Nail polish on your carpet can feel like a disastrous eyesore. Fortunately, it can be removed with some elbow grease and a few household solvents. Some factors will make the process more or less difficult, including the type and color of carpet you have, and how long the spill has been there.

Fortunately, car and home insurance super-app

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has put together this handy guide for removing nail polish from your carpet—no matter the situation.

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How to clean nail polish out of carpet

If the spill has just happened, start by blotting the excess polish with a paper towel or a clean rag. Do not rub—just blot the area. Rubbing the polish will only spread it and grind it deeper into the fibers of the carpet you are trying to save.

When you have removed what you can by blotting—or if the spill has already dried on the carpet—follow these steps:

Wet the nail polish stain with cold water

Spray 15-20 pumps of hair spray onto the nail polish stains and cover that with around a capful of rubbing alcohol

Use a small brush (like a toothbrush) to scrub the nail polish stain in a circular motion for about a minute. While brushing the stain, periodically pour cold water directly onto the polish spots

Next, pour non-acetone nail polish remover onto the stain and continue to brush it out

Gently blot the stain (don’t rub) with a paper towel until all of the nail polish is gone Make sure to change the towel often so that you don’t smear the carpet more.

Use a wet/dry vacuum or a spot steamer around the stain spot to remove excess liquid.

Repeat this process until the stain is gone. It can take a few tries but keep at it and you will see results!

Other nail polish removal methods

There are some other solvents that can work on carpets as well. Window cleaner, hairspray, vinegar, and dry cleaning solvent have all been used successfully to remove polish from different carpet types, so you may need to try a couple of different things before you have the best combination for your stain.

Remember to test each solvent on an area of your carpet that is hidden before starting your stain removal.

Depending on the type of carpet you have, here is a look at what solvent works best:

Carpet type/color	Recommended Method	Why?
Dark colored carpet	Use hairspray and rubbing alcohol instead of nail polish remover	Nail Polish remover can bleach your carpet
Light-colored carpet	Clear, non-acetone polish remover	colored polish removers can stain your carpet
Shag or high-pile carpet	Use scissors to trim polish out of the tips of the carpet	Removes the surface paint so that you can clean underneath

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Does home insurance cover damaged carpet?

If you have a really bad stain—and have tried everything else—you may be considering getting your carpet professionally cleaned or replacing your carpet, which can be quite the hefty cost. Unfortunately, as a nail polish stain is not caused by a named peril—just human error—it won’t be covered by home insurance.

Typically, your installed carpets (but not throw rugs or area rugs) are covered by insurance for the named perils like the rest of the structures of your home. These generally only include things beyond your control, things like fire or smoke damage.

Damage to your carpet caused by normal wear and tear, lack of maintenance, or negligence would not be covered by your homeowners policy.

Choosing the right homeowners insurance

Replacing or cleaning your carpet is expensive. Save some money for household maintenance by shopping around for the best deals on your homeowners insurance policy. And

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makes the whole process easy.

Simply download the app, answer a few questions, and Jerry does all of the rest—including completing paperwork and helping to cancel your old policy. You can even bundle your home and auto insurance for even greater savings.

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FAQs

How does vinegar remove nail polish from carpet?

White vinegar is a very acidic compound that can break down the chemical composition of nail polish. To take care of a polish stain, soak the spot on your carpet with white vinegar and let it sit for about 10 minutes, then scrub with a small brush and blot dry.

What is the fastest way to get nail polish out of carpet?

Unfortunately, there is no instant answer for removing nail polish from your carpet. If the stain is only on the tips of the carpet, you could trim them—but for a set-in stain, you are likely in for a few rounds of spot cleaning.

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