If You Spill Nail Polish, Run To The Kitchen ASAP - Here's Why

Painting your nails at home is all fun and games until you spill polish all over the floor. We've all been there before, whether it's a result of our own clumsiness or even small children running around the house. This goopy mess seems impossible to clean up without leaving a stain, and a simple wet paper towel or rag doesn't quite cut it when it comes to nail polish. But there's an unlikely hero to help with this problem, and it's a common ingredient you most likely have in your own kitchen —  sugar! It turns out sugar isn't just for sweetening; it can make cleaning up nail polish a breeze.

Sometimes, even the most basic household items can make a huge difference in cleaning things like stubborn lipstick marks or tough mascara stains out of your clothes. The same rings true for those pesky nail polish spills. The next time you knock over your polish, don't panic. Sprinkle some sugar on the spill, and the results will definitely surprise you. 

The sugar method works best on wet polish, so you have to act fast. And don't just use a pinch; you'll need a decent amount of sugar to cover the entire spill. Let it sit for a few minutes so the sugar can absorb the polish. As you start to move the sugar crystals around, the polish will start to clump together and crumble. Then, you can sweep it all up with ease, rather than scrubbing and running the risk of staining the surface. Opt for sweeping up the sugar and polish rather than vacuuming, as the mixture may clog the machine.

Sugar is most effective when dealing with spills on hard surfaces like wood, laminated flooring, linoleum, and vinyl. If a stain still remains afterward, you can wipe it up with rubbing alcohol to remove any remaining polish residue. For ceramic, porcelain, or cement floors, use clear, acetone-based nail polish remover. 

Spilling anything on your carpet is stressful, and even more so with nail polish. But fear not: The sugar method can also be used on carpet, though it may require extra cleaning steps. If you find that the sugar isn't absorbing the polish on your carpet, try soaking the spot with rubbing alcohol to loosen up the spill, as you would on other surfaces with lingering nail polish stains. Let it sit for a few minutes, and then start blotting with a rag to lift up the stain. 

You can use a non-acetone nail polish remover if you don't have rubbing alcohol. Acetone nail polish remover may bleach or damage your carpet, so it's best to avoid this technique when cleaning up spilled polish. When using alcohol or nail polish remover, be cautious around your skin and eyes to avoid irritation. Hairsprays with high levels of alcohol and ammonia-based window cleaners can also work as alternatives if you don't have alcohol or nail polish remover on hand.