How to Get Dried Nail Polish Off of Wood Furniture

Fresh Nail Polish

• 1

  Blot the wood furniture with paper towels, lifting as much fresh nail polish as possible. Fold the paper towels immediately after blotting to prevent re-staining the wood furniture with the nail polish.

• 2

  Moisten a rag with denatured alcohol. Lightly rub the remaining nail polish off the wood furniture. Frequently fold the rag while removing the nail polish.

• 3

  Dampen another rag with water. Squeeze the rag tightly and lightly wipe the wood furniture. Thoroughly rinse off the denatured alcohol.

• 4

  Wipe the wood dry using a towel.

Dry Nail Polish

• 5

  Moisten a rag with hot water. Lay the wet cloth over the fully dry nail polish. Keep the nail polish covered for one minute.

• 6

  Remove the cloth from the wood furniture. Gently scrape softened nail polish off the furniture using a plastic putty knife.

• 7

  Dip 0000-grade steel wool in paste wax if the wood finish is varnish, polyurethane, lacquer, shellac or paint. Dip the steel wool in boiled linseed oil if the finish is oil.

• 8

  Scrub the remaining dry nail polish remnants off the wood finish using the steel wool. Rub along the furniture’s grain lines.

• 9

  Wipe the wood with a towel. Remove all loosened nail polish fragments and excess paste wax or linseed oil.