How to get nail polish out of clothes
For a nail polish stain on clothes, first check the fiber label, then lay the stain face down on paper towels and dab non-oily nail polish remover onto the back, changing the towels as color transfers. Rinse, rub in detergent and wash. Polish is a lacquer that redissolves in remover, but acetone also dissolves acetate, triacetate and modacrylic fabric, so those go to a dry cleaner instead.
- Best method
- Non-oily remover blotted through the back, then wash
- Time
- 20 to 40 minutes plus a wash
- Difficulty
- Moderate
- Stain type
- Glue, paint and polymers
You will need
- Non-oily nail polish remover (acetone or non-acetone)
- Cotton balls
- A thick stack of white paper towels
- A card or spoon for wet polish
- Liquid laundry detergent
How to remove nail polish from clothes
- 1
Lift wet polish, don't wipe it
Slide the edge of a card or spoon under a wet blob and lift it off. If it's thick, let it set for a minute and peel it if it lifts. Don't wipe with a tissue.
Why: Wiping spreads the lacquer over a wider area and presses pigment into the weave.
- 2
Read the fiber content
Check the care label. If it lists acetate, triacetate or modacrylic, stop here and take it to a dry cleaner. These are common in linings and satin-look blouses.
Why: Acetone and other remover solvents dissolve these fibers, which can leave a hole or a hard patch.
- 3
Test the remover on a seam
Dab a little remover on an inside seam, wait a few minutes, and check for color loss or a change in texture.
Why: Remover can strip some dyes along with the polish, and some synthetics react to it.
- 4
Blot remover through the back
Lay the stain face down on a pad of white paper towels. Dab non-oily nail polish remover onto the back with a cotton ball. Move to clean towel each time color appears below.
Why: Remover redissolves the hardened lacquer, and pushing from the back sends it straight into the towel instead of through the fabric.
- 5
Repeat, then rinse
Keep going until no more color transfers. Then rinse the area well with water.
Why: Rinsing removes dissolved polish and solvent before washing.
- 6
Detergent, wash and air-dry
Rub liquid detergent into the spot, wash per the care label, and air-dry. If a faint tint remains on white, colorfast fabric, a bleach safe for that fabric may help.
Why: Detergent removes any residue from the remover. Air-drying lets you check before heat makes leftover film harder to lift.
Why remover works, and why it can ruin some fabrics
Regular nail polish is a lacquer: a film-forming polymer, usually nitrocellulose, with resins and pigment dissolved in fast-evaporating solvents. When the solvent evaporates, the film hardens around the fibers. Nail polish remover is simply more of that solvent, which is why it redissolves the film.
The catch is that acetone also dissolves some fibers. The University of Kentucky and Michigan State extension both warn against it on acetate, triacetate and modacrylic. Even on safe fabrics, the American Cleaning Institute and Texas A&M note that nail polish may be impossible to remove completely, so aim to lift as much as you can and accept a faint mark on difficult pieces. The acetone guide covers the solvent's safety in detail, and if polish also landed on the floor, see nail polish on carpet.
By situation
Without acetone
Non-acetone remover uses other solvents, such as acetate esters, and dissolves regular polish more slowly. Use the same face-down, blot-from-the-back method and give it more rounds. It's still a solvent, so test it and keep it off acetate, triacetate and modacrylic too.
Gel polish
Gel polish is hardened by a curing lamp into a cross-linked acrylic film that's much less soluble than regular polish, and no stain-removal guide covers it on fabric. Try the remover method on fabric that can take it, but expect limited success, and consider a dry cleaner for anything you care about.
Dried nail polish
Gently scrape off any thick, raised drips first, then re-dissolve the rest with remover from the back. It takes more rounds than fresh polish.
Already washed or dried
Washing doesn't dissolve nail polish, so the spot will still be there. Treat it the same way with remover, fiber permitting. Dryer heat can make the film harder to lift.
Colored vs. white clothes
Remover can strip dye from colored fabric, so the seam test matters most here. On white fabric that allows it, a bleach step can sometimes fade leftover pigment.
Silk, wool and dry-clean-only items
Don't treat them at home. Take them to a cleaner and point out the stain and that it's nail polish.
What not to do
- Don't use acetone or any polish remover on acetate, triacetate or modacrylic. These fibers dissolve or are damaged by the solvent.
- Don't use an oily or conditioning remover. The added oils leave an oil stain behind. Kentucky and Michigan State extension specify non-oily remover.
- Don't rub wet polish. Rubbing spreads the lacquer and pushes pigment deeper.
- Don't put solvent-damp clothes in the dryer. Remover solvents are highly flammable. Rinse and wash first.
Other methods that work
Dry-cleaning solvent
A dry-cleaning solvent can help lift what remover leaves behind. Apply it from the back on a cloth, then wash.
Caution: Flammable. Use it in a ventilated room and test first.
Rubbing alcohol
Often suggested as an acetone-free option. It may soften some polishes, but no stain-removal source recommends it for nail polish, so it's traditional, with weak evidence.
Caution: It can fade dyes and is flammable.
Hairspray
A common online suggestion with no authoritative backing.
Caution: It adds resin residue to the fabric.
Stain still there?
The fabric went stiff, shiny or melted
The garment likely contains acetate, triacetate or modacrylic. Stop immediately and rinse. The damage can't be reversed, but a cleaner may be able to advise on the rest of the stain.
A ring of color spread around the spot
Dissolved polish moved sideways. Keep blotting from the back on fresh towels, working from the edge in.
A greasy halo appeared after treating
The remover probably contained oil. Work in liquid detergent or dish soap and wash in the warmest water the label allows.
Safety
- Nail polish remover is highly flammable. Use small amounts, ventilate, and keep it away from flames.
- Acetone also damages many plastics and furniture finishes, so work on a protected surface.
Never mix cleaning products; see chemicals you must never combine.
Questions
How do you remove nail polish from clothes without acetone?
Use a non-acetone remover with the same method: stain face down on paper towels, dab from the back, change towels often. It works more slowly, so expect more rounds.
Can you get nail polish out of clothes?
Often, on fabrics that tolerate remover. Some polish may not come out completely, and acetate, triacetate and modacrylic can't be treated with remover at all.
How do you get gel nail polish out of clothes?
No stain guide covers gel polish on fabric. It's less soluble than regular polish, so try the remover method on a safe fabric and expect partial results, or use a dry cleaner.
Will acetone ruin my clothes?
It dissolves acetate, triacetate and modacrylic, and can strip some dyes. On other washable fabrics it's the standard remover extension guides recommend, after a seam test for dye loss.
Nail polish on other surfaces
Other stains on clothes
Sources
- Stain Removal Guide, American Cleaning Institute
- Stain Removal for Washable Fabrics (HE 2-840), University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service
- Quick Stain Removal Guide (L-5199), Texas A&M AgriLife Extension
- A General Guide to Stain Removal (Extension Bulletin E-1453), Michigan State University Cooperative Extension Service (archived bulletin)
- Remove Stains From Fingernail Polish, Lacquer, University of Georgia Cooperative Extension
- Nail polish, Wikipedia
Last updated . Methods are drawn from the sources above; how we research and check our guides.