How Fresh Is The Stain
There are a few different ways to get nail polish out of carpet, and it all depends on how long its been there. Its always easier to clean a fresh spill rather than one thats been sitting for a while. Try to catch it as quickly as you can.
Before we give you the play by play, lets talk about what NOT to do.
Whatever you do, DO NOT scrub at a fresh spill!
You will only spread it wider, push it deeper into the carpet fibers, and make it worse.
Getting Dry Nail Polish Out Of Clothes
Like with your carpet, dry nail polish on your clothing or fabrics is a whole different beast to tame.
Pick off as much of the dried nail polish as possible.
Wet a cotton swab with nail polish remover or alcohol.
Blot at the dry stain from the outside to the inside of the stain.
Continue with a fresh cotton swab until all the stain is gone.
Use a few drops of Dawn and your fingers to work out the last of the stain.
Launder as normal and hang to dry.
Spill On Dark Or Light Carpet
Dark: If you have dark carpet use rubbing alcohol or hairspray instead of nail polish remover to decrease the risk of bleaching your carpet color.
Light: If your carpet is white or a light color, use a non-acetone nail polish remover. Make sure the non-acetone nail polish remover you use is the clear kind. Some nail polish removers come in different colors and can do more harm than good.
Admit ityour house could be cleaner. Thats where we come in. Check out these tips and hints to get your house clean and keep it that way.
Also Check: How Can I Strengthen My Nails
Use Hairspray + Rubbing Alcohol And Scrub The Spot With A Toothbrush
You can use hair spray alone to get nail polish out of rugs and carpets. Its one of the best ways to eradicate spilled nail polish messes without a conventional nail polish remover. Heres what to do:
- Get excess nail polish out by blotting with paper towels or a damp rag.
- Spray the stain with water to wet it.
- Apply hairspray to the spot. Get the bottles displacement pump to shoot out the hairspray at least 15 times.
- Wait 5 minutes and start agitating the nail polish stain with an old toothbrush or any other small scrub brush. Make circular motions during scrubbing.
- Spray some rubbing alcohol onto the stain and let it sit for 3 minutes before scrubbing a little with a cloth or rough side of a scrubbing sponge. You can also use a toothbrush.
- Rinse the hair spray and rubbing alcohol off with water and repeat the process 3-5 times if you want a great result.
How To Remove Nail Polish From Carpet After Its Dried

If you see a dried nail polish spill on your carpet, weve got you covered. Scrape and pick off the dried polish with a knife or razor. Get as much off as you can and use a vacuum to pull up the rest of any dried pieces. From this point on, follow the same method you would to remove wet polish. Test a section of your carpet with a cleaning solution, blot the stain with the cleaner, and scrub with soap and water to get out all the embedded particles.
If your nail polish spill has soaked too far into your carpet before it dried, it could be embedded in the backing and even on the flooring beneath. Removing dried nail polish from deep in your carpet might be more than a DIY method can handle, so you may have to call in a carpet cleaning pro to save your carpet.
Don’t Miss: What Is The Best Way To Hang Pictures Without Nails
Can You Use Acetone
If its a natural fiber carpet , you can use an acetone-based nail polish remover. This kind of remover works extremely well while treating the natural carpet with kindness.
What if the carpet is made from synthetic fibers such as nylon, polypropylene, or polyester? In that case, use a non-acetone nail polish remover. This is because acetone-enriched nail polish removers can dissolve synthetic carpets.
If youre unsure what kind of fibers your carpet is made from, be safe and stick with an acetone-free nail polish remover.
But keep in mind that non-acetone polish removers arent as effective as acetone-packed options. If you choose to use an acetone-free remover, it may take greater effort and a longer time to get the nail polish stain out of the carpet. But both types of products sure do the job, and thats all that matters in the end.
Use Window Cleaner On Your Stain
Youd be surprised at the issues your ordinary window cleaner is perfect for resolving. Window cleaner can remove mustard stains from carpet, get your greasy pipes in good condition, and it can, of course, clean windows, too. Its also a great way to get nail polish off without nail polish remover.
Spray the window cleaner on the stain until the area is wet. Let the cleaner sit on the polish stain for at least five minutes. Then, gently blot the area with the cloth.
Repeat this process until youve lifted the stain out entirely. Dampen the sponge in cold water, and blot the carpet to remove any residual cleaner. You can also use this method when you want to get a clean carpet without a machine.
Also Check: How To Hang Photo Frames Without Nails
How To Get Dry Nail Polish Out Of Carpet
Dried nail polish spills are more challenging to clean than fresh spills. Whether it was tipped and forgotten about or hidden by a child, you have found yourself stuck with a spill that needs cleaning.
So what can you do? Well, here are two methods that will help remove dried nail polish.
Method 1: Hairspray
To begin, scrap as much of the dried polish as possible from the carpet. If you have a dense carpet or a rug, a straight edge razor can be helpful when doing this. You can then use your vacuum to clean any excess nail polish chunks. Vacuuming now will prevent a larger mess later on. Once the polish is removed, use hairspray and a few tablespoons of rubbing alcohol to spray the area down. If you have a light carpet, baking soda or salt can help to remove the stain. Also, the abrasive texture of these products can speed up the scrubbing process. Once the mixture is on the stain, allow it to sit for a minute. Next, use a toothbrush or a gentle brush to scrub the area. Do this for a few minutes before patting the area gently with a cloth or paper towel. You can then check how much of the polish has been removed. If necessary, repeat the process until the stain has been removed. Depending on the size of the stain, you might need to repeat the process a few times. Do you not have some of the items listed, why not try out our next method for removing dried nail polish?
Method 2: Window Cleaner
How To Get Fingernail Polish Out Of Carpet
Every girl loves painting her fingernails with nail polish. Unfortunately, if that polish gets on surfaces besides nails, it can be a big disaster! One of the worst places for fingernail polish is your carpeting. It can leave an obvious stain that seems impossible to get out. If this happens to you, don’t panic! Your carpet isn’t ruined forever!
Here’s how to get fingernail polish out of carpet:
Originally Published: Mar 31, 2011
You May Like: How To Get Nail Polish Off Clothes
Blot Blot And Blot Some More
Once the excess is gone, youll need to tackle whats already started seeping into your carpet. Depending on the type of carpeting you have, this can happen FAST, so youll need to act quickly. It is amazing how fast carpet fibers can suck up nail polish.
To get the job done, youll need a cleaning solution and a clean, dry cloth. Whatever cleaning solution you choose, its essential to test a little area of the carpet in an inconspicuous spot. Some solutions can lighten the carpet, making it look dull, or bleach the color out completely. Always test a patch first.
As for cleaners, we suggest starting with a non-acetone nail polish remover. Make sure you test it on the carpet first to make sure its safe to use.
If you cant use nail polish remover, you can try rubbing alcohol, hairspray, Windex, or hydrogen peroxide. All are effective, but it depends upon the type of rug you have.
Once you find a cleaner thats safe to use on your rug, put some on a clean cloth and blot at the stain. Continue blotting with unused portions of the cloth until you dont see any more color on the cloth or the carpet.
Resist the temptation to scrub! Scrubbing will make the stain even worse.
Tricks To Get Nail Polish Out Of Carpet
Sorry, but what were you doing painting your nails on the carpet anyway? Friend, you know better than that. But hey, accidents happen. Maybe the cat stalked through and flicked over your bottle of Lincoln Park After Dark, sending shimmering, oil-slick splatters all over the imported rug that you paid a pretty penny for. Or you just forgot to put the nail polish lid back on all the way and enjoyed a post-pedi Dandasana, kicking that Game of Chromes across your thick, plush bedroom carpet. The hypotheticals are endless. It doesnât actually matter how it happened because weâre going to help you fix itâbefore anyone else even notices!
Recommended Reading: What Nail Polish Lasts The Longest
How To Get Nail Polish Out Of Carpet With Hydrogen Peroxide
Hydrogen peroxide is a great cleaning agent, and you can use it on clothes and carpets to remove stains. Use it on the light carpets only.
You can get the nail polish out of the carpet using hydrogen peroxide as follows.
This article is sure to help you in learning how to get nail polish out of carpet once it is dried.
Read through it and keep your house clean because who doesnt like to stay clean and keep things tidy!
How Can You Remove Nail Polish From The Carpet With Shaving Cream

If you can not do any of the aforementioned tasks, dont worry. You still have one ace up your sleeve. Take your shaving foam or shaving cream and spray it onto the stain. Wait for about 6 minutes and start scrubbing the stain with a paper towel. Continue scrubbing as long as the stain is visible.
These are the short and sweet ways to remove old nail polish from the carpet. Just keep the steps in mind and you should be fine.
Recommended Reading: How To Get Nail Polish Off Your Nails
Nail Polish Stain On Carpet
Removing a nail polish stain is easier than you think with our simple tips and tricks.
No need to cry over spilled nail polish! The most important thing to remember in your moment of terror is that you must not rub at the spot without first pre-treating it. Avoid temptation, because scrubbing at wet nail polish with a cloth or paper towel will just distribute the polish across the surface and massage it further into the carpet fibers, forcing it to set in faster. Keep your cool and follow these tricks to treat the unfortunate spill.
We’re sorry, there seems to be an issue playing this video. Please refresh the page or try again in a moment.If you continue to have issues, please contact us here.
How to Remove Carpet Stains
Remove impossible stains like nail polish, grease, ink and wine from carpet with these step-by-step instructions.
Restoring The Carpet After Nail Polish
The following steps should preferably be done after removing a fresh or dried nail polish spill. Its essential to clean the remaining stain or area to help the carpet restore its fibers. Leaving it could cause a flat spot that isnt particularly pleasant to look at.
- Time: 20 minutes
- Difficulty: Easy
Don’t Miss: How To Treat Nail Fungus With Hydrogen Peroxide
Appy Some Spot Shot Pet Stain Remover On The Spill
Its time to dab at the nail polish using a potent stain remover. Amazon and other stores carry a whole bunch of suitable and effective spot shot pet stain removers.
I recommend the Spot Shot Professional Instant Carpet Stain Remover.
This product is a no-scrub aerosol that cleans up all kinds of stains. From blood, red wine, coffee, sugarly cola, and muddy stains to pet pee, grape juice, lipstick, shoe polish, and spilled nail paint.
This spot cleaner should be safe to use on most carpets and rugs. But its always a good idea to treat a hidden portion of the carpet and observe what the spot cleaner does to it before applying to the actual mess.
Dab at the nail paint with this remover, alternating between the cleaner and the hairspray. Do this for some time, and the stains color will lose a significant amount of its intensity.
So Which Method To Pick To Clean Your Carpet
All our methods are tried and tested and one of them will help you get rid of that nail polish stain, but one important thing to remember is: Be Patient! And remember this happens to the best of us. Any method you choose will work best when tried with gentle love and care
Also, next time you are cozying on your carpet, use this cute tweexynail polish holder ring. It is super cute and spill-friendly!
Recommended Reading: What Is Orly Breathable Nail Polish
Use A Butter Knife To Scrape Away The Stain
Nail polish dries into a hard, gummy substance that can be difficult to remove from carpet fibers. Sometimes, the best cleaning method for dried nail polish is brute force and patience.
A butter knife can be a fantastic carpet cleaner and works wonders on dried stains youll be surprised at how much of your stain comes away with just a little time and effort.
Nail Polish Carpet Stain Remover with a Butter Knife
- Bucket of warm water
- Butter knife
Gently scrape at the dry nail polish with the butter knife. The polish should begin to flake off and crumble, although it might take some time.
When youve dislodged a fair amount of polish from the rug, clean away the debris with the vacuum. Repeat until youve cleaned away the stain. Dampen the sponge in the water, and blot the carpet to clean away any lingering polish.
Save The Nail Polish Remover For Your Nails
Fabric and carpet come in so many different materials, so you should always read the care label before you begin cleaning any stain. Care labels provide essential information for general washing and cleaning, but when youre figuring out how to remove nail polish, the most important part of the label is the fabric material itself.
Removing nail polish from any fabric requires a careful approach if you want to salvage your rug or favorite blouse. While nail polish remover with acetone will remove fingernail polish from just about anything, it can also remove dyes from fabric and even damage the fibers. Acetone is also very flammable and can cause dizziness and headaches, so opt for milder solutions when possible.
Some nail spills may require the use of acetone, but most do not. Regardless of what you use to remove nail polish, always be sure to spot-check an inconspicuous area of the fabric first. Now its time to learn how to get nail polish off clothes, carpet, and upholstery.
Don’t Miss: How To Fill Gel Nails At Home
How To Get Nail Polish Out Of Carpet In 5 Ways
While painting your nails, you just knocked a nail polish bottle onto the carpet. And the little mishap spilled a colorful coat of magenta polish on your carpet.
What you have is a single-color carpet or rug, but it now has a noticeable beautiful nail polish stain. Youre devastated, but what do you do now?
You want to get the knocked over nail polish out immediately and restore your carpet to its usual fluffy goodness. But how on earth do you get nail polish out of carpet?
Well, you can rip the nail polish-stained carpet out and stop worrying about the spill! Or, you can bend over and apply the right nail paint removal techniques and cleaning supplies to tackle the unsightly stain.