Nail polish spill can create a sticky mess on your tile floor, but thankfully it is usually easy to remove if you clean it up immediately.
If you are looking for tips on how to get nail polish out of tile floor, acetone, clean rag, cotton balls, water and soap can come in handy as these are the items needed to get the job done.
If the polish is left to sit on the floor and dries up, it becomes difficult to remove and also stain your tiles. More permanent staining is likely to occur if you have natural stone tiles such as granite or marble than if you have ceramic tiles.
Here’s how to get nail polish off tile floor and restore your floor’s appearance.
How To Get Nail Polish Off Tile Floor
Table of Contents
The first line of action when removing nail polish spill from tile floor is to use acetone. This takes about 10 minutes, and you will need the following items;
- Acetone
- Cotton balls
- Razor or putty knife
- Clean rag
- Water
- Soap
With the razor or putty knife, gently scrape off excessive nail polish paint globs. This should be done carefully to avoid further damage to your floor, or you can skip this step altogether!
With a wet cotton ball saturated with acetone, gently apply some acetone to the nail polish spill on your tile floor.
It may need several applications for the spill to be removed, so keep wiping, rewetting, and changing out new cotton balls whenever the cotton ball becomes too colored from nail polish until all the stain is removed.
Use a wet soapy rag to wipe the floor tile where the acetone removed the nail polish. Rinse with clean water, and allow the area to dry completely.
Read: How to make porcelain tiles shine
How To Remove Nail Polish From Floor Without Acetone
If you do not have acetone, there are other methods to remove nail polish from the floor without acetone.
White Sugar
If you happen to catch the nail polish spill in time, it will be easy to remove the stain from your floors. Simply pour white sugar over the spill as soon as it occurs, and the sugar will attract the nail polish before the floor absorbs it.
Adding sugar to the nail polish spill will cause it to thicken and harden. Allow the polish to dry completely, and you can easily sweep up the mess.
If you weren’t able to catch the nail polish spill while it’s still wet, or if the sugar cannot absorb the entire spill, there are still other methods that will help you remove dried nail polish, even when the stain has become difficult to handle.
Read: What causes yellow stain on vinyl floor
Rubbing Alcohol
Rubbing alcohol is a great alternative to acetone; it is more gentle, so it can be used on floors that don’t have a finish durable enough to withstand acetone.
However, rubbing alcohol still has the potential to cause some damage to your floors, especially if they’re delicate, so make sure to spot test the rubbing alcohol with a cotton swab in an inconspicuous area.
Blot the stained area lightly with the cotton swab, and rub the areas with stubborn stains a little bit harder with the cotton swab or cloth. Although rubbing alcohol is a gentler alternative to acetone, it can still be used to remove nail polish stains.
If the nail polish stain persists even after using rubbing alcohol, do not be tempted to soak the floor with this more liquid in an attempt to get the polish off. Try another method instead of oversaturating the floor with rubbing alcohol.
Read: How to clean discolored linoleum flooring
Mineral Spirits
Mineral spirits are often used by painters to clean their paintbrushes, so this solution is an effective alternative to acetone. Mineral spirits are gentler on your floors compared to acetone. So you do not have to worry about causing further damage to your floor’s finish.
Use mineral spirits the same way you would use other products. Make sure to spot test the product in an inconspicuous area to be sure the product won’t cause damage to your flooring. Apply the mineral spirit on the stain with a cotton swab and avoid the surrounding area.
Next, use a cloth to gently wipe up streaks or remaining stains. If the stain doesn’t budge even after applying the mineral spirits, do not be tempted to scrape or rub too hard, as this will only damage the finish.
Read: How to steam clean travertine floors
Hairspray
Aerosol hair product is a great way to remove any tiny, hard-to-see spots that might remain after applying any of the methods above. Spray the area with the hairspray, then use a wet cloth to wipe it up, and then scrub it with hot, soapy water.
Repeat the process until all the stain is removed, and on the last application, clean the area completely with natural oil soap to ensure the hairspray is completely cleaned up.
Read: How to buff tile floor
Conclusion
We’ve covered different steps on how to get nail polish off tile floor, of one doesn’t work out well for you, there is always an alternative.
While acetone seem to be the most effective method, the use of hairspray, rubbing alcohol or mineral spirit does wonders too. Ensure to use these chemicals in inconspicuous area to see how they react to your floor. Doing this will save your floor from any possible damage.