How to Get Black Nail Polish Out of Carpet

Clean black nail polish from carpet immediately to get the best results.

It's fun to give yourself or someone else a manicure or pedicure. What's not fun is when you spill the nail polish on your carpet--especially if the polish is black. A black nail polish spill on carpet looks impossible to remove, but it's not. Use the right products and methods to remove black nail polish from carpet so you don't spread the polish further or damage the carpeting.

Things You'll Need

• Dull knife
• Vacuum cleaner
• Rags
• Acetone nail polish remover
• 1 tsp. mild dish soap
• 1 tsp. white vinegar
• Bucket
• Dry cleaning solvent

Instructions

1. Scrape up any dried nail polish from the carpet using a dull knife. Scrape the knife against the pile of the carpet to avoid pushing it further into the fibers. Vacuum up the loose pieces, once you can get no more off.

   If the nail polish is wet, use a dry rag to dab at the spot. Switch to clean portions of the rag often and continue blotting until no more black nail polish transfers from the carpet to the rag.

2. Moisten a clean rag with acetone nail polish remover. Blot the carpet gently with the rag, working from the middle of the spot toward the outside edges. Switch to clean portions of the rag often and apply more acetone nail polish remover as needed. Continue blotting until the black nail polish is no longer transferring from the carpet to the rag.

3. Mix 1 qt. of warm water, 1 tsp. of mild dish soap and 1 tsp. of white vinegar into a bucket. Dip a rag into the cleaning solution and wring it out. Blot any remaining stain with the rag and cleaning solution--rinsing out the rag frequently--until the nail polish is no longer lifting from the carpet. Blot with a dry rag to absorb excess moisture.

4. Moisten a rag with dry cleaning solvent if the black nail polish stain persists. Blot the stain with the rag until the stain is gone. Blot with a dry rag to remove excess moisture.

5. Rinse the carpet with a rag and cold water, then blot with a dry rag once the stain is completely gone. Vacuum the carpet once the area is thoroughly dry.

Tips & Warnings

• Avoid rubbing when cleaning black nail polish from the carpet; otherwise, you risk spreading it further.

• Always test the product you are using on a small, inconspicuous area of the carpet prior to applying it to a more noticeable area.

References

• Todays Modern Woman: How Do You Get Nail Polish Out of Carpet?
• MadeMan: How To Get Nail Polish Out Of Carpet