How to Get Rid of Lacquer Thinner Spills on Carpeting

Address lacquer thinner spills quickly to avoid bigger problems.

Lacquer thinner is a solvent designed to dissolve the chemical compounds used in modern lacquers. Lucky for the carpet you just spilled it on, lacquer thinner is clear and does not generally stain fabric. However, it may slightly alter the color of the fibers if left in place. And the chemicals used in lacquer thinner are flammable. To protect your carpet and you're home, it is important to tackle lacquer thinner spills promptly.

Things You'll Need

• Towel
• Water
• Spray bottle

Instructions

1. Blot up the lacquer thinner with a clean, white towel. Press the towel into the carpet with as much pressure as you can muster and hold it for several seconds at a time. As one part of the towel becomes saturated, move on to the next. Stop once no more lacquer thinner is transferred to the towel.

2. Saturate the spill site with water using a spray bottle.

3. Blot the water up with a towel following the method employed in Step 1.

4. Repeat Steps 2 and 3 until you no longer smell lacquer thinner on the site.

References

• Utah State University Cooperative Extension: Carpet or Upholstery
• Chicago Carpet Care: Cleaning Carpet Stains Effectively
• Recochem: Lacquer Thinner