Did nail polish get spilled on your car paint accidentally? You probably need to remove the nail polish so your car paint will exhibit one color.
However, the method used to remove the nail polish depends on the stain’s size. Also, it depends on how long it has lasted on the car paint. That said, there are diverse ways to remove nail polish from car paint. Read on as we guide you through each method.
6 Ways to Remove Nail Polish from Car Paint
The following are the several ways to remove nail polish from car paint:
1. Using pure acetone
One of those methods to remove nail polish from car paint is by using pure acetone. Acetone is found in some substances, such as nail polish remover because it’s a strong solvent that can remove stains easily.
Although while using acetone in your car, you need to be extra careful. This is because acetone can penetrate the car coat and remove part of the paint. Let’s find out how to remove nail polish on your car paint with acetone.
Materials
- Acetone.
- Cotton swab
- Microfiber towel.
Step 1: Pour a small amount of acetone into the cotton swab.
Step 2: Put the wet cotton swab on the stain for 2 to 3 minutes.
Note: Do not let the acetone slip down other parts of the paint.
Step 3: After 2 minutes, the nail polish should have dissolved. So, you can wipe off the residue on the car with a microfiber towel.
Step 4 (optional): After the nail polish has been removed from the car paint and the paint has faded on that spot, you can repaint the car. It doesn’t have to be the entire surface of the car, just the soft spot.
2. Use nail polish remover
When dealing with nail polish, nail polish remover becomes the first to think of. While it’s effective for some materials, it is not for some other surfaces.
However, we’d be using it for the nail polish on your car paint. Due to the components used to produce polish remover, you’d have to be extremely cautious when using it on your car paint. Luckily, there are different types of nail polish removers. Let’s get right into the procedure.
Materials
- Non-acetone nail polish remover– This is to be on the safe side, but you’d still have to be cautious while using it.
- Cotton swab or pad.
- Microfiber cloth.
Step 1: Soak the cotton swab with a non-acetone nail polish remover.
Step 2: Use the nail polish on the car paint, ensuring that the remover doesn’t run down the paint. It shouldn’t stay long on the car paint, so use it on the nail polish for two minutes.
Step 3: Clean off the remains of the car paint with a microfiber towel.
3. Using a clay bar
Using acetone and nail polish remover is helpful but unsafe on the paint. So, for the sake of the car paint and to reduce the amount you’d spend, the safest way to remove nail polish from car paint is by using a clay bar.
However, this method is time-consuming and stressful but capable of removing any stain on the paint’s surface.
By now, you are probably wondering how this is done. So, let’s find out how to remove the nail polish on your car paint with claying.
Materials
- A clay bar kit- Mothers 07240 California Gold Clay Bar System.
Step 1: Bring out the clay bar from the kit, and break it into half.
Step 2: Fix the clay on your middle and index fingers to make it easy to use on the car.
Step 3: Spray the detailer closer to the part of the nail polish on the car paint, and use the clay bay to clay the car using a forward and backward motion.
Note: It is preferable to clay the whole car so that it would tally.
Step 4: Clean off the excess detailer sprayed on the car with the microfiber towel in the clay bar kit.
Step 5: Repeat the claying till the car is well played and the nail polish no longer shows.
4. Use rubbing alcohol
Another way to remove nail polish from your car paint is rubbing alcohol. Rubbing alcohol requires patience and time and can peel off the car paint.
This alcohol is mostly used on surfaces with stains, so we’d be using it. The materials and procedures for this method are as follows;
Materials
- Rubbing alcohol.
- Microfiber towel.
Step 1: Moist the microfiber towel with rubbing alcohol.
Step 2: Apply nail polish on your car paint.
Step 3: Use the microfiber towel to hold the rubbing alcohol on the nail polish so it doesn’t run down the other paint parts.
Step 4: After some time, wipe off the remains of the car.
Step 5: Wash the car, and repaint it.
5. Using car scratch remover
If you like DIYing many things on your car, such as removing nail polish from your paint, then using a car scratch remover is the best and safest.
It handles scratches and stains on the car without damaging anything. So, we’d be using it for the nail polish stain on your car. Below are the things you’d need.
Materials
- Car scratch remover- Chemical Guys COM_129_16 Scratch and Swirl Remover (16 oz).
- A cloth.
- Water.
Step 1: Remove excess nail polish on the car with a cloth.
Step 2: Check the manufacturer’s remover instructions, and heed them.
Step 3: Apply the remover on the nail polish, and let it stay for some minutes.
Step 4: Then clean the remover and the dissolved paint with a cloth.
Step 5: Clean off the remover car scratch remover on the car with a soapy solution and rinse with clean water.
6. Take it to a professional
If you are scared of removing the nail polish on your car paint with any method, you can take it to a professional.
He or she would remove the nail polish on the paint and take care of the car paint if there’s any damage. However, you might have to spend more when you take it to a professional.
Note: Before using any products on your car paint, ensure you spot-test them. Also, do not let any of the products stay for a long period on your car paint because some of them can damage the clear coat.
Does nail polish remover remove scratches on cars?
Yes, nail polish remover can remove scratches on cars. However, its effect on your car is temporary. This is because the nail polish remover can start to wear off after some time.
Conclusion
You can try several methods to remove nail polish from car paint. One effective option is to use pure acetone, which can be found at a hardware store. You can also try using a nail polish remover or a clay bar to gently lift the nail polish away from the paint. Rubbing alcohol is another option, but please test a small, inconspicuous area first to ensure that it does not damage the paint.
Also, if the nail polish stain is particularly stubborn, you may need to use a car scratch remover or take the car to a professional for further assistance. Regardless of your chosen method, it is important to be careful and gentle to avoid damaging the car’s paint.
