Remove nail polish stains from your clothes with these easy tricks

Doing your own nails is tricky, and accidents are common. While it’s completely normal to panic when you get a drop of red nail polish on your favourite jeans, there is no need to overdo it. These stainsare not hopeless. Here is how to get rid of them.

Test the fabric

Find a hidden seam on the item's fabric, then apply a dab of acetone-based nail polish remover to ensure it does not change the material's colour.

If you see that the colour is affected, you'll need a reliable stain remover instead.

Remove the excess polish from the clothing

If you’ve just got a fresh drop on your clothes, speed is key.

Carefully lift the wet nail polish with a paper towel or cloth. For a larger spill, transfer it to a rag or paper towel, but take care to avoid rubbing or smearing, which can worsen the stain. Simply pat and replace with a clean portion of towel or rag until the wet spill is absorbed and only the stained fabric is left behind.

For partially dried polish, use an old credit card or dull knife to gently remove the residue.

Treat the stain - if it can't be cleaned with acetone

The next step is a reliable stain remover. Pour a small drop of it within the border of the stain. Use a cotton ball and dab lightly, allowing the colour to transfer to the cotton ball. Replace with a new cotton ball as the polish absorbs, and add more stain remover as needed — sparingly to keep the stain from spreading.

Treat the stain - if it can be cleaned with acetone

Make sure the acetone you intend to use is free from oils or dyes as it can otherwise make the stains even harder to remove.

Never try to get nail polish out of acetate or triacetate as it may dissolve the material. Experts don’t recommend using nail polish remover on delicate fabrics like silk and wool either but consult the dry cleaner instead.

Place some white paper towels under the stain to absorb the acetone. Dip a white cloth or cotton swab in the acetone. Working from the outside of the polish stain toward the inside to keep it from spreading, continue to dab at the stain as it transfers from your garment to the white cleaning cloth or swab. Keep moving to a clean towel area or change to a new swab as the stain is absorbed. Carry on until all traces of the polish are gone.

Rinse and throw in the wash

Rinse the spot with warm water. After that, wash it in a machine with a high-quality detergent. Opt for an intense cycle and as high a temperature as possible, but don't exceed the ones recommended in the instructions on the label.

For extremely tough nail polish stains, you may want to try a pre-soak first in a solution of water and one tablespoon of detergent.

Air-dry the garment

Never place stained items in the dryer. Instead, air dry to ensure all stains have lifted.

If needed, repeat the stain removal and laundering process.

Time is key

The longer the polish sits and dries, the more it can seep into fabric, potentially causing a more resistant stain. If you do your nails at home, try to wear an old T-shirt or sweats that you don't mind staining.

Sources used:

- InStyle: 'How to Get Nail Polish Out of Your Clothes'

- The Spruce: 'How to Get Nail Polish Out of Clothes and More'