There is nothing better than enjoying a lazy afternoon or evening applying nail polish to your nails while lying on your carpet. It seems like a picture-perfect scenario except when you accidentally spill the nail polish on your expensive carpet.
But don’t worry there are several ways that can help you get out of this undesirable situation.
How to Remove Dried Nail Polish from Carpet
You can remove dried nail polish from the carpet. It’s not irreversible. So cut yourself some slack and read on!
The moment you spill the nail polish on the carpet, you need to start cleaning up. However, if you can’t do that and the stain hardens on the carpet, there are hacks and substances that can help you clean the stain out.
Many a time you spill something and don’t notice only to find it on your carpet sometimes later. The first words of advice would, however, be to remain vigilant and not let the stains toughen up.
Here are a few other ways that can help you remove dried nail polish from your carpet.
1. Nail Polish Remover to the Rescue
Take some nail polish remover on a piece of cloth and rub the stain with it. If you don’t have one, you may try using rubbing alcohol on the stain. As you do this, you will see the nail polish coming onto the towel.
A word of caution would be that you don’t use a very large quantity of nail polish remover on the carpet, as it may lead to discoloration.
2. Baking Soda with Ginger Ale May Be Your Saviors
Put some baking soda over the stain and pour ginger ale over it. The idea is to wet the stain completely with the mixture of ginger ale and baking soda. Let it sit for some time.
Now take a brush and start cleaning the stain in a circular motion. Rinse the stain away with water. There should be a considerable improvement.
3. Dishwashing Detergent Ain’t Too Bad
Dishwashing liquid, sans lanolin or bleach, when mixed with water can be an effective nail polish stain remover.
You need to ensure that you use it almost instantaneously after spilling the nail paint on the carpet. However, it can also be used on dried stains, though results may vary.
Pour the mixture over the stain and blot using a paper or towel. You will see the nail polish coming onto the tissue. Repeat the blotting process till the carpet looks clean and stain-free.
Do not forget to sprinkle some carpet freshener over the stain once you have treated it with nail polish remover, dishwashing detergent, or anything. This will remove all the odors.
4. If All Else Fails
Well, in case none of the above steps work for you, it is best that you get in touch with a professional cleaning service. They are experts for a reason and will surely have a solution to your woes.
Does Nail Polish Remover Stain Carpet?
If left unattended for a long time, nail polish remover surely can stain your carpet. This is because of the presence of acetone in most nail polish removers. Acetone has a bleaching quality to it that may lead to harsh stains on your carpet.
The best bet is a quick reaction as with nail polish stains. You spill it accidentally and you jump into action immediately. It is crisis management and you need to move fast.
A mixture of dishwashing liquid and warm water can help remove the stain of a nail polish remover. Once you pour this mixture over the stain, blot it well using a sponge or towel. Once you see the stain disappearing, stop and pat dry with a clean piece of cloth.
However, you may notice a strong odor on the carpet even after this cleaning exercise. For this, put some cat litter in the room. It is a great absorbent and will soak in the strong odor. You can also use baking soda or coffee as both are great at absorbing odors.
FAQ’s
Here are some of the most commonly asked questions on nail polish spillage on carpets curated just for you!
Does White Vinegar Get Nail Polish Out of Carpet?
White vinegar is a magic ingredient that works wonderfully against stains and spots. It can be a good way of removing nail polish from your carpet.
Just soak the stain with white vinegar for 10-15 minutes and let it sit. Once it is dry, blot the stain dry with a towel or clean cloth.
Does Baking Soda Remove Nail Polish from Carpet?
Baking soda when used all by itself may not be very efficient in removing nail polish from your carpet. However, when mixed with ginger ale, it can be a potent method of removing nail polish from carpets.
Just sprinkle some baking soda over the stain and then soak the area with ginger ale. Once it dries out, use a brush to scrub off any residue. A good vacuum cleaning followed by this cleaning exercise can make your carpet look new again.
Will WD40 Get Nail Polish Out of Carpet?
WD40 is an effective way of removing stains of nail polish from the carpet. It works particularly well on dark carpets. All you have to do is to put some of it on the stain and let it stay.
Once it dries out, remove the residue and do a good vacuum cleaning of your carpet. Spray some carpet freshener to get rid of any odors and give your carpet a fresh feel.
Does Oxiclean Get Nail Polish Out of Carpet?
Oxiclean stain remover is known to be quite effective in dealing with rigid stains.
It is for the same reason it seems to be a good option for removing nail polish stains from carpets. You need to act fast and put some Oxiclean solution on the stain. Once that is done, make sure you allow some time for this to sit.
Now scoop the residue out using a spoon or knife. Blot away the rest of the residue using either tissue paper or a clean towel. Make sure you rinse the area thoroughly once you are done with the cleaning.
Does Hairspray Remove Nail Polish from Carpet?
Hairspray is something most people, who have nail polish, will have in their homes. The fact that this works effectively against nail polish stains is a bonus!
All you need to do is to wet the stain with generous amounts of water. Once that is done, spray hairspray onto this stain directly. Now scrub the area with a soft toothbrush so that the stain loosens and comes off easily.
You may have to repeat this process 3-4 times to remove the nail polish completely from the carpet.
Does Hydrogen Peroxide Get Nail Polish Out of Carpet?
Hydrogen peroxide solution is a tried-and-tested method of removing nail polish from the carpet. Add hydrogen peroxide to water and pour the solution into a spray bottle. Shake it well so that the two things mix well.
Now spray it over the stain and let it still. Using a soft brush, scrub away the stain. You will also need to blot the area with cloth or tissue paper to remove any remaining residue.
Once the stain disappears, make sure to take a sponge and dampen it with water and clean the carpet area again where the nail polish was spilled.
Can Professional Carpet Cleaners Remove Nail Polish?
Of course, professional carpet cleaners are pro at treating carpets that are heavily stained. These services have experts with several years of experience that gives them an edge over DIY cleaning methods.
However, as the first course of action, you should always take some measures yourself. This will ensure that the stain doesn’t harden on the surface of the carpet. If there is significant spillage on the carpet that you aren’t able to remove despite trying these different solutions at home, you must send your carpet to professional carpet cleaners.
They will also give your carpet a complete cleaning makeover while removing the stain.
The Final Word
Spilling nail polish on your carpet is not the end of the world. It is not even the end of using that carpet. It can be removed if you take the needed steps quickly. There are plenty of cleaning agents that can come to your rescue. Make sure you act fast in case this happens and you are good to go!
