How to Get Nail Polish Off Painted Walls?

Nail polishes, also known as lacquers or enamels, are a beautiful accent for your fingers. However, an accidental splatter or application on a nearby painted wall can become a tricky situation.

Since, nail polish is essentially a type of paint, trying to remove it from a wall is similar to removing one layer of paint from another.

The techniques for removing the nail polish without damaging the underlying wall paint differ depending on whether you catch the stain while the polish is still wet or find it after it has dried.

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

Removing Wet Nail Polish

If you are panicking because you accidentally splashed the drops of nail polish on painted walls, worry not – it is actually easy to get off. But what is crucial is that you need to have the right products and act quickly before the polish has a chance to dry.

1. Dry Cloth: Wipe a piece of rag or a clean dry cloth in an upward motion in smooth, even strokes where you need to clean the nail polish.
2. Wet Cloth: Next, use a wet cloth and a couple of drops of dish soap to clean and 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.

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.

But what happens if the nail polish has dried? You are still in luck as there are ways to remove it. Let’s discuss them below.

Removing Dry Nail Polish from Walls

Removing dry nail polish can be a bit tricky but still possible if you use the right substances. Fortunately, some of these products are easy and inexpensive to obtain.

1- Borax:

Borax (sodium tetraborate) is a common household salt with a pH of around 9.5, making it considerably more alkaline than baking soda. This substance works quite well for cleaning but it’s important to carefully follow the instructions on the product packaging when using at home.

For cleaning dried fingernail polish from walls you need to do is the following…

• Add 1 teaspoon of borax to warm, soapy water
• Wipe the stain with the mixture gently using a soft cotton cloth
• Repeat until the nail polish stain is gone

While borax works great with walls, do not use it on wallpaper.

2- Rubbing Alcohol:

Rubbing alcohol is another cheap product that is quite effective in removing nail polish from your walls. Depending on the stain you might need to use a little elbow grease when applying this solvent.

• Soak a cotton swab with rubbing alcohol and dab it on the dried nail polish spot
• Use another clean cotton swab to remove the softened nail polish
• Wipe a soapy cloth (or a magic eraser) across the area to remove the residues
• Finally, use a clean and dry soft cloth to absorb the moisture and clean the wall

3- Nail Polish:

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

• Paint over the dried nail polish spot with a wet nail polish
• Let it sit for 60 seconds, then wipe it with a soft cotton cloth or a piece of rag
• Repeat until all the nail polish is gone and use Magic Eraser to remove any residue left

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.

Surprisingly, using nail polish remover is not the solution in this case. Attempting to use nail polish remover will only exacerbate the issue by smearing the polish and potentially removing the underlying paint.

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, consider using it lightly on the nail polish.

Alternatively, you can try using a razor blade to carefully scrape the dried stains away. Be careful to avoid scratching the wall itself using this method.

Getting Nail Polish Off Wallpapered Wall

A magic eraser is probably the best way to start when trying to remove a fingernail polish stain from wallpaper. The abrasive texture of the eraser can help lift and remove the stain if used gently.

If the magic eraser isn’t fully removing the stain, you can try using WD40.

• Spray a small amount of WD40 directly onto the nail polish stain
• Let it sit for about 5 seconds to allow the solution to penetrate the stain
• Wipe the area with a paper towel to remove the stain and let the wallpaper fully dry after cleaning

Before using the WD40 on the visible stain, it’s a good idea to test it on a small, inconspicuous area of the wallpaper first. This will help ensure the WD40 doesn’t cause any discoloration or damage to the wallpaper in the process.

Getting Dry Nail Polish off Wood Walls & Floors

The protective finish on your wooden furniture or surfaces should guard against most spills and stains. However, nail polish can still potentially seep into the wood grain, even with a finish in place.

Removing nail polish from wood – whether it’s flooring, laminated wardrobe, wall paneling, or furniture – doesn’t have to be a stressful ordeal.

The easiest approach is to tackle the spilled polish while it’s still fresh. Use a clean, white cotton swab or cloth to blot up the excess nail polish, making gentle strokes in the direction of the wood grain. Try to clean as much of the polish as possible before moving on to stain removal.

If the nail polish has already dried, start by dabbing a small amount of rubbing alcohol onto the affected area using a cotton swab.

If the rubbing alcohol doesn’t lift the nail polish or the stain, try using mineral spirits (or non-acetone nail polish remover) instead. Apply it sparingly, as these solvents can potentially remove the wood’s protective finish if used excessively.

If this still doesn’t work, an acetone-based nail polish remover or lacquer thinner may be what should will need, but take great care as these can easily strip the wood’s finish.

Keep in mind that wood floors and walls present a more difficult challenge in getting rid of dried fingernail polish. One small mistake and the finish of the wood is gone. So, if the nail polish stain has already dried, you may have to resort to scraping with a plastic scraper or steel wool. 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.