While nail polish is strictly supposed to stay on our fingernails, it does end up on our clothes a lot more often than it should.
The worst case scenario is experiencing a spillage, having to deal with two issues: stained clothes and saying good bye to your new expensive nail polish. There are many things to be cautious of as the nail polish application process can be quite a messy one.
According to Cleanipedia, a site dedicated to providing you with all your household tips, when dealing with nail polish spillage, “speed is of the essence.”
1. Remove any excess nail polish carefully and deal with the stain. When attempting to remove the stain, it is advised that you rather dab with a clean cloth or sponge and avoid rubbing.
2. Avoid using nail polish removal if the fabric contains either triacetate, acetate or modacrylic. This highly flammable ingredient – acetone – will not remove the nail polish but will melt your fabric instead. Cleanipedia further mentions that the label will state whether the fabric should be taken to the dry cleaners or whether the removal process may be attempted at home. Note that not all nail polish removers contain acetone.
3. Before using nail polish remover, test a tiny amount of the nail polish removal solution on a small piece of the fabric to see how the fabric will react to the solution. The results obtained here will determine whether you may continue to use nail polish removal or not.
4. Cleanipedia advises that you “dab at the nail polish stain in a blotting motion” with a clean sponge or cloth. Work from inside out to avoid any damage to your fabric. To minimise damage, continue the dabbing process with a clean spot of the sponge or fabric to avoid the fabric soaking up the colour stain again.
5. Repeat the process until the stain is no longer visible. Upon completion, place the fabric in cold water.
6. Wash your fabric as you normally would with the soap of your choice.
Also see: Pros and cons of being a makeup artist
