Dye family: alcohol or a long oxygen soak
How to get nail polish out
Lacquer that dries hard. Acetone dissolves it, but also dissolves acetate fabric.
Do this first
Blot wet polish, don't spread
Fresh stain
- Blot wet polish, don't spread
- Check fibre: not acetate
- Dab acetone from the back on a paper towel
- Rinse
- Detergent
- Wash
Dried or old
- Same, repeat
- Professional for acetate
- Fabric care
- Never acetone on acetate or triacetate.
- Time
- 20 min
- How to tell
- Look: glossy coloured blob; Feel: hard; Smell: solvent
Where this fix comes from
We check every fix against these published guides. We do not run a test lab of our own.
Before you start
- Test on a hidden seam first.
- Never mix cleaners.
- Keep it out of the dryer until the stain is gone.