How to Get Fingernail Polish Out of Material

Fingernail polish is designed to stick to fingernails until it is removed, and every recent improvement in polish technology has made it stick better. An accidental spill or smear of fingernail polish on a garment, a piece of upholstered furniture, or on a carpet requires attention as soon as possible. Does this Spark an idea?

Instructions

Clothing, Curtains, Tablecloths and More

1

Place several paper towels under the fabric stained with polish. Moisten a corner of the clean rag or cloth with non-acetone polish remover and begin dabbing at the spot. Be especially careful not to dab or blot an area much bigger than the spot because the polish remover will dissolve enough color to enlarge the stain.

2

Continue blotting at the stain, using fresh polish remover on a clean part of the cloth. As the color is transferred to the paper towel, change the paper towel to keep it from transferring color back onto the fabric. Continue to check the paper towel until no more color is coming through. This process may be prolonged, and may not be successful. If and when the stain is gone, launder the garment.

3

Change the polish remover to one containing acetone or purchase pure acetone after checking to see that the fabric does not contain acetate. Introduction of acetone products will cause acetate fabrics to disintegrate. Pure acetone can only be purchased through a pharmacy. Blot until the stain is gone. Launder immediately.

Carpets and Upholstery

4

Clean stains on carpet and upholstery with the same removers, progressing from non-acetone to acetone, though the warning about acetate fabrics should be heeded. If the carpet or upholstery is a synthetic blend, check the tags or try using the polish remover on the underside to determine the result.

5

Blot the spot frequently with a clean dry cloth to remove the color dissolved by the polish remover. This could be a prolonged process and should be followed immediately by cleaning the carpet or the upholstery with an appropriate cleaner.

6

Keep the area treated by polish remover as small as possible. The dissolved color can be transferred onto a clean area. Keep using a clean cloth to apply the polish remover, and use another to blot.