You were most likely in the middle of a DIY nail care session when some polish found its way onto your precious rug. Undoubtedly, this can quickly turn your DIY nail care into a nightmare – especially when you’re getting dark polish shades.
And the worst part of a nail polish spill is that nail polish dries pretty fast, a lot faster than say a tea stain, and can leave a nearly indelible stain when dried.
So, what do you do when your DIY salon procedure backfires on your carpet? Read on to discover how to remove nail polish from your carpet.
Quickly Contain the Stain
As soon as some of your manicure lacquer finds itself on your furry or oriental rug, it’s pretty normal to fret. You may also want to reflexively turn your entire bottle of nail polish remover on the stain. But don’t. All you should do at this point is get your nail polish and other accessories out of the way and try to contain the stain.
Things You’ll Need:
- A soft brush
- Microfiber or paper towels
- Vinegar
- Dish soap
- Credit card or bread knife
- Baking soda
- A can of ginger ale
- Acetone and dye-free nail polish remover (which you probably already have when you spilled your nail polish)
If you spilled only a few drops of nail polish on your tapestry, a paper towel would be handy in blotting out the stain. But be extra careful not to spread the polish to other areas of your carpet.
However, if your nail polish bottle tipped over and turned half its content on your carpet, you’ll want to be more careful here. Gently scoop up the excess polish using a small knife or the edge of your credit card (not the side with the chip, please!). And to avoid spreading the nail polish, scoop from the outside toward the center of the stained area.
Use Your Nail Polish Remover
Yes, you may not have to search beyond your manicure and pedicure kits to find a solution to your nail polish nightmare. But before you take any more steps, confirm that your carpet will not get damaged by the remover.
Locate a section of your carpet that is sort of hidden, and then dab some nail polish remover (dye and acetone-free) onto a tiny portion of that section. If your carpet isn’t white or light-colored, or if the remover changes its color, then you should try other removal methods. But if the carpet doesn’t get a discoloration, then you’re good to go.
Now soak up a small part of a microfiber cloth with the remover and gently blot the nail polish from the carpet. Try not to rub too hard, or you’ll move the stain deeper into the carpet’s fabrics.
Baking Soda and Ginger Ale
As soon as you’re done cleaning off excess nail polish from your carpet, dust some baking soda over the stain, and top it up with a few drops of ginger ale. Allow the mixture to sit for about 10 minutes – don’t worry, the baking soda will ensure that your rug doesn’t smell like a ginger farm.
After 10 minutes, gently scrub the area using a soft brush, and afterward, a clean towel soaked in clean water.
Dishwashing Liquid Mixture
In addition to keeping your dishes squeaky clean, your regular dish soap also comes very handily in keeping your carpet stain-free. Mix a small amount of it in warm water, and let it sit on the fresh nail polish stain. If the stain has dried up, you may first need to dab the area with cotton wool soaked in nail polish remover before using the dish soap.
Afterward, rinse the cleaned area with water, and allow it to air dry.
Vinegar
You can call vinegar your carpet’s best friend. It is suitable for nearly all kinds of stains, including fresh and dry nail polish patches, as well as shoe polish stains. So spray generous amounts of this solution onto your stained carpet. Soak a clean towel with some more vinegar, cover the area with it, and allow to sit for 10 to 15 minutes.
After 15 minutes, clean up the vinegar + the nail polish using a clean towel. Rinse off the area with a clean towel and clean water, and then allow it to dry correctly.
What If Your Carpet is Too Delicate for all the Above?
Some carpets are made from pretty delicate materials that harsh chemicals can easily damage, so be careful when using these tips. If the above methods do not remove nail polish out of your carpet, seek the help of our professional carpet cleaning company in Northampton. We know how to remove stains without damaging your carpet.