How to Get Nail Polish Out of the Carpet Using Items You Already Have at Home

Your kid has seen you give yourself an at-home mani-pedi countless times and thought they’d try it out for themselves. However, instead of turning into a fine nail technician, they discovered their inner Basquiat, and the attempt has your carpet looking like a painted canvas. Don’t fret—there may be a solution to getting your favorite rug back to its pristine state, and it’s probably sitting in your bathroom cabinet right now. Learn how to get nail polish out of the carpet with four different methods below.  

Of course, the first line of defense when you have a nail polish spillage is to grab the nail polish remover. However, it’s important to be delicate about the process. First things first, you want to make sure you’re not going to ruin your beautiful rug, so err on the side of caution and test the remover on a small, unnoticeable part of the carpet to see how the material reacts. If it’s a go, then you can proceed.

If the nail polish is still wet, gently blot away the excess with some paper towel. If it’s already dry, try scraping away as much of it as you can. Next, soak a cotton ball with non-acetone, dye-free nail polish remover and apply it to the area. Make sure you switch between dabbing the stain with remover and a clean paper towel, so you don’t over-saturate the fibers. Repeat as needed.

If the nail polish remover didn’t work, then it’s time to bring out the big guns—hairspray and rubbing alcohol. That’s right, your go-to hairspray won’t just give your gorgeous tresses some extra bounce, it can also save your carpet from an unfortunate encounter with your favorite polish.

If the stain still hasn’t lifted after the nail polish remover attempt, spritz the area with some water, then add a few pumps of hairspray followed by a couple of drops of rubbing alcohol. The pros at Spot Removal recommend 15 to 20 pumps of hairspray then three to five small splashes of rubbing alcohol. Next, grab an old toothbrush and gently scrub the stain out while making sure you continue to add cold water to the area. When you’re done, blot the solution out of the carpet with paper towel and let it dry.

Is there anything that baking soda can’t do? For this method, first pour the powder over the stain to absorb the polish and then add ginger ale to it to create a chemical reaction. Per the experts at Certified Clean Care, you should then let the mixture sit for about 10 to 15 minutes. Afterwards, reach for that old toothbrush and gently scrub in a circular motion. Dip a cloth (or paper towel) in some cold soapy water to remove the mixture. Rinse the area with a clean wet cloth afterwards and let it dry.

Distilled white vinegar is another item you likely have lying around that house that may also help remove that pesky stain. For this approach, simply soak the stain in the vinegar for 10 minutes, then use a toothbrush to gently brush out the area. Carefully bloat the area until the stain is gone.