How to Get Nail Polish Stains Out of Clothes

Spilled nail polish on your favorite shirt or jeans? Don’t panic! Removing nail polish from fabric is totally doable if you act quickly and use the right techniques. With some household products and a little elbow grease, you can get rid of even set-in nail polish stains.

This step-by-step guide will walk you through the best methods for removing fresh and dried nail polish from clothing and other fabrics. Keep reading to save your clothes!

Act Fast for Fresh Stains

If you’ve just spilled nail polish on your clothes within the last 5 minutes or so, you have a good chance of being able to remove it completely. But you’ll need to work quickly before the polish sets into the fabric.

The first step is to identify what type of fabric you’re working with. Some fabrics stain more easily than others.

• Natural fibers like cotton, wool, silk: More prone to absorbing stains.
• Synthetic fibers like polyester, nylon, rayon: Tend to resist stains.

Regardless of fabric type, blotting the stain right away is vital. This soaks up excess polish before it penetrates deeper into the fabric.

Blot the Stain

To blot fresh nail polish:

• Place an absorbent cloth or paper towel underneath and on top of the stain.
• Gently blot by pressing straight down, avoiding any rubbing or scrubbing motions.
• As the cloth/towel absorbs the stain, swap it out for a clean section and continue blotting.
• Apply nail polish remover (see next step) as you blot if stain persists.

Blotting lifts stain residue from the fabric over time without pushing it in deeper like scrubbing would. Be patient and keep blotting until the stain transfers to the cloth.

Use Nail Polish Remover

For fresh stains on washable fabrics, an acetone-based nail polish remover is your ace in the hole. The acetone breaks down the nail polish, allowing it to release from the fabric.

When using nail polish remover:

• Select a remover that contains acetone, which is the active ingredient.
• Check if it’s okay for use on that fabric by reading the label or testing on an inconspicuous area first.
• Apply a small amount of remover to a clean cloth, cotton pad/ball or sponge.
• Gently dab the stained area, blotting as you go. Don’t rub!
• Rinse the area with water and launder as usual once stain is gone.

Nail polish remover can weaken fabrics over time so use sparingly. But when caught early, it can get rid of a fresh stain without damaging most fabrics.

Wash Immediately

For fresh stains, throw the item in the wash ASAP after blotting up excess polish. The combination of water, detergent and agitation helps lift out stain residues before they have a chance to bond permanently with the fabric.

• Read clothing labels first and wash with cold or warm water based on what’s recommended.
• Use an oxygenated detergent which helps remove stains. OxiClean is one reliable brand.
• Avoid drying the item until the stain is fully out or it may set permanently. Hand wash and line dry if needed.

Getting that fresh stain through the wash cycle while it’s still wet is key for removal. Acting quickly saves clothes every time!

Tackling Dried-On Stains

If that nail polish stain has been sitting a while, things get a little more complicated. But there are still methods for getting out dried and set-in stains too. It just takes a little more patience and persistence.

Liquid Laundry Detergent

Hand washable and delicates should be treated to a sink session first. Lightly scrub a water diluted mixture of liquid laundry detergent and warm water into the stain using an old toothbrush. The scrubbing action helps break down the bonded stain residues while the detergent draws it out.

• Mix a teaspoon of liquid laundry detergent (like Tide) with two cups warm water.
• Submerge and soak the clothing item in the solution for 30 minutes up to a few hours.
• Drain then gently scrub the stain with an old toothbrush.
• Rinse thoroughly. Check stain and repeat if needed.
• Launder as usual once stain is removed.

This works well for lightly set-in stains on delicate fabrics that may get damaged by heavy duty stain removal methods.

Alcohol or Hairspray

For thicker, woven fabrics like denim, corduroy or canvas, break out the alcohol or hairspray. The alcohol or alcohol-based compounds help dissolve and draw out the polish stain residues from fabric fibers.

Using rubbing alcohol:

• Start with 70% isopropyl rubbing alcohol for best results.
• Lay the clothing flat on layers of paper towels or an absorbent cloth.
• Apply a small amount of alcohol directly onto the stain.
• Blot continuously with clean paper towels or cloth underneath and atop the stain.
• Once the stain transfers, rinse the area well.
• Let air dry then check for residue, repeat if needed.

The blotting action helps lift the stain without driving it in deeper. Take your time to gently draw it out.

Using hairspray:

• Hold the garment taut to access the stain.
• Spray liberally with an alcohol-based hairspray until fully saturated.
• Let it sit for 30 minutes up to a few hours.
• Rinse and check for residual staining, repeat process if needed.
• Wash as normal once stain is fully removed.

The alcohol and chemical compounds in some hairsprays can dissolve all sorts of set-in stains with time including nail polish. Just make sure to thoroughly rinse any residue out later.

Dish Soap & Vinegar

Here’s a handy stain-fighting duo you can find in any kitchen – dish soap and vinegar. Together they help emulsify and dissolve all types of set-in oil-based stains. Like nail polish.

• Mix 2 tbsps dish soap like Dawn and 2 cups warm white vinegar.
• For heavy stains, apply mixture directly and let soak 30 mins – 8 hours.
• For lighter stains, dilute cleaner in a sink or bucket of warm water then soak the item.
• Agitate periodically then rinse well and air dry once stain is gone.
• Wash as usual afterwards.

The dish soap helps detach the stain from the fabric while the acetic acid in the vinegar dissolves residue. Just be cautious using vinegar on delicate fabrics containing spandex or elastic.

Stain Removal Tips & Tricks

Removing tricky dried-on stains takes some additional finesse. Below are more handy tips for getting out nail polish once and for all:

Blot, don’t scrub: Rubbing or scrubbing forces stains in deeper. Gently blot lifted residue instead.

Work underside first: Treat the underside of the stain first so pigment isn’t pushed further into fabric when blotting.

Use hot water: For durable white fabrics, soak in hot water before stain removal to help loosen bonded residue.

Try bleach: On white cotton, linen or other bleach-safe fabrics, try diluted non-chlorine bleach.

Patience pays: Dried stains can take up to 8+ hours to loosen up with solvents. Be patient!

Let it soak: For heavy set-in stains, repeated soakings for hours or a full day may be needed to fully draw out residues.

Repeat as needed: Check for residual stains and go another treatment round if the stain persists.

With some handy household products and the right techniques, even the most hopeless looking nail polish stains can be conquered!

When to Call the Cleaners

If you’ve tried every home remedy with no luck, the stain may require professional cleaning methods. Take the clothing item to a reputable dry cleaner and ask if they can remove the nail polish stain. With commercial cleaning solvents and equipment, dry cleaners work magic on all sorts of stains. It may cost a little but can be worth it to save beloved clothes!

Don’t Toss it Out Yet!

As you’ve learned, removing nail polish from fabric is very doable with immediate action or more heavy duty stain fighting for dried-on stains. Whether your clothes are cotton, linen, poly-blends or delicates, there are effective options for getting out polish and saving your garments.

While nail polish can definitely stain, all hope isn’t lost even with set-in stains. With some perseverance and the stain busting secrets in this article, you can successfully erase even the most stubborn signs of a nail polish spill. Give it some time, elbow grease and trust the process – that favorite shirt or dress can come out good as new!

References:

• Good Housekeeping: How to Remove Nail Polish Stains from Clothes and Carpet
• Tide: How to Get Nail