When it comes to removing nail polish from the carpet, time is of the essence. The longer the polish sits on the carpet fibers, the harder it becomes to remove. That’s why it’s important to act fast and know the right techniques to get rid of the stain as quickly and effectively as possible.
You can get rid of nail polish stains on your carpet quickly by blotting up as much excess polish as possible with a clean cloth. Then, gently blot the stain using a solution of equal parts white vinegar and water or a commercial carpet cleaner specifically designed for removing stains.
Also, test the solution on an inconspicuous area of the carpet first. Repeat the process until the stain is no longer visible. Finish by blotting the area with water and a clean cloth to remove any remaining cleaner, and allow the carpet to dry completely.
The method discussed above is just one of the various methods used. The other methods will be discussed in the next section. Keeping reading on!
How To Get Nail Polish Out Of Your Carpet (Using Household Items)
1. Whip-It
If you’re looking for a product with multiple functions then you should probably give this multi-purpose stain remover spray (Whip-It) a try.
This stain remover is something I accidentally came across while searching for ways to remove the stubborn stain on my carpet. This stain has been there for almost a year.
I did buy the stain remover eventually after all and to my greatest surprise, the stain which had been there came out in seconds.
Here’s how to use whip-it multi-purpose spray
- Spray the area (the affected spot), then wipe off using a terry cloth towel for general cleaning and a microfiber towel for glass and mirrored surfaces.
Note:
This stain/spot remover is also effective for removing stains from multiple surfaces, such as oil stains, grease, ink, bloodstains, wall stains etc.
2. Goof Off Remover
I haven’t used this product, to be honest with you, but with what I’ve heard and probably read online (forums, social media, and, of course, on Amazon), I’m pretty sure it will deliver excellent results. Here’s how to use goof off to remove nail polish spill from the carpet
Step 1: Apply to a cloth.
Step 2: Then Blot
Step 3: Keep rubbing gently until the spot is completely removed. Please, do not apply directly to the carpet.
Note: Goof Off can also help to remove adhesives & glue, crayons, pen & marker, gum, scuff marks, stickers & decals, asphalt & tar, dried latex paint, duct tape, caulk, tree sap, candle wax, and more.
3. Nail Polish Remover
Non-acetone nail polish remover is another quick way to remove that vanish off your carpet.
Here’s how to use none acetone polish to remove nail varnish from your carpet
Step 1: First and foremost, you’ll need to act fast, which involves blotting the affected spot with a clean wet cloth.
Step 2: Get another clothe, Pour some of the nail polish removers on it, then use it to blot the spot.
Step 3: Keep doing this until there are little to no stains left.
Note: This method works perfectly for fresh or wet nail varnish stains. If the stain has been there for some time, you may find a hard time taking them off unless you’ll need to remove the surface with either a blunt knife, a spoon, or simply handpicking them.
4. Vinegar
This method is very useful to those who don’t have access to a nail polish remover but have some vinegar lying beside their closets. Here’s how you can wipe nail vanish out of your carpet with vinegar:
Step 1: The first thing to do is to pour vinegar on the affected spot (make sure to pour enough)
Step 2: Get a piece of paper towel again, soak it with vinegar and let it sit on the affected spot
Step 3: Allow the soaked paper towel to lay on the spot for 5-10 minutes
Step 4: After about 10 minutes, use the soaked paper towel to blot the spot gently in a circular motion until there are little to no stains left
Step 5: Rinse with warm water and let air dry.
5. Baking Soda And Ginger Ale
Like I earlier said, almost every household item can help in a time like this, so it is with using baking soda. Below are the steps to remove nail polish from the carpet using baking soda and ginger ale:
Step 1: Get baking soda on the spot, then pour a reasonable amount of ginger ale on it so that it can get soaked in
Step 2: Allow it to sit on the spot for at least 10 minutes
Step 3: Then scrub, wipe dry with water, and allow it to dry
6. Alcohol
It’s easier to remove nail polish stains from the carpet with alcohol. All you need do is to pour a little quantity on the spot, use a piece of clean clothing and wipe them out. Repeat until there is no more stain left thereafter, wipe with clean water and allow to dry off.
7. Window Cleaner
Window cleaner is a liquid solution that cleans and removes dirt, grime, and stains from windows, mirrors, and other surfaces. It typically contains ingredients such as water, alcohol, and surfactants, which help to break down and remove dirt and grime.
To remove nail polish from a carpet using window cleaner, follow these steps:
Step 1: Blot the nail polish stain with a clean, white cloth to remove as much excess polish as possible.
Step 2: Spray the stain with a window cleaner and allow it to sit for a few minutes.
Step 3: Blot the stain with a clean, white cloth to remove the window cleaner and any remaining nail polish.
Step 4: Repeat steps 2 and 3 until the stain is no longer visible.
Step 5: Rinse the area with water and blot dry with a clean cloth.
Note: Mind you, you may have to do this repeatedly, after which you wipe dry with clean clothes and allow them to dry. You can also use a hair spray to get this done.
8. Soap And Water
Even after you have done all the above methods, you still need to brush the surface of your carpet with soap and rinse it with clean water. Here’s how to wash off nail vanish off your carpet with soap and water
Step 1: Get a medium-sized bowl, then pour in warm water (it shouldn’t be more than half of the bowl)
Step 2: Pour in your preferred dishwashing liquid (i prefer using Dawn Platinum Dishwashing Liquid for this purpose), then mix thoroughly.
Step 3: Take your sponge (some people prefer to use clothes, but that isn’t a big deal), squeeze a bit, and scrub the surface as hard as possible.
Step 4: Continue to scrub, and don’t forget to rinse the sponge or piece of clothes at intervals.
Step 5: Do this until there is little to no residue of the cleaning products left on the spot
Step 6: Rinse the sponge or piece of cloth with clean water.
Step 7: Get another bowl of clean water, then use the clothing or sponge to rub the affected area (nail vanish spot) to remove the washing products completely.
Step 8: Lastly, wipe with a clean white towel and allow to dry.
Note: You can quicken the drying process by using a hand dryer.
9. Use sugar
Sugar can be used to remove nail polish from the carpet because it is a mild abrasive that can absorb the nail polish. The sugar granules can physically break down and remove the stain while absorbing the liquid. The sugar works by attracting the liquid particles of the nail polish and trapping them within the granules, effectively drawing the stain out of the carpet fibers. Below are the steps to remove nail polish on the carpet using sugar:
Step 1: Blot the nail polish stain with a clean cloth or paper towel to remove as much excess polish as possible.
Step 2: Sprinkle a generous amount of sugar over the stain, covering the area completely.
Step 3: Allow the sugar to sit on the stain for at least an hour or until the sugar has absorbed as much nail polish as possible.
Step 4: Vacuum up the sugar and any remaining nail polish.
Step 5: If any stain remains, repeat the process or use a carpet cleaning solution specifically designed for removing nail polish.
Things To Consider Before Trying To Get Nail Polish Out Of Carpet
1. How Fresh Is The Stain
The freshness of the stain will determine how easy it will be for you to get that stain off your carpet successfully.
If the stain has been there for some time, it won’t be easy to get it out compared to when it’s still fresh.
Simply put, you’ll find it quite easy to clean a freshly stained carpet/floor compared to the one that has sat there for quite some time.
2. The Nature Of Your Carpet/Floor
The nature of your carpet may as well determine your actions. For example, a nail polish spill on a hardwood floor will be easier to wipe than rugs.
3. Material You’re Using To Wipe
The material you’ll be using to wipe the stains out also matters a lot. If you use a colored material for this purpose, you may transfer some of the dye (from the clothes you’re using to wipe) onto the already-stained carpet.
So in other to be on the safer side, you should use a clean piece of white clothing. Also, avoid using paper napkins.
Things Not To Do When You Are Trying To Get Nail Polish Out Of Your Carpet
1. Avoid Scrubbing The Stain
Once there’s a spill, you shouldn’t scrub the stain. Scrubbing the stain will only make it spread wider and difficult for you to clean.
2. Avoid Using Acetone On Dark Carpets
If you have a dark carpet or one with multiple colors, it isn’t a good idea to use acetone as this will cause your carpet to fade or cause the dye in your carpet to fade.
But if your carpet is light-colored, using a non-acetone remover will help you remove that polish stain within a flash.
3. Don’t Treat Stains Immediately
This might look controversial, but the truth is, there are times when it isn’t advisable to treat nail polish spill on your carpet immediately. Rather, wait for it to dry off. Once it is dried, you can easily scrape it off using a blunt knife before finishing it up with alcohol.
PS: I once spilled nail polish on my rug sometime ago, and I took the above step I used after I learned that from a friend.
4. Avoid Chlorine Bleach
This is very important for those that have wool carpets. Using chlorine bleach or anything that contains chlorine and ammonia on your wool carpet will cause more damage than already done.
Things To Do When You Accidentally Spill A Nail Polish Out On Your Carpet
1. Scoop As Much Polish Out As You Can
When you accidentally spill nail polish on your carpet, try to catch it immediately to prevent it from spreading fast and becoming hard to remove.
So how do you catch a falling polish spill about to hit your precious carpet? It’s not what you’re thinking. Catching a spill polish means scooping the spill with a spoon (especially if it’s a big spill). If it’s something small, then blotting will work pretty well. ( use a clean, dry cloth for this purpose)
2. Blot As Much As You Can
Now that you’ve taken a bigger portion of the spill out by scooping, you’ll need to blot as much as possible. You can use a hairspray, alcohol, or nail polish remover.
Now that I’ve given you the Do’s and Don’t on how to get nail polish out of your carpet let’s dive straight into the various products you can use to take nail polish out of your carpet.
Does acetone bleach carpet?
Acetone is a strong solvent that can be used to remove nail polish and other stains from various surfaces, including carpet. However, it can also bleach or discolor certain types of carpet fibers. While it can be effective in removing nail polish stains from carpet, it is important to be cautious when using it.
Conclusion
As you can see, getting nail polish off your carpet is pretty easy if you know the right thing to use. Most of which you have readily at home.
If ever you’re in doubt or none of the above-mentioned ways works out for you as planned, don’t hesitate to drop a comment below as I’ll be more than happy to help you out.
On the occasion that you don’t want to get dirty or probably don’t want to ruin or worsen things, then feel free to put a call to your local cleaning company for them to help you out with the whole cleaning process.
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Thanks “James Okekporo” for sharing a great and depth informative post with us. I always try sugar and shaving cream to remove nail polish from my carpet. From today, (After reading this), I think there have many household things, which are really effective to remove nail polish. Everyone should read this post to get effective solutions.
I’m glad you find this post helpful.