How to Get Nail Polish Out of Clothes and Fabric

One slip of the brush and nail polish lands on your jeans, sheets or couch. Because polish is designed to harden fast, speed matters. Here's how to get nail polish out of clothes and fabric, the safe way, including what to do if the fabric can't handle acetone.

Quick answer: Let wet polish sit for a moment, then scrape or blot excess (don't rub). Check the fabric, test acetone nail polish remover on a hidden spot, then dab it onto the stain from the back with a cotton ball, blotting with a white cloth until the color lifts. Rinse, pre-treat with detergent and wash. For acetate, triacetate or modacrylic, use non-acetone remover or see a dry cleaner.

Before You Start: Fabric Check

Acetone dissolves acetate, triacetate and modacrylic fabrics, leaving a hole. Check the care label. If your garment contains these fibers, use non-acetone remover or take it to a professional. Not sure how to read the label? See How to Read Laundry Care Symbols.

What You'll Need

Acetone or non-acetone nail polish remover
Cotton balls and white paper towels or cloths
Dull knife or spoon
Laundry detergent or dish soap
Rubbing alcohol or hydrogen peroxide (optional, for leftover color)

Wet Nail Polish

Don't rub. Lift blobs with a spoon or the edge of a card.
Blot gently with a paper towel.
Place paper towels under the stain (inside the garment).
Dab remover on with a cotton ball. Blot with a clean white cloth, switching to clean areas as color transfers.
Rinse with cool water, pre-treat with detergent, and wash as the care label allows.

Dried Nail Polish

Gently scrape off the hardened surface with a dull knife.
Apply remover and wait a minute to soften the polish.
Blot and repeat until color stops transferring.
Rinse, pre-treat and wash.

Leftover Color

Dab rubbing alcohol on the stain and blot.
On white, bleach-safe cotton, 3% hydrogen peroxide may lighten the last traces. Test first.
Air-dry and check; never use the dryer until the stain is gone.

Nail Polish on Carpet and Upholstery

Blot excess, then test non-acetone remover on a hidden area (acetone can damage some synthetic carpets and dyes). Dab, blot, then clean the area with dish soap and water and rinse. Check upholstery cleaning codes first. For carpets, also see How to Deep Clean Carpet.

Safety

Acetone is flammable. Ventilate and keep away from flames.
Never put clothes with remover on them in the dryer before washing.

Related Stain Guides

Paint · Sharpie · Red wine · Coffee

FAQ

Does hairspray remove nail polish?

Older alcohol-heavy hairsprays sometimes help, but nail polish remover is far more effective.

What about gel polish on fabric?

Uncured gel behaves like regular polish; cured gel is much harder to remove. Treat quickly with acetone if the fabric allows.