How To Remove Nail Polish From Fabric

If you, one of your children, or one of your ‘so-called’ friends have spilled Nail Polish all over the floor or your clothes, do not worry and do not panic.

There are a number of ways that you can remove nail polish from fabric, and I’ll be outlining how you can do this here.

Whilst this is the natural reaction as the fear sets in that your belongings are now ruined, I’m here to help.

This article today will show you a quick, simple, and effective method for removing even the strongest and harshest products from Fabric (whether this is on clothing or on the carpet).

It even works with polishes that are old, has coagulated, and is thus incredibly sticky!

Being a Nail Technician and Manicurist, I’ve spilled a lot of Nail Polish over the years. Both in my own home and in the Salon.

Sometimes I’ve been lucky, but other times not so much.

And whilst this has been highly frustrating, I’ve managed to learn over the years, through a lot of trial, error, research, and through conversations with cleaners and cleaning companies what works and what doesn’t when it comes to removing polish from fabric.

This has saved me a lot of time and money and chances are at some point (most likely now) you’re going to need this method (and trick).

So without further ado, let’s get started.

Steps To Removing Polish From Fabric (Including Clothes & Carpet)

Here’s What You Will Need:

Paper Towels
Pure Acetone
Bowl
White Towel
Dish-washing Soap

You are going to want to use Pure Acetone (like this on Amazon).

Now Pure Acetone is the active ingredient in traditional Nail Polish Remover, but it is often diluted down in a nail polish remover formulation because by itself it’s very strong.

However, when it comes to removing polish from fabric, the extra strength will be crucial in your efforts.

Nonacetone, and traditional nail polish removers will not get the job done nor will work to completely remove the stain

The thing with Pure Acetone is that it works magic against stubborn polishes that have spilled onto Fabric. And…

Acetone will not damage your fabric, and I have tested this with pretty every kind of fabric you can think of – from carpet to clothing and much more.

The final benefit to Pure Acetone and as to why I recommend it and regard it so highly, is that it can work on dried nail polishes long after the initial spillage (beyond 60 days and more).

Therefore if you are reading this just as some polish has spilled, you can order some Pure Acetone now, and then address the issue when it arrives.

This is therefore your stress-free solution, where there will be no risk of causing further damage to your fabric (whether that is clothing or carpet).

Step One:

First of all, try to pick up as much of the excess nail polish as possible with a paper towel.

This will make the following steps a lot easier and quicker.

Step Two:

Before working with the Pure Acetone, apply a pair of gloves to ensure that your own nails and hands do not come into contact with it.

Step Three:

Hold the Acetone over the sink and apply plenty of this solution to either Cotton Balls or some Paper Towels (use one or the other depending on the size or area of the spillage).

Step Four:

If you have clothes that you want to remove the polish from you can always remove them over the sink, however, if the polish is on the carpet or other item that cannot be brought to the sink then head straight to the mess.

Step Five:

Using the soaked Paper Towel, blot the stain and rub gently onto the effected area.

Start by scrubbing fairly gently, and apply more pressure if required. You may have to repeat this process a few times using fresh towels until the stain completely disappears.

You will see how quickly the Pure Acetone works to pull the nail polish from the fabric.

It should be quick regardless of whether the polish is wet or has been dry for a period of time. Even if the polish has been on the fabric for a month or two this method is still really effective.

However, if you are able to act straight away you will notice the polish is easier to remove (as it will not have the chance to dry and harden and soak through the clothing/carpet fibers)

Therefore, if you do not have any Pure Acetone lying around the house at the moment – do not worry, order some from Amazon now, and then you can come back to this with the most effective product.

Step Six:

If you are working with clothes, once the nail polish has been removed, it will be safe to put the item of clothing straight into the washing machine to remove any residue of the Pure Acetone (which may cause irritation to the skin if not washed before being work again).

Step Seven

If you are working to remove polish from the carpet, mix some dishwashing soap with warm water in a bowl and blot the area with a clean towel.

This also removes any last residue in the carpet fibers and will help to get rid of that strong smell and absorb all of the remaining Acetone moisture.

Let this dry out and the job is done.

Step Eight

And that’s it. Your fabric (clothing/carpet) should be completely nailed polish-free!

I do recommend that when cleaning with Pure Acetone you do this in a room with good ventilation.

If you need to do a whole bunch of cleaning, then be sure to get some fresh air at regular intervals and following the cleaning.

This is because Pure Acetone is strong and can cause headaches if you are exposed to it for a long period of time.

Final Words

So there you have it, a quick and simple process to remove even the strongest of nail polishes (including gel) from your fabrics.

Regardless of whether you are removing from clothing or carpet, the things you need to use and the steps you need to follow are the same.

The only real difference is where you tackle the stain!

To conclude, the best way to remove nail polish is with Pure Acetone.

As this method works just as well when the nail polish is wet or has been dry on the fabric for a long period of time; I recommend that you purchase a premium, 5* Acetone now and address the stain when the Acetone arrives.

Alternatively, you can be proactive and get some Acetone now, just in case the day comes when you will need it!

Looking for other removal tips? Check out my below guides for more!

Jemma Wilson

Hey – I’m Jemma – a certified nail technician and manicurist with over fifteen years of hands-on industry experience. I created AlmondNails.com to share all that I have learned about the nail industry – from the different types of manicures available, suggestions for wear, recommendations for keeping nails strong and healthy, all the way through to providing the best nail salon tips and practices.

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