How to Get Nail Polish Off Painted Walls?

If you panic because you have accidentally put nail polish on painted walls, it is actually easy to get off.

What is crucial is that you need to have the right products and act quickly before the polish has a chance to dry.

Below we will be looking at various methods and products that can help.

Removing Wet Nail Polish

The right approach to removing wet nail polish is to apply just enough pressure to lift the nail polish from the wall, but not so much that it damages the paint underneath.

Plus, if it has been a while since you washed your walls, you may need to do so once the polish has been removed.

1. Dry Cloth: Be sure to wipe in an upward motion in smooth, even strokes.
2. Wet Cloth: Next, use a wet cloth and a couple of drops of dish soap to remove the remaining polish.
3. Magic Eraser Pad: If you still have some wet nail polish present, use a magic eraser pad to get rid of it.

But what happens if the nail polish has dried? You are still in luck as there are ways to remove it.

Removing Dry Nail Polish from Walls

Removing dry nail polish can be a bit tricky and you will need to use the right substances.

Fortunately, some of these products are easy and inexpensive to obtain.

1- Borax:

This substance works well and is quite cheap. All you need to do is the following.

• 1 Teaspoon of Borax to Warm, Soapy Water
• Wipe Stain with the Mixture
• Repeat Until Nail Polish Stain is Gone 

While borax works great with walls, it is not good to use on wallpaper.

2- Rubbing Alcohol:

Another cheap product that is quite effective. You will need to use a little elbow grease when applying rubbing alcohol.

• Soak a Cotton Swab with Rubbing Alcohol and Dab It on the Nail Polish
• Use a Clean Cotton Swab to Remove the Nail Polish
• Wipe a Soapy Cloth Across the Area
• Use a Magic Eraser in Circular Motions to Remove Any Residue

3- Nail Polish:

This may sound counterintuitive, but applying a fresh coat of wet nail polish may lift the dry nail polish from the wall.

• Paint Over the Nail Polish with Nail Polish
• Let It Sit for 60 Seconds, then Wipe
• Repeat Until All Nail Polish is Gone
• Use Magic Eraser to Remove any Residue

If the nail polish does not work, try using a razor to carefully scrape the dry nail polish away.

You will need to be careful to avoid scratching the wall itself using this method.

Can you use nail polish remover?

You may be wondering at this point why you do not use nail polish remover? After all, it has the very ingredients needed to dissolve the nail polish quickly and easily.

The truth is it also can damage the paint on the walls rather easily as well.

So, if you have tried all other methods, and have failed, you may test the paint by applying the nail polish remover to a small, unseen location first.

If the paint is still intact, then use it lightly on the nail polish.

Getting Nail Polish Off Wallpaper Walls

For the most part, you can use the methods above to remove the nail polish from wallpaper as you would from a painted wall.

In fact, a magic eraser is probably the best way to start. But another product that works pretty well is WD40.

• Spray a Little WD40 on the Nail Polish Stain and Let Sit for Five Seconds
• Wipe Off the Stain
• Use Magic Eraser
• Wipe the Wallpaper Down with Soapy Water and Let Dry

As with nail polish remover, test the WD40 on a small, unseen area of the wallpaper before applying it to the stain.

Getting Dry Nail Polish off Wood Walls & Floors

For laminate or painted wood, it takes a bit of guile to take nail polish off such surfaces.

For getting the job done, you will need the following.

• Rubbing Alcohol
• Fine Steel Wool
• Sponge
• Cotton Swab

If the nail polish is still fresh, then it can be fully removed if you do the following.

• Soak Up the Nail Polish with a Cotton Swab
• Add Rubbing Alcohol and Rub with the Grain
• Use Fine Steel Wool to Gently Remove any Remaining Polish

Wood floors present a more difficult challenge in getting rid of dried nail polish.

So, if the nail polish stain has already dried, you may have to resort to scraping with a plastic scraper or using polish remover.

But these might damage the wood. So, be sure to do a test first on an unseen part of the floor before you proceed.

If you are not confident enough, it may be best to call a professional service to do the nail polish removal job from finished hardwood floors and walls.