Isla Bennett
Spilling nail polish on upholstery can be a frustrating problem, but there are several solutions to remove it. It's important to act quickly and not to rub the stain, as this can cause it to spread or become embedded in the fabric. Instead, use a gentle dabbing and blotting technique with an old cloth or cotton balls to lift the stain away. For dried nail polish, a plastic cutlery scraper can be used to gently scrape off the excess in one direction, then vacuum up the residue.
Removing Nail Polish from Upholstery
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| First steps | Blot up all excess polish, being careful not to rub as this will spread the stain |
| Tools | Eye dropper, cloth, cotton balls, paper towels, nail polish remover, hairspray, acetone, hydrogen peroxide, plastic cutlery scraper, spoon, vacuum, detergent, water |
| Techniques | Use an eye dropper to apply acetone to the stain, then blot; repeat until the stain is gone. If the stain remains, apply hydrogen peroxide. For dried nail polish, use a plastic cutlery scraper to remove the polish, then vacuum. Work from the outside in to avoid spreading the stain. Rinse with a damp cloth and blot dry |
| Leather upholstery | Use cotton balls and rubbing alcohol, blotting the stain. If you don't have rubbing alcohol, use hairspray. Clean the area with detergent on a soft cloth, then wipe with another cloth |
| Suede upholstery | Cover the stain with baking soda and leave for 15 minutes. Sweep away the powder with a clean, gentle toothbrush. Use cotton balls and rubbing alcohol, then brush with a suede brush |
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What You'll Learn
Blotting with acetone
To start the process, grab some acetone, a cotton ball, paper towels, and a flat surface. If the nail polish is still wet, use a paper towel to absorb as much of it as possible without smearing. Place the paper towel lightly on top of the stain to soak up the excess polish. Be careful not to rub or smear the stain, as this can push it deeper into the fabric.
Once you've absorbed as much of the wet polish as possible, it's time to apply the acetone. Do not pour acetone directly onto the upholstery; instead, put it on a rag or cotton ball, then gently dab it onto the stain. Work from the outside of the stain towards the middle, using blotting or swift, short circling motions. Be persistent and repeat the process as needed until the stain is removed.
After removing as much of the stain as possible, use a clean cloth or paper towel to absorb any remaining acetone. You can then use a clean cloth with a small amount of liquid dish soap and water to remove any residue from the acetone. Finally, blot the area with a clean cloth and cool water to remove any remaining soap.
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Using rubbing alcohol
To remove nail polish from upholstery using rubbing alcohol, start by scraping off any excess nail polish with a plastic knife or spoon. Then, soak a cotton ball or a clean cloth in rubbing alcohol and gently blot the stain, working from the outside in. Use a fresh cotton ball or cloth as the colour transfers to it. Continue blotting until the stain is removed.
If the nail polish is on a leather couch, blot the wet stain with a towel soaked in rubbing alcohol to absorb the excess nail polish. Then, mix a solution of white vinegar and olive oil in a 2:1 ratio and use a toothbrush to scrub the stain until it is gone.
For nail polish stains on carpets, spray hairspray onto the stain and wait for about 5 minutes. Then, pour a few drops of rubbing alcohol onto the stain and scrub the area with a brush and cold water for about a minute. Repeat this process until the stain is no longer visible.
Always remember to check the care label of the upholstery before attempting to remove any stains. Test any cleaning solutions on a small, inconspicuous area first to ensure they do not affect the colour or damage the fabric.
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Scraping dried polish
If the nail polish on your upholstery is dried, you can carefully scrape off the excess polish. Use a plastic spatula, a plastic knife, a blunt edge, or a gloved finger to gently scrape it off. Be careful not to rub or press too hard, as this could force the polish further into the fabric.
If your upholstery can withstand water, you can then try rinsing the area under cold, running water. The higher the water pressure, the easier it will be to remove the excess polish.
You can also try blotting the stain with a cloth or paper towel treated with a solvent in a circular motion, from the outside in, to keep the stain from spreading. Use dabbing and blotting motions to transfer the nail polish from the upholstery to the cleaning cloth. Repeat this process with clean sections of the cloth or new paper towels until the stain is removed.
If you are unsure about using a solvent on your upholstery, you can try an acetone-free method. Mix one tablespoon of liquid dish soap with two cups of cool water. Sponge the stain with the detergent solution, then blot it until the liquid is absorbed. Repeat these steps until the stain disappears, then sponge with cold or cool water and blot dry.
If you are dealing with a small amount of dried nail polish, you can also try using hairspray. Spritz the hairspray on the stain and let it dry, then gently peel the paint from the fabric's fibres.
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Applying hydrogen peroxide
Hydrogen peroxide can be used to remove nail polish stains from upholstery. It is a good alternative to acetone, which can cause discoloration. Hydrogen peroxide acts as a mild bleaching agent and can help break down the pigments in the nail polish.
Before applying hydrogen peroxide to the nail polish stain, test it on a hidden area of the fabric to ensure it doesn't cause any discoloration or damage to the fabric. This is especially important if the upholstery is made of a dark-colored fabric, as hydrogen peroxide is a natural bleaching agent.
Once you have confirmed that hydrogen peroxide is safe to use on the fabric, apply a small amount directly to the stain. You can do this by soaking a cotton ball or a clean cloth in hydrogen peroxide and then gently blotting the stain. Be careful not to rub or press the stain, as this can push the polish deeper into the fabric. Repeat this process until the stain starts to fade.
After the stain has faded, rinse the area with cold water to remove any residue. Then, launder the upholstery as usual to remove the cleaning solution. Check the fabric care instructions and seek professional help if needed, as hydrogen peroxide may not be suitable for all fabric types.
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Cleaning with vinegar and detergent
To remove nail polish from upholstery using vinegar and detergent, follow these steps:
Firstly, act fast. The sooner you treat the stain, the better, as nail polish is a stubborn stain that can quickly set into the fabric. If the polish is fresh, gently dab at the spot to remove any excess polish that hasn't soaked into the upholstery.
Next, create a mixture of equal parts white distilled vinegar and heavy-duty laundry detergent. Blot the stain with this mixture and leave it to sit for around 10 minutes. Then, use a cloth dampened with cold water to wipe away the mixture.
If the stain persists, you can try using vinegar again. Soak a clean microfiber cloth in vinegar and gently blot the stain, being careful not to rub the area as this may spread the stain. Instead, carefully pat the stain with the vinegar-soaked cloth.
Finally, take a clean, damp cloth and gently scrub the stained area until all nail polish residue and colour are no longer visible. Once the stain is removed, blot the area with a paper towel and allow it to air dry.
You can also add a few drops of your favourite essential oil to the vinegar if the aroma is too strong.
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Frequently asked questions
There are several methods to remove nail polish from upholstery. Firstly, check if your furniture has an upholstery care label and follow any instructions. If not, you can try the following:
- Scrape off any excess nail polish with a spoon or plastic cutlery scraper.
- Blot the stain with acetone or nail polish remover. Be careful as acetone can ruin some finishes.
- If the stain remains, apply a few drops of hydrogen peroxide.
- Rinse with a damp cloth and blot dry.
If you don't have acetone, you can use nail polish remover, but be sure to test it on a small hidden spot first to ensure it doesn't discolour the fabric.
Yes, hydrogen peroxide, vinegar, and liquid dish soap can be used to remove nail polish stains from fabric couches.
For leather upholstery, get cotton balls and rubbing alcohol. Blot the stain, switching out the cotton balls as they absorb the polish. If you don't have rubbing alcohol, you can use hairspray. Once the stain is removed, clean the area with a gentle detergent on a soft cloth and wipe it up with another cloth.
For suede couches, cover the stain with baking soda and let it sit for 15 minutes. Use a clean, gentle toothbrush to carefully sweep away the powder. You can follow this up with cotton balls and rubbing alcohol. Allow the fabric to dry and then brush it with a suede brush.
