Monica asked: How do I remove hot pink nail polish from my bed sheets? Please, I need help. I have a new set of white sheets and dropped hot pink nail polish.
Removing
nail polish from fabrics takes special precautions. While some methods may easily remove the polish, it can take the color of the fabric with it. Begin by ensuring that the fabric is colorfast and then proceed with the following steps.
Using Nail Polish Remover
You Will Need:
- Nail polish remover (non-acetone is gentlest)
- Soft cloths
- Cotton swabs or cotton balls
Steps to Remove the Nail Polish:
- If the polish has not dried yet, blot up as much as possible with a clean cloth or paper towel. If any stain remains after you have removed as much wet polish as possible, continue with step 3.
- If the polish has already dried, don’t worry. You can remove the polish using the steps below.
- Check the tag of your item to ensure it is not acrylic if using acetone nail polish remover as it could damage the fabric and should be avoided,
- Begin by moistening a soft cloth with nail polish remover. If the area is small, you can use a cotton swab or cotton ball instead.
- Gently blot a hidden area of the fabric to ensure that it is colorfast. A good place to test is the inside of a hem. If the color is not removed or damaged by the polish remover, it should be safe to proceed to the stained area.
- Use the moistened cloth to blot the nail polish stain. As you blot, you will see the nail polish begin to transfer to the cloth.
- Switch to a fresh area on the cloth regularly to keep from reapplying the polish to the fabric.
- Once the nail polish is removed, launder the piece as usual to remove any residue from the nail polish remover.
Removing Nail Polish Without Nail Polish Remover
You Will Need:
- Off bug spray
- Old toothbrush
- Hairspray
Steps to Remove the Nail Polish:
- If the polish has not dried yet, blot up as much as possible with a clean cloth or paper towel. If any stain remains after you have removed as much wet polish as possible, continue with step 3.
- If the polish has already dried, don’t worry. You can remove the polish using the steps below.
- Spray a small amount of Off bug spray on a hidden area of the fabric to ensure that it is colorfast. If the color is not removed or damaged by the spray, it should be safe to proceed to the stained area.
- Spray the bug spray onto the nail polish. Spray enough that the stain is saturated.
- After the spray has started to be absorbed by the stain, scrub the area gently with an old toothbrush.
- If the stain remains, saturate the area with hair spray (cheap hairspray works best). Allow the hairspray to set for a few minutes, then scrub with an old toothbrush.
- Once the nail polish is removed, wash the piece as usual.
Additional Tips and Advice
- Never use acetone-based polish remover on acetate fabrics. The acetone will ruin the fabric. For acetate items, wash the nail polish out with a quick washing.
- As nail polish sits and dries on the fabric, it will set and become more difficult to remove. For the best removal success, treat the stain as soon as possible.
- Delicate and dry clean only fabrics should be treated by a professional. Be sure to point the stain out to the cleaner when you drop it off, so they can treat it right away.
- Goo Gone has also been effective in removing dried nail polish from various fabrics. It can leave a stain on some fabrics, so test a hidden area first.
- One of our site users (Thanks!) was able to remove some red nail polish from a T-shirt by pouring some liquid OxiClean stain remover onto the polish and scraping it off with a fingernail. Be sure to rinse the area after the polish is gone.
Thanks a lot! This really helped get my $200 dollar sheets cleaned. I loved your advice, and thank you again.
Wow, the “Off!” bug spray worked! I used to have a bright blue nail polish stain on my yellow duvet cover, and now it’s completely gone!
Thanks!!!
I tried the OFF bug spray and the GOO GONE, but neither worked on my particular tablecloth. Resorted to nail polish remover; looks like it will be okay. Polish off. In washer right now. Thanks a million for all your great ideas.
This has helped me so much. I would have been in so much trouble if it hadn’t been for this. Thanks again so much.
What is Off Bug Spray?
Judy,
Off! Bug Spray is an insect repellent. The brand name is “Off!” Here is their website.
Thank you so much for the helpful tips. I used Goo Gone on my expensive black Baby Phat hoodie that got lavender polish on it; it removed it like magic!!
Help need to remove nail polish from a duvet cover.
Sue,
If your duvet cannot be washed, use the information in this article instead: How to Remove Nail Polish from Upholstery.
This didn’t work at all. My purple nail polish is still on my duvet and my mom is gonna kill me.
Use the toothbrush and nail polish remover. I got the green out, thank God.
Ummm, I haven’t tried it yet, but the first way, when we remove the stain with nail polish remover, doesn’t work at all; when I first got my black nail polish on my favorite pink sleeping robe, I rubbed it immediately with nail polish remover, but it got worse. And that’s the reason why I went to this website. I think I will try the second way, using a toothbrush, bug spray and hair spray. Thank you for the advice anyways. 🙂
Before doing any of the above:
1- Use a fine nail file or emery board and remove any of the dried stain, as much as possible without filing the fabric.
2- The stains becomes a lot lighter and more faint, especially if it is a dark color.
3- Proceed as suggested in above article.
Excellent tips, thank you! I was able to resurrect a pair of white jeans from a spill of red nail polish; definitely thought I wouldn’t be able to wear them again. I used a combination of non-acetone nail polish remover and the aerosol personal insect repellent. Who would have believed it.
Having sprayed with hairspray, I then rubbed a small amount of Jif cream over the stain (test a small area first) and found the stain disappeared.
Dude, that didn’t work; my mom’s going to kill me. Thanks a lot, and what do u mean by “blot”?
Candy,
The term “blot” is often used in cleaning to mean ‘gently dab with a cloth or paper towel to remove a spill from a fabric”. Blotting is often done by using a lifting motion, wiping the spill upwards off of the fabric to avoid grinding it further into the fibers (which would make it more difficult to remove).
Back in the 1950s and before, pens used liquid ink that had to be blotted sometimes, especially one’s signature on a typed letter. To do this, a rectangle-shaped piece of something like thin cardboard would be placed over the signature, then you’d use your hand/fingers to press down once in the area covering the signature, after which the cardboard/blotter is lifted up. The blotting is the pressing down.
I really hope this works. I got sparkly clear nail polish on my very favorite Hustle Gang black hoodie. 🙁 Im just worried it will ruin the color…has anyone tried this on black fabric???
I spilled Insta-dri on a pair of black cotton/rayon/spandex pants. First, I used acetone nail polish remover, but it didn’t take it out. I just used the Goo Gone, and it’s worked perfectly…no marks or discoloration left behind. Thank goodness.
Can’t we use some other repellent…
The brand of bug spray that I have is Cutter. Will that work as well?
Oh my gosh, I was so scared; my boyfriend would have killed me for getting nail polish on the sheets!! Thank you!!!
Thank you so much! It worked! Though, when I first used a polish remover with acetone I got scared and started panicking. Though nothing really happened… my room just smells really funny right now. Thanks a lot! It really helped!
Worked perfectly with pure acetone to get a small pink spot of nail polish out of my favorite jeans!!! NO discoloration. Thank you!
I got nail polish on my favorite microfiber sofa! ;( I tried the nail polish remover, peroxide, and cheap hairspray from an aerosol. Believe it or not the hair spray was the only thing that worked!! The nail polish was dry. I sprayed it on the stain, scrubbed it with a brush and warm water and it came off. My sofa is chocolate brown; I don’t know if lighter colors will have the same luck.
I dropped my nail polish brush, it bounced & left a brush stroke on the skirt of my slipcovered chair! I tried nail polish remover…didn’t budge it!! Continued with the instructions…gabbed the Off bug spray & an old toothbrush & immediately it came off!! The slipcover is currently in the washing machine! Promise to never do nails in family room again!!
My daughter spilled pink nail polish on my dark brown fabric couch. How can I get it out? As soon as she did it, she tried to wipe it up with a wet rag.
Sandra,
This is the article you need: How to Remove Nail Polish from Upholstery. Good luck!
I spilled dark blue sparkly nail polish on my hot pink jeggings. The jeggings are 100% cotton. I tried using 100% acetone nail polish remover; it removed a little, but barely, and it doesn’t seem like it’s taking any more off. I also tried 91% alcohol that I saw on Pinterest; didn’t work at all. The hairspray didn’t make any difference either; I used Aussie Instant Freeze Hairspray. I don’t have Off bug spray. What will work the best for cotton??
ASH,
If the nail polish remover was removing the polish, it should work, you just have to keep at it. Try soaking the spot in the nail polish remover (apply a few drops to the area with a cotton swab to soak only the polish, not any more of the fabric than needed). Keep applying more drops every couple minutes as needed to keep the polish wet and remove more of it. Persistance is key. If the polish is thick, you can also try picking/peeling it off or even sanding it off using a nail file. If none of that works, you can try using some WD-40 or if you don’t have that, a drop of cooking oil. Good luck!