Reach For This Medicine Cabinet Staple To Wipe Out Nail Polish Stains On Clothing

It's a tale as old as time: Your nails are still wet from polish, you go to touch something, and you unexpectedly ruin your manicure and the item you've gotten ahold of. When it comes to clothing, removing nail polish stains can feel all the more exhausting. For most, the likely response to a nail polish stain is to reach for the acetone bottle in the medicine cabinet. However, what if we told you there's another colorless liquid that can do the trick? The answer may be right in front of your eyes: Hydrogen peroxide.

While hydrogen peroxide is a popular remedy for some of the most stubborn household stains, clothing is made with delicate fabrics that react poorly when mixed with acetone. According to Tide, the strength of acetone solvents can bleach, dry out, and ruin a fabric's color, shape, and texture. On the other hand, since hydrogen peroxide breaks down into water and oxygen, it's recommended to treat stubborn stains rather than damage clothes further. With an alternative solution in mind, here's how to clean clothes with something you likely already have hanging around your medicine cabinet. 

Before going into full-fledged cleaning mode, it's important to make sure your skin and clothes don't have an adverse reaction to hydrogen peroxide. Start by patch testing a section of clothing to ensure the peroxide works efficiently, explained Dan Hawke, Director of Good Clean Health Co, to Real Homes. "Because hydrogen peroxide can have a lightening effect on fabrics, it's always a good idea to test a small, less-visible spot first," he said, emphasizing that, "If you do start to see changes in the color of the fabric, simply run water over the area to prevent it from continuing." 

Using a soft towel or microfiber cloth, pour a small amount of hydrogen peroxide and warm water onto the stained area before gently dabbing at it. You'll lift a sufficient amount of color off the fabric until there's a light stain left behind. Allow the stain to soak in hydrogen peroxide and warm water before throwing it into the washer and starting a regular wash cycle. If the hydrogen peroxide is higher than 3%, be sure to dilute the peroxide in warm water to ensure color and fabric are maintained. We want you to avoid some of the common household mistakes we make when cleaning with hydrogen peroxide!

Besides hydrogen peroxide, there are a few alternatives to acetone that may be sitting in the back of your medicine cabinet. For example, much like hydrogen peroxide, rubbing alcohol is an antiseptic that can effortlessly remove germs, bacteria, and stubborn stains. Rubbing alcohol can act efficiently and within seconds, while hydrogen peroxide takes up to several minutes to soak and lift polish from its fabric.

On the other hand, there are certain fabrics which rubbing alcohol mixes best with. Unlike hydrogen peroxide, which is often sold as a diluted product to ensure there's no damage to a variety of surfaces, it's best to dilute rubbing alcohol to water down its strength. Similar to hydrogen peroxide, use a towel or cloth to dab at the stain before rinsing off with cold water. Once a majority of the stain has been lifted, start a regular wash cycle. Your clothes will likely come out dry and stain-free.