How to Remove Nail Polish From Flooring

Peter Chambers

Sep 25, 2020

remove nail polish from flooring

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An at-home manicure can be a fun way to pamper yourself, but it’s rarely a mess-free experience. Whether you’re about to paint your nails or it’s time to let them dry, there’s always a chance that you’ll spill or smudge a little color onto your floor. Before you worry that you’ve ruined your carpet forever, there’s a solution to remove nail polish from flooring.

Take a look at how to remove remove nail polish from flooring – whether you’ve got carpet, wood or vinyl.

1. Carpet Flooring

Oh, no! You’ve spilled some red nail polish onto your carpet. Fortunately, it’s possible to remove any stains with a few household items. Use a butter knife to scrape away as much nail polish as possible if it’s already dried. You’ll need paper towels, rubbing alcohol, dish soap and warm water. Then, follow these steps:

  1. Blot the area with a paper towel to lift any excess nail polish.
  2. Pour a little rubbing alcohol onto the stain.
  3. Dab the carpet with a paper towel until it comes away clean.
  4. Create a mixture with dish soap and warm water. Use only a little soap.
  5. Dip a paper towel into the mixture. Dab the area to remove the leftover nail polish.
  6. Use a few paper towels to suck up the excess moisture on the carpet.

These steps should lift away the stain completely. You can try some non-acetone nail polish remover if you still notice a few nail polish remnants. It’s essential to act as quickly as you can when there’s a fresh stain, as it’ll be harder to remove once it dries. You can deep clean your carpet afterward to guarantee that it’s spotless.

2. Wood Flooring

It’s a lot easier to remove nail polish from a hardwood floor than a carpet. You’ll still have to be careful because you don’t want to remove your floor’s varnish. Because nail polish remover contains harsh ingredients like acetate, it’s best to avoid it for this process. You’ll need a soft cloth, rubbing alcohol and steel wool. You can eliminate nail polish from your wood floors with these steps:

  1. Take a dry cloth to the floor so that you can wipe away any residue.
  2. Douse some rubbing alcohol on the cloth.
  3. Test another section of your floor to see if any damage occurs.
  4. Use a gentle circular motion to scrub away the stain. Go with the grain, not against it.
  5. Be sure not to spread the stain as you rub.
  6. Try steel wool if you need to lightly buff away any remnants.

Feel free to repeat this process if needed. Make sure not to scrub aggressively, as you don’t want to harm your floors further.

3. Vinyl Flooring

If there’s a nail polish stain on your vinyl floors, it’s generally okay if you didn’t act immediately. Many people like to use this material for their bathrooms because they’re resistant to moisture, so any spills won’t dry too quickly. That said, it’s still always best to act swiftly. You’ll need a soft nylon-bristle brush and acetone nail polish remover. Here’s how to remove nail polish from vinyl floors:

  1. Blot any excess nail polish.
  2. Pour some nail polish remover onto the affected area.
  3. Gently buff away the stain with the brush.
  4. Use some dish soap and warm water to clean the floor.

These steps should remove any nail polish stains entirely. Because vinyl doesn’t require much upkeep, it’s easier to manage when there’s a mess.

4. Tile Flooring

You shouldn’t encounter many issues with nail polish on tile since you can wipe away the substance. Still, leftover residue may cause stains – so it’s important to have a plan if you let a nail polish spill sit for too long. You’ll need a soft lint-free cloth and acetone nail polish remover. You can remove nail polish from tile floors with these steps:

  1. Douse a cloth with nail polish remover.
  2. Try a gentle circular motion to wipe away the stain.
  3. Rinse the area with water once you’ve finished.

This process should only take a few minutes, and you’ll have shiny clean tiles once more!

Use These Steps to Remove Nail Polish From Any Floor

As long as you act quickly, you can remove nail polish stains from your floors. Try these tips if you ever have a nail polish mess on your hands — or elsewhere.

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