How To Get Nail Polish Off Hardwood Floors? 5 Easy Ways

Last Updated on April 27, 2022

You are about to get your nail paint done, and accidentally you painted your hardwood floor? Relax! It happens you might panic initially and think you have ruined your floor, but this is not the case. You can clean the nail paint from the wooden floor followed by precaution measures. 

You can remove nail paints from the wooden or laminate floors. Firstly, you need to identify the type of your floors’ wood. Some woods are more grained. When nail paint falls, it might catch more color than others.

Do not worry; this article will sort your problem out. You will be able to get the nail polish off the hardwood or laminate floor by following these easy steps.

Fortunately, we have enlisted the best tips and tricks to remove nail paint from the wooden floor, and it will not leave any stain as well. Here is how to get nail polish off hardwood floors.

Wood is a porous and grained flooring material. It might absorb the color of your nail paint. The best way to cater the problem is, clean the mess instantly. Do not let the nail paint settle down by ignoring and letting the nail paint on the floor.

Clean the nail paint when it’s wet. Make cotton swabs, and slightly dab them. Let the cotton absorb as much as it can. Make sure you are not exerting too much pressure while dabbing the floor. It can get stickier and worsen the situation. If you try to remove it aggressively, it can damage the finish of your wooden or laminate floor.  

The hardwood or laminate flooring is sensitive. You need to work gently with any product you use.

You can use white sugar to remove the wet nail paint initially.

• Spread a gentle amount of white sugar on the spilled nail paint. 
• Sugar Coating should be sufficient enough that it covers the whole surface of the paint. 
• Let it sit for a while. 
• You will notice nail paint is making congeal with the white sugar. 
• Let it get hard. Now take the congeal off.
• Take a soft-bristled brush and brush it on the surface. 
• Sugar will take off the nail paint along. Most of the nail paint will be off. 

In case white sugar has left any marks, it means your paint might have penetrated the wooden grains. For this, you can proceed with rubbing alcohol. You first need to do a patch test for this method. Apply a little amount to a non-visible area. You can go on with the methods If it does not cause any discolor or damage to the wood.

• Take some rubbing alcohol. 
• Pour it on a soft cloth. Steel wool can work great for this purpose. 
• Now rub the cloth gently on the surface where nail paint is fell. 
• Make sure that you are scrubbing the soft cloth gently and it is in the direction of pores. 
• Rubbing alcohol in the direction of the wood grain will prevent the finish of the surface. 
• You can repeat this process a few times to get off all the stains from the hardwood floor. 

If alcohol is not available or feasible to your flooring, hair spray is another suggestion that works. 

• Take out a hair spray bottle. Spray it on the stain. 
• Clean the area right away with a wet and soft cloth. 
• Once you have finished this step, take some warm water in a bowl. 
• Add a small amount of hand wash or soap and mix. 
• Now soak the piece of cloth in it. Gently scrub the affected surface with a soapy cloth.
• Repeat this step until the stain removes. 
• Make sure that hair spray has been cleaned. Otherwise, it may damage the finish of the wood. 

Mineral spirits can also help you when it comes to spilled nail paint removal. 

• You need to take a piece of soft cloth, pour the spirit on it and gently rub it on the stain.
• Make sure you do this in the direction of the wooden grains. 
• Mineral spirits are less strong compared to acetone and are on a much safer side. 
• You can give it a test to avoid any problem. 
• Apply a little in an inconspicuous corner then go on with the hack.

Just like your nails, you cannot remove the nail polish from the wooden floor with nail paint remover. Nail paint removers contain acetone in them. Acetone can discolor the floor where applied. It will also take the shine and finish from the wood. You can try other tools and methods, but do not remove the stain with nail polish remover from your wooden floors.