Carpets and area rugs are among the best liked floor decorations. They can be rather tough to clean at the same time. We aren’t talking about regular vacuuming, and washing once or twice a year. The unpleasant part comes when you have to ask the question how to remove nail polish from a rug?
Did you spill nail polish during a mani-pedi? Then you should know cleaning has become a time-sensitive matter. Potential mishaps with a nail polish bottle can lead to spills and stains on upholstery and carpets, so it’s important to keep it within reach to avoid accidents. Acting quickly can be quite important if you want to make sure that the fingernail polish stain on your carpet doesn’t become permanent. The dried nail polish stain is much harder to get rid of than fresh nail polish stains.
So, if you want:
- Your carpets and rugs to be in a perfect condition at all times.
- To use nail polish and/or nail polish remover in the same room your carpet is, and with a peace of mind.
- To know that in case of an emergency you are a hundred percent prepared to react adequately.
If these are all true, you will need to learn the proper techniques for removing nail polish stains. You should also have the tools you need close by when painting your nails.
Can nail polish come out of rugs?
Nail polish stains are very hard to remove from rugs. There are tricks you can use to have even the nastiest dried nail polish stains off your favorite carpet with relative ease. It is important to use the proper technique and the right type of nail polish removers in every situation, such as using rubbing alcohol for dark carpets and clear non-acetone removers for light carpets, so that you not only successfully get rid of the nail polish, but also make sure you don’t damage the color and fabrics of your rugs.
Dried nail polish – what to do?
It’s logical that the earlier you manage to catch the nail polish stain and treat it, the better results you can expect from your nail polish removal journey. The longer the nail polish stain has stained on your carpet, the harder it becomes to get rid of. So the first tip would be to act as quickly as possible when you spill excess nail polish on your floor. Use paper towels to blot fresh stains and prevent further damage to fabrics and carpets.
Scrape and rinse the affected area
Nail polish dries very quickly. It seizes to be a liquid within about a minute. No matter how fast you are, you will still need to scrape the stained area. Use a dull knife – a butter knife would work best – to loosen the nail polish stain. You can use some cold water to further loosen the nail polish, but you should make sure it is indeed cold. Mix a few drops of dish soap with warm water to create a soapy solution that helps remove any residual nail polish and eliminate odors. Warm water will only help it settle.
Use your favorite hair spray
Now that you’ve applied cold water to the area, grab a spray bottle of hair spray and spay some twenty times the affected area. Some of rubbing alcohol will also help loosen the nail polish. Make sure to use no more than a tea spoon of rubbing alcohol for a small amount of nail polish on the rug. The thing with rubbing alcohol is that too much of it can damage the structure and color of your rugs. Blot gently with a paper towel, using a circular motion, then you will be ready to use a toothbrush to remove nail polish from your carpet.
Non Acetone Nail Polish Remover will also do the trick
If your carpet has a lighter color you want to protect, non acetone nail polish remover will help you get rid of the stain. This type of polish remover has been designed specially to help you get rid of such issues. The trick here is to be quick about it, because this method will work only with relatively fresh nail polish spill.
The good plain vinegar has your back
White vinegar is an almost universal cleaning solution you can always turn to when you’d like to avoid harsh chemicals most detergent solutions contain. Pour a generous amount of white vinegar over the affected area. Soak a soft cloth in white vinegar, and place it over nail polish stain as well. Wait ten minutes, and gently dab and blot with a paper towel as much nail polish and vinegar as possible. Now you can also scrape the nail polish.
If you are worried about the smell white vinegar can leave on your carpets, you can also use a mix of baking soda and ginger ale to remove nail polish that’s particularly stubborn. This works great on darker carpets. Just don’t forget to run a vacuum cleaner over the affected area once the nail polish stain is gone, so that you remove all excess nail polish and baking soda as well.
In conclusion
It is possible that you’d prefer to make your life easier. If a nail polish stain doesn’t come off, or you just don’t want to put in the time and effort necessary, just opt for Pete Steam Cleaning’s services. Our team will deal with spilled nail polish on your carpet or rug in no time, sparing you the hassle of getting the job done on your own.
