Professional Carpet Cleaning Tip: How to Remove Nail Polish

The job of nail polish is to go onto the appropriate surface – like fingernails and toenails – and stick. The problem is when it gets onto unintended surfaces, especially on carpet, upholstery, or clothing. It can be nearly impossible to remove.

Avoid aggressive efforts like rubbing or scrubbing, or using harsh chemicals, as these can damage the surface of rugs and carpet. Let’s assume the nail polish has dried, since very fresh nail polish is fairly easy to remove with a typical nail polish removal product and white disposable towels.

How to Remove Nail Polish From Carpet

Removing nail polish, while one of the toughest carpet cleaning chores, can be made easier with these tips from the professional carpet cleaning pros at K-tech Kleening.

The right stuff

Obviously, nail polish remover is the best choice for a cleaning solution.

Using a non-acetone solvent product is safer for some fibers and less aggressive, but your results may be limited. Using an acetone-based fingernail polish remover will have a more noticeable effect, but also will dry out your fingertips. This type of product will evaporate very quickly, so when using it, know that contact time must be limited.

You can also use other solvents to remove nail polish, and most professional carpet cleaning companies have an arsenal at their disposal. You may be limited to what you can get at the grocery store. That being said, pure acetone is usually the best solvent choice for the impact it has on dried nail polish.

When applying your solvent, put it on a disposable white paper towel or cotton towel, and dab at the nail polish. You should see transfer to the towel. Keep at it, but don’t rub or scrub, and don’t spread the stain.

Do your research on the type of surface you are working on. Acetone will dissolve some fibers. It will also remove paint, furniture finish, and many other finishes.

Remaining color 

After you have removed as much of the nail polish as possible, you will probably notice some remaining color. This is where you have to be careful about your next product. Using some regular household hydrogen peroxide is safe on most surfaces, but there are no guarantees. After all, if it removes color from nail polish, it can remove other colors as well.

Use it as a last resort after other attempts to work on the stain.

The best choice

K-tech Kleening’s carpet cleaning services include removing many tough stains, like nail polish. If you want the very best results, call us at 715-355-1369. After all, it pays to call a pro!