How To Get Nail Varnish Out Of Your Carpet
Nail varnish is a cosmetic lacquer that dries quickly and is applied to nails to colour them or make them shine. Conventional nail polish consists of a polymer dissolved in a solvent and when this is applied the solvent evaporates leaving the polymer to form a film on the nail.
So, what do you do if you accidentally spill this product onto your floorcoverings during your home manicure? Don’t panic – see how to get nail varnish out of your carpet here…
How to remove nail varnish from your carpet
Tools needed to get the job done
- – Paper towels
- – Hair spray
- – Rubbing alcohol
- – A toothbrush or small scrubbing brush
- – Sponge
- – Clear non-acetone nail polish remover
- – Clean microfibre cloth
- – Wet/dry vacuum
Cleaning method
If you’re aware of the spill you should immediately blot the nail polish with paper towels, taking care not to rub as this will only spread the stain and make it worse. If you hadn’t noticed the stain and your nail varnish has dried, you’ll need to scrape off as much as possible with a knife or spoon.
As soon as you can you should wet the stain with cold water. Then apply the hair spray before following up with a small spattering of rubbing alcohol. Use an old toothbrush or small scrubbing brush to scrub the stain in a circular motion for about a minute. Continue to pour cold water directly onto the stain without soaking your carpet.
Apply the clear non-acetone nail polish remover onto the stain and continue to scrub. Bear in mind if you have a dark carpet this may act as bleach so you need to do a patch test first. Then gently blot the stain without rubbing with the microfiber cloth until all the colour has been removed.
Next, you should use a wet/dry vacuum to extract any excess liquid as a wet carpet will be prone to mould and mildew.
Alternative home cleaning remedies
Window cleaner
Depending on your carpet type you can try a different cleaning approach – by using window cleaner. Start by blotting as much of the stain as you can with paper towels to get rid of excess varnish. Then use a sponge to apply a small amount of the window cleaning product to the stain, scrubbing in a circular motion. Then carefully rinse the affected area with water and leave to dry.
Vinegar
Wet the stained area thoroughly with vinegar, and then place a paper towel soaked with vinegar on top of the stain. Let it sit for around 10 minutes before gently blotting with a clean paper towel or microfibre cloth. You’ll need to scrub the stain until it disappears.
Baking soda
With the baking soda cleaning method, you’ll need to sprinkle the baking soda over the entire stain. Then try pouring ginger ale on top and leave to sit for about 10 minutes. Scrub gently in circular motions until the stain is removed, and then carefully rinse with water and a clean cloth to absorb any excess liquid.
Washing up liquid
A diluted amount of washing up detergent mixed with warm water to create a few suds can help but is often more effective when combined with other solutions mentioned above. Try using the washing up liquid solution following application of the non-acetone nail polish remover to help clean the area and get rid of any strong scent.
WD40
Spray the stain with WD40 to prevent it from settling into the fibres, allow it to sit and absorb the nail varnish. Blot gently with a clean cloth. Repeat the procedure until the stain has gone.
Time to call the professionals?
If you can’t get the nail varnish stain out of your carpet no matter how hard you try you simply need a carpet cleaning specialist! Your expert will know precisely what stain pre-treatment to use for removing the nail varnish, and then your carpet will be deep cleaned using a hot water extraction method.
This is a combination of extremely hot water and cleaning solutions that not only eliminates all bacteria, dust, mites, and germs but also gets rid of unpleasant odours. It’s a really effective cleaning technique and is completely safe for your family and pets. Your carpet will soon be nail varnish stain-free!