Removing nail polish: pick your surface
Nail Polish is a lacquer (nail polish) stain, usually from a bottle knocked mid-manicure, usually on bedroom carpet. The chemistry stays the same wherever it lands — but the safe way to treat it changes completely with the surface, which is why each pairing below has its own guide.
Not water-soluble
Water alone will not touch this stain; it needs an absorbent, surfactant or solvent stage.
Not heat-sensitive
Temperature is not the enemy with this one; the removal method itself does the work.
Fresh vs dried-in
Fresh polish is still liquid lacquer — blot the surplus without pressing and start the solvent stage before it films over. Dried polish has cured into a plastic shell; it needs solvent worked in patiently from the edge, and picking at the hardened film pulls fibre out with it.
Nail Polish removal guides by surface
Nail Polish on a wool carpet
very hard to remove · pro sometimes needed
Non-acetone nail polish remover by default; acetone only on fibre you have identified and tested
Read the guideNail Polish on a nylon carpet
hard to remove · pro sometimes needed
Non-acetone nail polish remover by default; acetone only on fibre you have identified and tested
Read the guideNail Polish on a polypropylene carpet
hard to remove · pro sometimes needed
Non-acetone nail polish remover by default; acetone only on fibre you have identified and tested
Read the guideNail Polish on a fabric sofa
hard to remove · pro sometimes needed
Non-acetone nail polish remover by default; acetone only on fibre you have identified and tested
Read the guideNail Polish on a microfibre sofa
hard to remove · pro sometimes needed
Non-acetone nail polish remover by default; acetone only on fibre you have identified and tested
Read the guideNail Polish on a polyester carpet
hard to remove · pro sometimes needed
Non-acetone nail polish remover by default; acetone only on fibre you have identified and tested
Read the guide