You have done the impossible and spilled nail polish all over your carpet, or worse yet, one of your most prized rugs. It doesn’t matter if you have vintage wooden floors or a plush, comfortable carpet for lounging on, you need to act fast and cautiously if a stain occurs. This nail polish-emergency protocol will help reduce the damage to your salon.
Please help! What should I do first?
Don’t panic. Use a paper towel to gently remove any excess nail polish. Be careful not to scratch the existing stain or spread it to a wider area. Use a butter knife, or another gentle tool to remove hardened polish if it has dried. After you have completed your triage, you can now bring in the cleaning products.
Can you use vinegar or baking soda to remove nail polish?
These cases can be helped by trusted pantry staples such as vinegar and baking soda. You can also try vinegar by thoroughly soaking the affected area in vinegar and placing a vinegar-soaked paper towel over it. Allow it to sit for 10 minutes. Then, gently scrub the stain with a soft cloth until it is gone.
You can also use baking soda to cover the stain. Next, pour ginger ale over the area. Let it sit for 10 minutes. Use a scrubber to remove the stain. Then, rinse the area with water or a damp cloth.
Goo Gone and Windex are also known to be effective in cleaning carpets or rugs. However, it is important to test these cleaners out in a small area.
What can I use to clean my carpet with nail polish remover?
You can answer yes. However, before you get out your Cutex or cotton balls, here are some additional guidelines that will help you achieve the best results. No matter what cleaning method you use, make sure to test it on a small corner of your rug or carpet. Switch to a different cleaning solution if the rug is discolored or the rug’s color is rubbing off on your cloth.
You can use a small amount of nail polish removaler to make white or light carpets look better. However, it is important that the bottle you choose is both dye-free and non-acetone. Use a small amount of the remover on a piece of paper towel or a clean cloth to gently rub the stain. Be careful not to spread the stain to other areas. Continue this process until you notice an improvement. (Psst! Act quickly! Polish remover is best for fresh stains that are still wet.
You should be extra cautious if your carpet is darker than normal. Sometimes, nail polish remover can cause darker colors to change more quickly than white and neutral shades. You can opt for an alternative cleaning solution such as dish soap, hairspray or rubbing alcohol if you are concerned about unwelcome marks.
Wait, did you really say hairspray?
This solution is best for already-dried stains. Apply about 10 to 15 pumps hairspray to the stain. A small amount of rubbing alcohol can be added to the area (about three small drops, or more depending upon the stain’s size). You can scrub the area with a brush or a cleaning tool. Add more cold water to your scrub.
What about dish soap?
In desperate situations, a small amount dish soap mixed with warm (aim for very few sands) can be helpful. However, it is best to combine this solution with the other solutions. After removing nail polish, you can use dish soap to clean and neutralize the strong smell.
If all else fails,
You need to call the pros. If you decide to have your carpet cleaned by a professional, make sure to tell them about the nail polish stain. They will likely use specific cleaning methods.