How to Get Nail Polish Out of Finished Furniture

The Scraping Method

• 1

  Wait for polish to harden completely.

• 2

  Apply a warm, damp cloth to the hardened polish to loosen it from the wood surface and make it easier to remove.

• 3

  Use a putty knife or credit card to scrape the dried polish off the wood. Be careful not to scrape the wood when lifting the polish up from the table.

Alcohol Rub

• 4

  Moisten a clean cloth with denatured alcohol.

• 5

  Rub the fingernail polish stain gently with the cloth. This method works best for treated wood with a polyurethane finish. Be careful not to rub too vigorously to keep from removing paint from the wood.

Linseed Oil

• 6

  Apply boiled linseed oil to the stain for five minutes or less.

• 7

  Scrape off the stain with a soft spatula or sponge to remove the polish. Repeat the process as needed until the entire stain is gone.

• 8

  Apply a wood conditioner to the dry wood to prevent drying from the linseed treatment.

Stainless Steel Wool

• 9

  Sand away the fingernail polish using a fine grade of steel wool. The finest grades of steel wool are soft enough to prevent damage to the wood.

• 10

  Apply a wood touch-up product or use a marker to touch up any scratches.

Hairspray Technique

• 11

  Tape around the nail polish to protect the wood surrounding the stain.

• 12

  Spray the nail polish stain with hairspray until it is saturated. Wait 15 seconds, giving the polish time to dissolve.

• 13

  Wipe the polish away with a damp, soft cloth.

• 14

  Fill a bowl with water and dishwashing detergent to generate suds.

• 15

  Dab a sponge into the suds, but be careful not to get the sponge wet in the water. Place the suds on the stained area and let it sit for 20 seconds. Then wipe clean and dry.