First few minutes
Just happened? Do this first
- Wipe up wet polish now, before it dries.
- Blot the stain; don't rub it.
- Test acetone on a hidden spot before you use it on the stain.
Nail polish on tile is a lacquer that water won't lift, so acetone is the solvent you'll reach for. Tile can handle it with care, provided you keep the amount small, test a hidden spot first and rinse the area afterward. A fresh spill comes up quickly, while polish that has started to harden needs a scraper and some patience.
Use a plastic scraper rather than a metal blade, since metal can gouge the tile surface. Removing nail polish from tile without acetone is possible with an adhesive remover, tested on a hidden corner before you start. Call a professional if an old nail polish stain on a tile floor stays put after several careful tries.
Before you start
What tile can take
Safe to use1
- Water
Use with care7
- Hot water
- Soaking
- Chlorine bleach
- Solvents (alcohol, spot removers)
- Acids (vinegar, lemon)
- Scrubbing and abrasives
- Heat, once the stain is out
6 items
What you'll need
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- Pure acetoneThe only remover here that dissolves nail polish. A drugstore bottle is fine. (opens Amazon)
- White clothsColor can't transfer to the tile, and you can see how much polish is coming off. (opens Amazon)
- Plastic scraperLifts hardened polish without scratching glass or glazed ceramic. (opens Amazon)
- Washing (sal) SodaPart of the cleaning solution for the final wash.
- AmmoniaA few drops go into the cleaning solution for the final wash. (opens Amazon)
- Clean waterFor rinsing the spot between steps and after the final wash.
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6 steps
Step by step
Step 1 of 65 minutes
Test the acetone first
Put a few drops of acetone on a hidden part of the tile, such as an edge or a corner that doesn't show. Wait a few minutes, then blot it dry.
Look for dulling or a dull patch on the glaze. If you see either, stop and use the set-in options only after a professional opinion, not on the stain itself.
Step 2 of 61 minute
Wipe up the wet polish
Run a dry white cloth over the stain to take off any polish that is still wet. Don't press hard, because you want to lift it, not spread it.
Tip. Fold the cloth so you always have a clean section facing the stain.
Step 3 of 63 minutes
Blot the stain with acetone
Dampen a white cloth with acetone and press it onto the stain, then lift it straight up. Keep blotting with clean sections of the cloth until no more color comes off, and rinse the spot with clean water when you're done.
If the color is only moving around, the acetone has done what it can and the next step is the scraper.
Careful. Work in a ventilated room, away from open flames and sparks.
Step 4 of 65 minutes
Lift hardened polish with a scraper
Once the surface is dry, hold a plastic scraper at a low angle and push gently under any lifted edges of the polish. Work in small strips and keep the pressure light.
Stop if the scraper starts leaving marks, and go back to blotting with acetone instead.
Careful. Don't use a metal blade on glass or glazed ceramic tile; use a plastic scraper.
Step 5 of 6
Wash the area with the soda solution
Dip a cloth in a solution of Washing (sal) Soda, water and a few drops of ammonia, and wipe the whole area. This picks up the acetone film and any polish dust the scraper left behind.
Step 6 of 6
Rinse and dry the tile
Rinse the area well with clean water, wiping away any soda residue so nothing is left on the surface. Dry the tile with a clean cloth.
Once it's dry, check the spot in good light for any remaining color or film.
Careful. No-rinse cleaners reduce slip resistance on tile floors.
If you'd rather buy than mix
Best products for nail polish on tile
Buy pure acetone or a non-oily nail polish remover. Oil-type removers won't lift the polish.
Amazon Basics Microfiber Cleaning Cloths
e-cloth General Purpose Cloth
How we picked these: each product is made for this type of stain, its maker doesn't warn against using it on tile, and its directions fit the steps above.
Finished the steps? How does it look?
Nice work. Let it dry completely and check it again in good light. Here is what done looks like:
How to tell it's really gone →A faint mark usually needs one more round, not a stronger product.
If the stain was already dried or set, the method changes.
Old, dried or set-in stains →When to call a professional →How to tell it's working
The polish should come off onto the cloth in color, and the tile should look clear and glossy again once it's dry. If a thin film or smear stays behind, repeat the acetone blot on a clean cloth, then go back to the scraper for anything still raised.
What changes for yours
Adjust for your tile
Fingernail polish
Fingernail polish is the same lacquer, so the steps stay the same. What changes is the amount: a small spill means a small cloth, so keep the acetone to a damp corner and work in short passes.
Use pure acetone or a non-oily remover, and skip any oil-type remover, because it won't lift the polish.
Tile floor
A floor gets walked on and mopped more than a wall, so the cleanup matters more here. Work in small sections so the acetone doesn't sit on one spot for long.
Keep the floor clear of foot traffic until it's fully dry, and check the spot again after it dries.
Old, dried or set-in stains
Old polish that has been sitting for weeks is harder to move than a fresh spill, and the steps above may only lift the top layer. Dried polish is often permanent, so set your expectations before you start.
If acetone alone doesn't soften it, press a cloth dampened with acetone onto the stain for a few minutes, then blot and lift. Amyl acetate on a cloth works on dried polish that acetone doesn't soften, but use it in a ventilated room and test it first.
After the first clean, a faint outline may still be there, and that's often as far as the tile will go. Stop before you scrub through the glaze, because more force won't help once the solvent has done its work.
Vinegar, baking soda, peroxide and more
Do home remedies work on nail polish on tile?
Most home remedies for nail polish do nothing to dried lacquer, because only a solvent dissolves it. Acetone is the one that works on this stain, and the others won't help with it. If you can't use acetone, the fallback is scraping and washing, not a different remedy.
Works1Skip5
What makes it worse
Mistakes to avoid
Don't rub the polish
Rubbing spreads the polish across more of the tile and pushes it into the surface. Blot instead, and switch to a clean section of cloth each time it picks up color.
Don't reach for scouring pads
Scouring pads, steel wool and sandpaper scratch glass tile and dull vitreous china. A soft cloth does the job without leaving marks.
Don't mix bleach with ammonia
Chlorine bleach mixed with ammonia gives off hazardous fumes. Keep bleach and ammonia apart; mixing them gives off hazardous fumes.
Don't use cleaners with fluorine
Cleaners containing fluorine compounds damage ceramic, glass and stone. Check the label before you buy anything for the tile.
When to call a professional
If the polish stays in the glaze after several careful passes, or the surface looks dull or etched afterward, stop and call a tile professional rather than scraping harder. A pro can judge whether the finish can be restored and what it will take.
Questions
How do you get nail polish off of tile?
Wipe up the wet polish, then blot the stain with a cloth dampened with pure acetone. Work from the outside in, switch to a clean section of cloth often, and rinse the spot afterward.
Is acetone safe on tile?
Acetone can be used on tile with care, because solvents can damage polished porcelain. Test a hidden spot first, keep the amount small and work in a ventilated room.
Can bleach be used for this stain?
No. You don't need bleach to clear nail polish. If you're tempted to add it, rinse everything else off the tile first.
Will polish that has dried come off for good?
Often it is, because dried polish is hard to work out once it has set. The steps above can lift much of it, and the set-in section covers the stronger options for what's left.
Can I scrape nail polish off tile with a razor blade?
Not on glass or glazed ceramic. A metal blade can scratch the surface, so use a plastic scraper with light pressure instead.
Can I use the soda and ammonia solution on any tile?
It's the final wash in the method, so it's meant for cleaning the tile after the polish is lifted. Rinse it off well, and don't leave it sitting on the surface.
Methods, care labels and related guides
Good to know
Nail Polish on other materials
Other stains on tile
Start from the bigger picture
How we know this
Every method, amount and warning here comes from university extension services, industry bodies and product makers. We read them, check every step for unsafe combinations and changed amounts, and write it up so you can follow it.