Nail polish vs. carpet

Christina
by Christina
My daughter spilled nail polish on the carpet in her bedroom. Of course it's in the middle of the room, so covering it with a piece of furniture isn't a solution. Does anyone know of a way to remove it?
  7 answers
  • Kim Humber Kim Humber on Jul 24, 2016
    If there is carpet inside the closet, use a back corner to test whatever product you want to use to try to remove it. If it takes the color out of the carpet then you can't use it to remove the nail polish. The only thing that I can think of is to get acetone from the hardware store and try that. The nail polish remover used to have acetone at a low concentration but most don't these days. TEST first, as it may well damage or remove the original color of the carpet although that would be less noticeable than the nail polish. You will need open windows, a fan running, gloves and if you have any sort of breathing problem I would not attempt this. A small spoonful poured onto the spot and blotted up might do the trick. You may have to do it more than once. Don't rub because you will fray the carpet threads. If you are still not happy with the result you can cut it out with a utility knife and cut a matching patch to go in there (squares are easiest to cut) and use double sided carpet tape to hold it in.
  • Janet Pizaro Janet Pizaro on Jul 24, 2016
    Try using hairspray.
    • Christina Christina on Jul 24, 2016
      Thanks, Janet. I know hairspray works on permanent marker, but I don't think it will do the job on nail polish. I guess it doesn't hurt to try!
  • Clarkeleighton Clarkeleighton on Jul 24, 2016
    Buy a cheap rug/runner
  • Fran hanson Fran hanson on Jul 24, 2016
    Carefully use a razor blade to remove varnish from the top of the carpet strands. Shave off as little as possible.
  • Carol Carol on Jul 24, 2016
    I had new white carpet and a two year old grandson. How the heck he managed to get the nail polish bottle opened is still beyond me. He used the polish like lipstick on himself, and the bottle landed n the floor. While I frantically cleaned his face, polish spread out on the carpet. We had saved a spare piece of carpet, so had it professionally repaired, couldn't tell it had ever been damaged. They cut out the damage, placed a piece of carpet tape down and then placed carpet over that and heated it.
    • See 1 previous
    • Carol Carol on Jul 24, 2016
      Have you seen how little ones apply lipstick? I was frantic, he was crying, and all I had to remove it was polish remover. But , yes, it did come off him, but not the carpet.
  • Elaine Elaine on Jul 24, 2016
    We just had installed $900 worth of new carpet (a pale color), when the very same thing happened to us. We immediately ran for my bottle of nail polish remover. It took a while and the entire bottle of polish remover and roll of paper towel but the spill was barely noticeable when we were done. The nail polish was a burgundy shade too! Like you, it was in an obvious location. I'm assuming your spill has dried since you had the time to post it on Hometalk but hopefully, this tip will still work. If the polish has dried, it may take plenty of elbow grease and lots of polish remover (to soften up the hardened/dried polish) but pesevere and good luck!
  • Elaine Elaine on Jul 24, 2016
    PS: I forgot to mention that the nail polish remover contained acetone. It worked great!!