How to Get Nail Varnish Out of a Carpet
Nail polish is a common stain on both clothing and carpets. The unsightly stains dry quickly enough to make the stain a sticky mess. Fortunately, you can clean nail varnish out of your carpet--even if it has dried. All that's required is a few materials and a bit of work. Does this Spark an idea?
Things You'll Need
- Spoon
- Acetone nail polish remover
- Rags
- Hydrogen peroxide
- Detergent
- White vinegar
- Towel
Instructions
-
-
1
Pry up any dried or sticky residue with a spoon. Get under the residue and pull it away from the center of the stain. Pulling straight up can damage your carpet and scraping can spread the stain if the varnish is still wet.
-
2
Pour a little nail polish remover on a rag and blot the stain. Use just a dab at a time and don't scrub as that will only push the nail polish into the fibers and can spread the stain onto the clean areas of the carpet.
-
-
3
Repeat the process until the stain is gone. It may take a few applications.
-
4
Apply a mixture of half hydrogen peroxide and half water to the stain if it remains. Leave it for 30 minutes and reapply until the stain is gone. Only use hydrogen peroxide on white or colorfast carpets.
-
5
Clean the area with a mixture of warm water, 1 tsp. dish or mild laundry detergent and 1 tsp. distilled white vinegar. Blot the area dry with a clean towel.
-
1
Tips & Warnings
Always test chemicals on a small, hidden portion of your carpet to make sure they won't damage the fabric or make the color run.
The acetone in most nail polish remover can dissolve some types of fabric. Try a non-acetone remover if the test shows that it damages your carpet.
Acetone can also melt the latex backing of a carpet, so don't soak the area.
References
- Photo Credit Jupiterimages/liquidlibrary/Getty Images
