How to get out nail polish from carpet

Bright, colourful nail polish looks great on your fingernails, but it’s not such an amazing look when you've spilt nail varnish on carpet. However, as we know only too well, accidents do happen – so you need to be ready to act fast. Fortunately, the steps for how to remove nail polish from carpet are simple to follow, when you know how. Read on to use our simple seven-step guide to remove nail varnish from carpet to leave them soft and clean underfoot.

For more top tips, check out our comprehensive guide to removing stains and odours from your carpets.

You will need:

• Old tea towel
• Spoon
• White cotton cloth
• Clean tea towel
• Spray bottle
• Acetone nail polish remover
• Water
• Bleach-free detergent

How to remove nail polish from carpet fibres in 7 steps

1. Blot the stain with an old tea towel

   Start by blotting the stain with an old tea towel to remove all wet polish residue – be gentle to avoid spreading the stain

2. Scrape off dried polish with a blunt metal implement

   Use a blunt metal implement – such as the end of a spoon – to scrape all dried polish from the surface of the carpet, while being careful not to rub the stain deeper into the pile or damage the carpet fibres

3. Blot the stain with a white cotton cloth dipped in acetone

   Dip the end of a white cotton cloth in acetone nail polish remover, then blot the stain again to remove as much polish as possible. Caution: when removing nail varnish from carpets, use acetone nail polish remover sparingly – too much could damage the carpet backing (particularly if it’s made from latex), as well as corroding the pile itself.

   Remember to ventilate the area when using this product, and consider wearing eye protection for safety

4. Press a tea towel directly onto the stain

   Press a tea towel onto the area of the stain to soak up the residue.

5. Fill a spray bottle with water and one tbsp of bleach-free detergent

   Next, fill a spray bottle with water, adding one tablespoon of bleach-free detergent.

6. Using the spray bottle, spray directly onto the stain

   Spray the stained portion of your carpet, dampening the whole area

7. Soak up the excess water with a clean, dry tea towel

   Finally, soak up the excess water by pressing a clean dry tea towel over the wet area.

   Avoid paper towels, which can create a mulch-like mess.

By following these seven simple steps to get nail polish out of carpet, you should see an improvement. If the stain is persistent, it may be time to call a professional for advice.

Spillages are sadly inevitable, and if the nail polish made it onto your clothes too, check out our simple guide for removing nail polish from clothes in 6 steps. For other carpet cleaning tips and tricks, read our articles on getting ink out of carpet, removing red wine from carpet and even treating coffee stains on carpet.