How to Get Nail Polish out of Clothes
Make sure your clothing fabric is safe for the product you choose., Purchase acetone, rubbing alcohol, or hydrogen peroxide., Place the fabric over a layer of paper towels., Blot the stain remover onto the back of the stain., Rinse your garment...
Step-by-Step Guide
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Step 1: Make sure your clothing fabric is safe for the product you choose.
Acetone is generally safe for application to cotton, silk, denim, and linen; check the tag on your clothing to make sure it’s made from one of those materials.If not, do not use the acetone method on that garment.
Hydrogen peroxide is a form of color-safe bleach, so it will probably not damage your clothing; however, know that leaving it on your fabric for an inordinate amount of time without rinsing may result in color damage.
Do not use acetone if your garment is made from materials including acetate or triacetate, as the material will be damaged by the application of acetone.
If you’re not sure about the composition of the garment, or if you just want to be extra safe, test the product you choose on a very small area that will not be highly visible.
For example, use the part of the collar that falls along the nape of the neck and can be covered with long hair, or use the bottom of the shirt if it’s a shirt that is tucked in. -
Step 2: Purchase acetone
You can find any of these products in the cosmetics and/or health section of any grocery or convenient store.
Look for nail polish removers that use acetone as their active ingredient if you can’t find pure acetone. , This is to prevent the nail polish from getting onto another surface when it comes loose from the fabric; it will get onto the paper towels instead.
The stained area of the garment should be touching the paper towels directly, as you will blot at it from the back of the stain. , You can soak more paper towel in the product if that’s all you have, but cotton balls are the best way to blot at your stain.
This will loosen the nail polish from the fabric and gently transfer it to the layer of paper towels underneath it.
Make sure to blot, not rub; rubbing can spread the stain and make it messier.You’re trying to press the nail polish loose and encourage it to bind to the paper towel to get rid of the excess polish. , Run warm water over the stained area in a sink or bathtub.
You can rub gently at the stain with your finger, but again, avoid spreading the stain around. , If there’s still a little bit of nail polish left on the garment, put it face-down on a layer of fresh paper towels, and blot at the stain with the stain remover from behind again.
Repeat the process of blotting and rinsing until the stain is completely removed from your garment. , To make sure that all unwanted chemicals, including both the nail polish and the stain remover, are removed from your clothing, run it through the washing machine when you’re finished blotting and rinsing. -
Step 3: rubbing alcohol
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Step 4: or hydrogen peroxide.
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Step 5: Place the fabric over a layer of paper towels.
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Step 6: Blot the stain remover onto the back of the stain.
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Step 7: Rinse your garment.
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Step 8: Repeat the blotting procedure if necessary.
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Step 9: Run the garment through the laundry.
Detailed Guide
Acetone is generally safe for application to cotton, silk, denim, and linen; check the tag on your clothing to make sure it’s made from one of those materials.If not, do not use the acetone method on that garment.
Hydrogen peroxide is a form of color-safe bleach, so it will probably not damage your clothing; however, know that leaving it on your fabric for an inordinate amount of time without rinsing may result in color damage.
Do not use acetone if your garment is made from materials including acetate or triacetate, as the material will be damaged by the application of acetone.
If you’re not sure about the composition of the garment, or if you just want to be extra safe, test the product you choose on a very small area that will not be highly visible.
For example, use the part of the collar that falls along the nape of the neck and can be covered with long hair, or use the bottom of the shirt if it’s a shirt that is tucked in.
You can find any of these products in the cosmetics and/or health section of any grocery or convenient store.
Look for nail polish removers that use acetone as their active ingredient if you can’t find pure acetone. , This is to prevent the nail polish from getting onto another surface when it comes loose from the fabric; it will get onto the paper towels instead.
The stained area of the garment should be touching the paper towels directly, as you will blot at it from the back of the stain. , You can soak more paper towel in the product if that’s all you have, but cotton balls are the best way to blot at your stain.
This will loosen the nail polish from the fabric and gently transfer it to the layer of paper towels underneath it.
Make sure to blot, not rub; rubbing can spread the stain and make it messier.You’re trying to press the nail polish loose and encourage it to bind to the paper towel to get rid of the excess polish. , Run warm water over the stained area in a sink or bathtub.
You can rub gently at the stain with your finger, but again, avoid spreading the stain around. , If there’s still a little bit of nail polish left on the garment, put it face-down on a layer of fresh paper towels, and blot at the stain with the stain remover from behind again.
Repeat the process of blotting and rinsing until the stain is completely removed from your garment. , To make sure that all unwanted chemicals, including both the nail polish and the stain remover, are removed from your clothing, run it through the washing machine when you’re finished blotting and rinsing.
About the Author
Linda Young
Brings years of experience writing about creative arts and related subjects.
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