How To Get Dried Nail Polish Out Of Carpet

Amelia asked: Help. I've spilled black nail varnish on a cream carpet. The area isn't very big. Some of the varnish is just on the surface, however, there is a big circle patch that has gone right down to the bottom of the carpet. If I don't get it out, I will lose my deposit! Help please.

Pulling nail-polish-carpet spilled nail polish out of carpet fibers can be time consuming. The amount of cleaning required will depend on the amount of nail polish spilled and the fibers of the carpet. Be prepared to spend some time removing big stains. Regardless of the size of the stain, the removal method remains the same. Here are the steps to lift the stain.

Cleaning Up Fresh Spills

You Will Need:

Soft cloths
Nail polish remover (with or without acetone)
Hydrogen peroxide
Water
Rubbing alcohol
Hairspray
Carpet cleaner

Steps to Clean Up Fresh Spills:

Fresh spills are the easiest to clean up and most likely to completely be removed from the carpet.
If a nail polish spill occurs, keep the area moist. Preventing the polish from drying and setting will help make it much easier to remove.
Get an old, soft cloth and blot up as much of the spill as possible. Change to a fresh part of the cloth frequently to avoid spreading the stain.
Blot the area well with water to keep the polish moist and prevent it from drying.
Moisten another soft cloth with a small amount of nail polish remover. Test a small, hidden area (in a closet, under a piece of furniture or back in a corner) to ensure the nail polish remover does not remove the color from the carpet. Keep the stain wet with water while you are watching the test area.
If the test area works well, moisten the cloth with additional nail polish remover and blot it onto the stain. You should see the nail polish transferring to the cloth.
Change the cloth often and continue blotting until the stain is removed.
Add water as necessary to keep the polish from drying.
Rubbing alcohol or hair spray (which contains alcohol) can also be applied to the stain to help with removal.
If the carpet is white or light in color, hydrogen peroxide can also be applied. This can have a bleaching effect and should not be used on colored or dark carpets without testing it first.
Continue blotting with a clean portion of the cloth until all of the polish is removed.
Once the stain is removed, clean the area with water and a mild soap or carpet shampoo to remove any remaining cleaning product.
Rinse by blotting thoroughly with a cloth moistened with plain water.
Press out as much moisture as possible with a clean, dry cloth.
Allow the area to air dry completely.

Cleaning Up Dried Spills

You Will Need:

Soft cloths
Nail polish remover (with or without acetone)
Water
Rubbing alcohol
Carpet Deep Cleaner/Wet Vac
Carpet Stain Remover
Carpet shampoo
Old toothbrush

Steps to Clean Up Dried Spills:

Cleaning up dried spills is more challenging because the polish and color have already set on the fibers of the carpet. Removing them will require both loosening the bond from the fiber and then cleaning it away.
Begin by moistening the area with water to get the ball rolling.
Once the area is well moistened with water, apply some nail polish remover and rubbing alcohol.
Use an old, small brush, such as a toothbrush, and gently brush the fibers. Work from the bottom toward the top if possible. The brush will help to "peel" the loosened paint from the carpet. Pay close attention to the carpet when you are scrubbing. Scrubbing to aggressively can damage the carpet fibers and leave a "rough" looking area on the carpet.
Vacuum the area frequently to remove any loosened polish.
It may even be possible to pick some of the larger pieces out with your fingers.
Add more water to keep the area moist and repeat with applying nail polish remover and rubbing alcohol. Stain remover, such as Resolve can also be used once the polish starts to loosen.
Scrub and rinse.
Repeat as necessary until the stain is removed.
Wash the area to remove any remaining polish remover and allow the area to air dry completely.
Other items that can be applied to the stain (These have been used by others with varying degrees of success. Always test a small, hidden area first to ensure it does not damage the color or carpet fibers.) are: shaving cream, goof off, hydrogen peroxide, window cleaner and Vanish Carpet Cleaner.

Additional Tips and Advice

Acetone is the chemical that can bleach carpets. If you are concerned about discoloration, try a non-acetone nail polish remover first. It is still necessary to run a test area to ensure there is no discoloration, but the lack of acetone makes it more gentle on the carpeting.
Do not use bleach on carpeting. It is too harsh for the carpet fibers and can cause discoloration and damage.
If the spot is small and only on the surface, it may be possible to remove it by trimming the fibers of the carpet. The process for trimming these fibers is the same as removing an area of carpeting that has a burn mark. More information is available in our guide How to Remove Cigarette Burns from Carpet.
If the stain is large and cannot be removed, it may be easier to replace that section of carpeting. Instructions for this process are available in our guide How to Fix Bleached Carpet.

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