How To Get Out Nail Polish From Carpet - 7 Easy Steps

Maybe your like

Cleanipedia UK logo

Bathroom Cleaning
Clothing Care
Family
Floor and Surface Cleaning
In the Home
Kitchen Cleaning
Laundry
Out of Home
Sustainability
Hygiene

Bright, colourful nail polish looks great on your fingernails, but it’s not such an amazing look when you've spilt nail varnish on carpet. However, as we know only too well, accidents do happen – so you need to be ready to act fast. Fortunately, the steps for how to remove nail polish from carpet are simple to follow, when you know how. Read on to use our simple seven-step guide to remove nail varnish from carpet to leave them soft and clean underfoot.

For more top tips, check out our comprehensive guide to removing stains and odours from your carpets.

Nail polish on the carpet needs to be tackled head on as quickly as possible, otherwise it could further seep into your carpet fibres, making it even trickier to remove.

You will need:

Old tea towel
Spoon
White cotton cloth
Clean tea towel
Spray bottle
Acetone nail polish remover
Water
Bleach-free detergent

Welcome to #CleanTok

The home of cleaning on TikTok. Brought to you by Cleanipedia.

Explore Cleanipedia

Proud Supporter of #CleanTok

How to remove nail polish from carpet fibres in 7 steps

Nail polish is tricky to remove, so try these steps to deal with nail polish on your carpet.
Remember: always read the directions on any product labels, and to test any new stain remover on a small, inconspicuous area before attempting to remove nail polish from a carpet. You may also wish to consult your carpet’s manufacturer for further guidance.
1. 1
  Blot the stain with an old tea towel
  
  Start by blotting the stain with an old tea towel to remove all wet polish residue – be gentle to avoid spreading the stain
2. 2
  Scrape off dried polish with a blunt metal implement
  
  Use a blunt metal implement – such as the end of a spoon – to scrape all dried polish from the surface of the carpet, while being careful not to rub the stain deeper into the pile or damage the carpet fibres
3. 3
  Blot the stain with a white cotton cloth dipped in acetone
  
  Dip the end of a white cotton cloth in acetone nail polish remover, then blot the stain again to remove as much polish as possible. Caution: when removing nail varnish from carpets, use acetone nail polish remover sparingly – too much could damage the carpet backing (particularly if it’s made from latex), as well as corroding the pile itself.
  Remember to ventilate the area when using this product, and consider wearing eye protection for safety
4. 4
  Press a tea towel directly onto the stain
  
  Press a tea towel onto the area of the stain to soak up the residue.
5. 5
  Fill a spray bottle with water and one tbsp of bleach-free detergent
  
  Next, fill a spray bottle with water, adding one tablespoon of bleach-free detergent.
6. 6
  Using the spray bottle, spray directly onto the stain
  
  Spray the stained portion of your carpet, dampening the whole area
7. 7
  Soak up the excess water with a clean, dry tea towel
  
  Finally, soak up the excess water by pressing a clean dry tea towel over the wet area.
  Avoid paper towels, which can create a mulch-like mess.

Take Our Cleaning Personality Test

Unlock hidden insights about yourself and gain a deeper understanding of your cleaning personality.

By following these seven simple steps to get nail polish out of carpet, you should see an improvement. If the stain is persistent, it may be time to call a professional for advice.

Spillages are sadly inevitable, and if the nail polish made it onto your clothes too, check out our simple guide for removing nail polish from clothes in 6 steps. For other carpet cleaning tips and tricks, read our articles on getting ink out of carpet, removing red wine from carpet and even treating coffee stains on carpet.

Was this article helpful?

LikeHelpfulDislikeNot Really