How to Remove Nail Polish from Clothes

Nail polish might give you the extra color you want, but if you've ever spilled or slipped while attempting an at-home manicure, you know just how challenging it can be when you’re trying to figure out how to get nail polish out of clothes. Nail polish can be even more stubborn stubborn than coffee stains or blood stains, but with these tips from Tide®, you can tackle nail polish stains safely and easily. First of all, don't panic! Keep reading to learn how to get nail polish out of clothes easily using Tide Detergent, nail polish remover, or even rubbing alcohol.

Removing Nail Polish Stains in 6 Easy Steps

Step 1

Remove Excess

Scrape off any excess from the garment before rinsing under cold, running water. The higher the water pressure, the easier it will be to remove.

A person removing excess stain from a white shirt with a toothbrush
Step 2

Pre-treat

Using a bucket, a sink or a bowl, create a soaking solution by adding 1 ounce or 1 tablespoons of Tide Ultra OXI Liquid. Allow the garment to soak for up to 5 minutes, weighting the item with a white towel to keep it totally submerged.

A person pretreating a denim jacket with Tide liquid laundry detergent and water
Step 3

Dose

You can use the cap to ensure you use the right amount of detergent. Just fill it with the correct dose of detergent, and pour it into the detergent dispenser if you have an HE machine or directly into the drum before loading the clothes if you have a non-HE machine.

A person pouring Tide liquid detergent into the detergent dispenser
Step 4

Load

Without rinsing off the detergent, place the garment into the washer with other items. Leaving the detergent on the stain will give your wash that extra boost of cleaning power.

A person loading white clothes into the washing machine drum
Step 5

Wash

Wash on the usual cycle, on the hottest wash temperature indicated. Always check the instructions on the garment’s care label.

A hand showing how to select the wash cycle and water temperature on your washing machine
Step 6

Unload

When the cycle is complete, unload the garments immediately.

If the stain persists after washing, repeat the previous steps before tossing in the dryer as drying will set the stain.

A laundry basket full of neatly folded, colored gaments

Removing Nail Polish from Various Fabrics

How to Get Nail Polish Out of Jeans

Scrape off any excess from your jeans with a plastic spoon or knife before rinsing under cold, running water. Try not to rub the stain as this could force polish further into the denim fabric. The higher the water pressure, the easier excess polish will be to remove. Before beginning any treatment, be sure to check your jeans care label for specific instructions.

Soak a rag or microfiber cloth in some nail polish remover. Non-acetone removers are less harsh on fabric, but you should first test by dabbing the soaked cloth in an inconspicuous area to see if any discoloration occurs. If there are no signs of discoloration or damage, place a white paper towel or cloth under the stain and work from the outside in, dabbing at the stain to transfer polish onto the towel beneath

To treat the remaining spot, use a cotton swab or clean white cloth with dish soap and, again, work from the outside in on the stain, replacing the swab with a clean one as it picks up color from the polish. Be careful not to saturate or rub the stain as this could cause it to spread, then wash your jeans. Select a cycle using the hottest wash temperature on the garment’s care label using your favorite Tide Detergent.

How to Remove Nail Polish from a Shirt

Scrape off any excess from the shirt using a blunt edge or plastic knife. Once you’re satisfied you’ve removed as much excess as possible, run the stained area under cold water, the higher the pressure the better. Be careful not to rub the stain as it could force the polish deeper into the fabric. How you pretreat and wash a nail polish stain on a shirt will depend on its fabric. Before beginning any treatment, be sure to check the shirt’s care label for specific instructions and consult a professional cleaner if necessary.

Soak a rag or microfiber cloth in some nail polish remover. Non-acetone removers are less harsh on fabric, but you should first test by dabbing the soaked cloth in an inconspicuous area to see if any discoloration occurs. If there are no signs of discoloration or damage, place a white paper towel or cloth under the stain and work from the outside in, dabbing at the stain to transfer polish onto the towel beneath

To treat the remaining spot, use a cotton swab or clean white cloth with dish soap and, again, work from the outside in on the stain, replacing the swab with a clean one as it picks up color from the polish. Be careful not to saturate or rub the stain as this could cause it to spread. Wash the shirt on the usual cycle using the hottest wash temperature allowed by the care label. Always check the instructions on the garment’s care label.

Will acetone bleach clothes?

Acetone is a clear, volatile, and strong solvent that can dissolve or break down materials like paint, grease, and stubborn oils. As such, it’s a common ingredient in nail polish removers and other cleaners. Due to its strength, acetone can bleach fabrics or strip garments of their dyes, so whenever you’re using acetone-based nail polish removers on fabrics, you should always test in an inconspicuous area to see if damage occurs before applying to any stains. As always, you should consult the care label on your fabrics before beginning any stain treatment.

How to Remove Dry Nail Polish from Couch Fabric

Scrape off any excess from the couch using a blunt edge or plastic knife to get nail polish out of the fabric. Once the excess has been removed, soak part of a clean white cloth in hydrogen peroxide. Be sure to test the hydrogen peroxide on an inconspicuous part of the sofa to ensure no color bleeding or fabric damage occurs. Blot the stain gently with the hydrogen peroxide, being careful not to rub or press it further into the fabric. Also, do not use acetone or acetone-based products as these can damage upholstery.

Using a clean sponge or white cloth, soak in warm water and use to remove the rest of the nail polish stain and hydrogen peroxide residue. If the stain persists, you can also try some white vinegar on the stain, then blot away with warm water. Repeat the process as necessary, using a little bit at a time, until the stain is removed.

If the stain still persists, you can try removing fingernail polish with a bit of liquid dish soap. Mix one tablespoon of soap to two cups of cool water, being sure to mix together thoroughly. Dip a clean white cloth or sponge into the solution and dab gently at the stain until the nail polish is absorbed. Continue until you’re satisfied the stain is removed, then sponge the area clean with cool water and blot with a white cloth to dry.

Stain Removal With Acetone-Based Nail Polish Remover

You can try nail polish remover to help get rid of stubborn polish stains. If your remover is acetone-based or just plain acetone, you will need to be extremely careful as these can damage some fabrics. Not only can these leave an oily residue on fabrics, but in some cases they can also bleach or remove color as well. It’s also a good idea to make sure there are no dyes in your nail polish remover as these may stain your garments. As always, check your garment’s fabric content and care label. If your garment is made from acetate, triacetate, or modacrylic, do not try to pretreat with nail polish remover! Otherwise, grab an absorbent white cloth or paper towels and follow the steps below.

  1. Do not rub the stain into the fabric as this will only spread the nail polish into the garment’s fibers.

  2. Soak the white cloth or the paper towel in your solvent, and test for colorfastness on an inconspicuous part of the garment. If no color comes off on the towel, continue to pretreat.

  3. Rub the stain with the cloth in a circular motion, from the outside in, to keep the stain from spreading. Use dabbing motions to transfer the nail polish from your garment to the cleaning cloth.

  4. Machine wash as usual with Tide Detergent.

Extra Tips for Dealing with Nail Polish Stains

  • You can also pretreat stains using rubbing alcohol or dry-cleaning solvent, if you have it.

  • Always check the fabric content label first before attempting to remove any stains. If the item's material contains acetate, triacetate, or modacrylic, or if it's a delicate or dry-clean-only item, do not try to pretreat with solvents, and take it to the dry cleaner as soon as possible.

  • If you are using any solvent for stain removal, always test for colorfastness first.

Treat nail polish stains as soon as possible as nail polish dries quickly on fabrics—great for an at-home manicure but not ideal for stain removal.