How to Get Nail Polish Out of Carpet: 6 Ways

So there’s a nail polish spill on your carpet. No need to panic — you can likely still remove it. Although you should try to remove the stain as soon as possible, you can still get nail polish out of your rug if it’s already dried.

It’s important to consider the color of your carpet and whether the stain is wet or dry so you can find the best stain removal solution. Nail polish stains can seem impossible to get out, but there are some tried-and-true ways to get nail polish out of carpet using common household items.

From using nail polish remover to a dish soap solution, you can get nail polish out of carpet quickly and easily. If your at-home mani-pedi didn’t go according to plan, follow the listed methods below to learn how to get nail polish out of carpet.   

6 Ways To Get Nail Polish Out of Carpet

1. Nail Polish Remover
2. Rubbing Alcohol
3. Vinegar
4. Baking Soda
5. Hairspray
6. Dish Soap

Considerations Before Removal

Before you start cleaning the nail polish stain, ask yourself these questions.

Is the Nail Polish Wet or Dry?

Whether the nail polish is a fresh spill or has had time to dry, you may still be able to remove it. Generally, you should try to clean the spill as soon as possible, but it’s still possible to clear a stain after it’s dried into the carpet.

• Wet nail polish: Blot (don’t rub) the spot with a paper towel until nothing is coming off anymore.
• Dry nail polish: Try using a butter knife or a similar tool to scrape away the dried polish. Try using hairspray to break up the stain before continuing to another method.

Is Your Carpet Light or Dark?

The color of your carpet can make a difference when determining the best way to remove nail polish from carpet.   

• Dark carpet: Use rubbing alcohol or hairspray to reduce the chance of bleaching the carpet from nail polish remover.

• Light carpet: Use a non-acetone nail polish remover or any of the methods listed below.

You should always test your nail polish removal method on a corner or hidden piece of your carpet to ensure that it won’t damage the carpet.

1. Non-Acetone Nail Polish Remover

One of the most common ways to remove nail polish from carpet is with non-acetone nail polish remover. It’s important to use non-acetone remover, since acetone may alter the shade of the carpet. Follow the steps below to remove polish stains with non-acetone nail polish remover.

1. Wet the stain with cold water.

2. Spray hair spray or a little bit of rubbing alcohol on the stain. (optional)

3. Scrub gently with a toothbrush or other small brush for one minute while slowly pouring cold water on the stain.

4. Lightly pour non-acetone nail polish remover on a cloth or cotton ball and continue brushing. Tip: only pour enough remover to dampen the spot.

5. Blot with cloth or paper towel until the stain color is gone.

6. Mix liquid dish detergent with water and blot the stain with a cloth dipped in the solution to clean off the nail polish remover. Note: you want as few suds of dish soap as possible, so only add a few drops at a time.

7. Use a vacuum cleaner or dry paper towels to clean up the area.

Does Nail Polish Remover Stain Carpet?

Nail polish remover that contains acetone can stain your carpet, since acetone has bleaching properties. This is why it’s important to use non-acetone nail polish remover when removing a stain from your carpet.

2. Rubbing Alcohol

Rubbing alcohol works similarly to non-acetone nail polish remover, so it’s a good substitute to remove nail polish stains. To learn how to remove nail polish from carpet with rubbing alcohol, follow the steps below.  

1. Dampen a cotton ball with rubbing alcohol.

2. Dab at the spill, alternating between a new cotton ball and clean paper towel to absorb the nail polish. Tip: be sure not to oversaturate the carpet fibers with rubbing alcohol.

3. Continue cycling through new cotton balls to avoid transferring any nail polish color back to the carpet.

4. Blot the stain with a solution of liquid dish detergent and water to clean off the rubbing alcohol.

5. Use dry paper towels to clean up the area. 

3. Vinegar

Vinegar is a popular household item that nearly everyone has stocked in their pantry.  Follow the steps below to clear nail polish from your carpet using vinegar.

1. Wet the stained area with vinegar and place a vinegar-soaked towel on top.
2. Let sit for 10 minutes.
3. Blot the stain gently until it is removed.

4. Baking Soda

Baking soda is a common pantry staple with a multitude of uses — including clearing nail polish stains from carpet. Here’s how to use baking soda to remove nail polish from carpet.   

1. Sprinkle baking soda on the stain.

2. Pour ginger ale and let soak for 10 minutes

3. Scrub the area gently with a clean cloth until the stain has lifted.

4. Rinse the area with water or dab with a wet cloth.

5. Hairspray

Yes, you read that right. Hairspray can actually be used to clean nail polish stains from carpet, but you should check to make sure you’re using a hairspray that contains alcohol — a higher alcohol ratio will make stain removal more effective.

It’s also important to note that hairspray works best on stains that have already dried, and is great to combine with another stain removal method like rubbing alcohol or non-acetone nail polish remover. Here’s how to remove nail polish from carpet with hairspray.    

1. Wet stained area of carpet with cold water.

2. Spray 10 to 15 pumps of hairspray. Note: the higher alcohol content in hairspray, the better.

3. Blot the area with a clean cloth.

4. If available, add rubbing alcohol and scrub with a brush or cleaning tool.

5. Splash cold water on the stain as you scrub.

6. Make a solution of liquid dish detergent and water and blot the stain with it to clean the area.

6. Dish Soap

Dish soap can be used in a pinch to help clear nail polish stains from carpet, but it’s most effective when used with an above method. Find out how to remove nail polish stains with dish soap below.

1. Dilute a small amount of dish soap with warm water. Tip: you want as little suds as possible, a ratio of 1 part dish soap to 4 parts water should do the trick.  

2. Dab the solution onto spilled nail polish.

If you are combining this with another method, use the dish soap solution afterward to clean the area and cancel out the strong smell. This method works particularly well with non-acetone nail polish remover or rubbing alcohol.

Getting a nail polish stain in your carpet is frustrating. By following the above steps, you can learn how to remove nail polish from carpet and make the area feel good as new. 

Cleaning your home is always a good idea. After you’ve removed the nail polish stain from your carpet, consider cleaning other areas of your home as well, like your outdoor furniture. Check out our best cleaning and organization tips to get started.