible. If you wish to try it at home, you will need rubbing alcohol.

  1. Test the Fabric

    Find a hidden seam on the garment, and dab dry-cleaning solvent or rubbing alcohol on it to ensure it doesn't change the fabric's color.

    testing acetone on a hidden area of the garment
    The Spruce / Ulyana Verbytska  
  2. Remove Excess Nail Polish

    Use an old credit card or dull knife to carefully remove as much of the excess nail polish as possible.

    removing extra nail polish with a dull knife
    The Spruce / Ulyana Verbytska  
  3. Dab Stain With Rubbing Alcohol

    Dab the stain with rubbing alcohol applied to a cotton swab or a clean white paper towel. Use a fresh swab and additional product as the color transfers to the swab. When finished, allow the alcohol to evaporate entirely.

    dabbing acetone on a nail polish stain
    The Spruce / Ulyana Verbytska 

How to Remove Nail Polish From Carpet and Upholstery

  1. Test the Fabric

    Dab acetone on a hidden area to ensure the solvent will not change the material's color.

    testing acetone on a hidden part of the rug
    The Spruce / Ulyana Verbytska  
  2. Remove Excess Nail Polish

    Use a dull plastic edge to remove as much nail polish as possible. If the stain is still damp, you may be able to remove a lot of the nail polish. Try to contain the stain and prevent the stain's spread by moving from the outer edges to the center of the stain.

    using a credit card to scrape away extra nail polish
    The Spruce / Ulyana Verbytska  
  3. Apply Acetone

    • Use an eyedropper or cotton swab to apply a few drops of acetone to a small part of the stain. Do not oversaturate the fabric.
    • Immediately blot the area with a clean white cloth or paper towel. Be mindful of not spreading the stain.
    • Clean cotton swabs may work better if the stain is delicate.
    • Continue applying acetone and dabbing until you remove as much of the stain as possible.
    applying acetone to the carpet
    The Spruce / Ulyana Verbytska  
  4. Rinse

    • Sponge the area with clean water when the stain is gone and blot dry.
    • Allow air to dry away from direct heat.
    • Vacuum to lift the carpet or upholstery fibers.
    vacuuming the rug after letting it air dry
    The Spruce / Ulyana Verbytska  

Additional Tips for Handing Nail Polish Stains

  • Be persistent and repeat if necessary: Acetone and alcohol will dissolve fingernail polish, and careful work can remove most, if not all, traces of stains from clothes, upholstery, and carpet. It may take repeated treatments to remove all traces of the stain.
  • Read labels first: Before you do anything about that nail polish stain, find and read the fabric content label of your garment or accessory.
  • Try hand sanitizer as an alternative: If you don't have a nail polish remover or rubbing alcohol on hand, try hand sanitizer with a high concentration of rubbing alcohol.
  • Act fast: Wash your clothes immediately after staining them to ensure the stain doesn't set.
  • Get professional help: If you have a large or very dark nail polish stain, take your item to a dry cleaner. The solvents they have on hand can usually remove nail polish stains. Also, steer clear of cleaning acetate, triacetate, modacrylic, wool, silk, or natural fibers that are not colorfast. Instead, take them to the dry cleaner. Take dry-clean-only clothes to the dry cleaner instead of trying to fix them from home.
  • Handling vintage or delicate upholstery: You can use these cleaning techniques on most upholstery, but if the material is silk or vintage fabric, use a professional furniture cleaner to fix the stain.
FAQ
  • What home remedies remove nail polish stains on fabric?

    Besides rubbing alcohol as a solvent, try vinegar. The acid in the vinegar can break down nail polish. Hydrogen peroxide is another potential nail polish removal remedy because of its bleaching and oxidizing power.

  • Is acetone safe to use on all types of fabric?

    Acetone can dissolve or destroy fabrics like acetate, triacetate, or modacrylic. It can also damage natural fibers like silk, wool, and fur. Always test a solvent on an inconspicuous fabric part first before using it.

  • What is best type of laundry detergent for nail polish stains?

    Use a heavy-duty detergent like Tide or Persil after you use a solvent to remove most of the nail polish.

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  1. Paepe, K De, et al. Repair of Acetone- and Sodium Lauryl Sulphate-Damaged Human Skin Barrier Function Using Topically Applied Emulsions Containing Barrier Lipids. Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology, vol. 16, no. 6, 2002, pp. 587–594., doi:10.1046/j.1468-3083.2002.00527.x