How to Get Nail Polish Out of Fabric

Nail polish adds attractive colors to fingernails and toenails. The same colors are not attractive on your clothes or on the arm of the couch, though. Fingernail polish stains can be difficult to remove if you do not know how to do so. Fortunately, you can attack a nail polish stain with just a few easy to obtain items. Once you remove the stain, you should not be able to find any trace of it.

Things You'll Need

• Nail polish remover
• Stiff nail brush
• Favorite carpet cleaner
• Warm soapy water
• Paper towels

Instructions

1. Clean as much of the stain as you can with a blunt-edged instrument such as the back of a butter knife. Lightly scrape the stain until no more of the stain comes up.

2. Apply acetone to the fabric. Acetone is the active ingredient in many nail polish removers. If the stain is on a shirt, blot it with a paper towel dipped in acetone. If it's on other types of fabric, use an eyedropper to apply it.

3. Blot the stain with clean paper towels: Press and remove, press and remove -- don't drag or scrub. Move to a clean, dry part of the paper towel as necessary.

4. Repeat the process until the stain is gone.

Tips & Warnings

• Before applying an acetone-based product to the stain, test it on a hidden part of the fabric to make sure the color of the fabric will not be affected. If it affects the color, use a non-acetone based nail polish remover.

References

• Cleaning Tips: Removing Nail Polish
• Good Housekeeping: Stain Buster -- Nail Polish