How To Remove Nail Polish Stains On Carpet And Upholstery

Red nail polish spill on white carpet.

How to remove nail polish stains on carpet and upholstery. Fingernail polish stains mucking up your carpet or couch? Most manufacturers put a stain-resistant finish on carpets and furniture, but it can only do so much.

Here's how to remove nail polish stains the easy way. You'll need:

  • Mineral spirits;
  • 3 clean rags or cloths;
  • warm and cool water, in separate bowls;
  • a few squirts of hand dishwashing liquid.

How To Remove Nail Polish Stains - Soften First With Mineral Spirits

Soften the polish first with a cleaning solution gentler than straight acetone - mineral spirits. Gently blot the stained area of the carpet or couch with a cloth saturated with the mineral spirits, rewetting as needed.

Be sure to move to a clean area of the cloth once the polish begins transferring from the stained area.

Blot the Stain with Dishwashing Liquid

Blot any remaining polish with a mixture of 1 cup warm water and 1 teaspoon of mild hand dish-washing liquid. Use a clean towel or rag here, and continue until the stain on carpet or couch is lifted, repeating as needed.

How To Remove Nail Polish Stains - Blot-Rinse the Stained Area with Cool Water

You'll now need to remove the cleaning solution(s) from the carpet or couch. Using a clean rag dipped in a bowl of cool water, blot - don't rub - the water into the fibers of your carpet or upholstery. 

Repeat using a clean part of the rag until there is no further transfer or the sudsy solution onto the cloth.

How To Remove Nail Polish Stains - Repeat As Needed

A polish stain can be removed if you take the time to get the polish entirely out of the fabric or carpet fibers, which often means try, try, try again.

Patience and perseverance will pay off big here - so keep at it for at least several tries. You'll be glad you did.


You Might Like These:

  • Valentine's Day is right around the corner. Chances are you've got some sparkly jewelry in your future. This guide to cleaning jewelry will keep your precious pieces sparkling.

    Guide To Cleaning Jewelry

    Valentine's Day is right around the corner. Chances are you've got some sparkly jewelry in your future. This guide to cleaning jewelry will keep your precious pieces sparkling.

  • Cleaning products defined. Do you need separate cleaning products for the kitchen and bath? This guide will explain the best household cleaners for use all around your home.

    Cleaning Products Defined

    Cleaning products defined. Do you need separate cleaning products for the kitchen and bath? This guide will explain the best household cleaners for use all around your home.

  • These stone floor cleaning tips can help remove the dirt and stains of daily family life.

    Stone Floor Cleaning Tips

    These stone floor cleaning tips can help remove the dirt and stains of daily family life.

  • Everything I know about housekeeping I learned from what I tell my kids shows how following your own advice can keep your home in tip-top shape.

    Everything I Know About Housekeeping

    Everything I know about housekeeping I learned from what I tell my kids shows how following your own advice can keep your home in tip-top shape.

  • Science can't explain it, but soft drinks, crumbs, and coffee are attracted to computer keyboards like magnets. Here's how to clean a computer.

    How to Clean A Computer

    Science can't explain it, but soft drinks, crumbs, and coffee are attracted to computer keyboards like magnets. Here's how to clean a computer.

  • How to clean cloudy glass?  The answer begins with understanding what causes glasses to become cloudy. These tips can help clean cloudy glass and restore its former lustre.

    How to Clean Cloudy Glass

    How to clean cloudy glass? The answer begins with understanding what causes glasses to become cloudy. These tips can help clean cloudy glass and restore its former lustre.

  • Light fixture cleaning tips. Dust, bugs, airborne cooking oils - it doesn't take long for these interlopers to find their way onto your home'slighting.

    Light Fixture Cleaning Tips

    Light fixture cleaning tips. Dust, bugs, airborne cooking oils - it doesn't take long for these interlopers to find their way onto your home'slighting.

  • When cleaning stainless steel pans, rinse your pieces under warm running water and mild soap. Resist the urge to submerge: Less is more here.

    Cleaning Stainless Steel Pans

    When cleaning stainless steel pans, rinse your pieces under warm running water and mild soap. Resist the urge to submerge: Less is more here.