How to Easily Fix Nail Polish & Acetone Stains On Wood

Spilling nail polish or nail polish remover on wood can cause quite severe damage, but it can be fixed. Nail polish itself is easy to remove from any material using nail polish remover, but it’s not a good idea to use these common removers on wood. The main ingredient is acetone, which can cause significant damage to wood.

Acetone is a powerful, dry liquid solvent. It’s an excellent product for removing nail polish, cleaning tough stains, and degreasing. However, when used on wood, acetone acts as a coarse stripper, removing a stained or painted finish.

Despite acetone being an excellent stripper, it shouldn’t be used as a paint stripper, since the solvent can erode the top surface of a wood product, removing the grain and causing gouges. When you accidentally spill acetone on wood, you can fix the damage so it’s unnoticeable.

Keep reading to learn how to remove nail polish from wood, how to fix acetone stains on wood, and how to fix finish on wood table from nail polish remover.

How Do You Fix Acetone Damage On A Wood Table?

The best way to minimize damage from acetone on a wood table is to act quickly. Left to sit on the surface, acetone reacts with wood and begins to erode the finish. If left long enough, it can even start to erode the wood underneath. Depending on how much of the solvent you’ve spilled, it can spread and cause more damage if not addressed quickly.

What you’ll need:

• A soft cloth
• A tub of Vaseline
• Baking soda
• A cleaning sponge with a soft and abrasive side
• Fine grit sandpaper

1. Carefully wipe away the acetone

Using a dry, lint-free cloth, wipe away the spillage from the table. Be careful not to spread the acetone as you wipe it away by scrunching the cloth into your hand as you collect the spillage. Don’t wet the cloth or use water on the table after spilling acetone. Moisture can amplify the stain and make it worse, especially if the acetone has already started to corrode the finish.

2. Mix Vaseline and baking soda together

Cleaning the stain fast is the best way to ensure the finish doesn’t become too damaged, so it’s easier to use products you have around the house rather than a store-bought cleaner. Pour equal parts of Vaseline and baking soda into a small cup and mix well using a spoon.

3. Rub the stain with a sponge

Using the abrasive side, dip the sponge into the solution and gently apply a light coat to the stain. Be careful not to scrub too vigorously, as this can scratch the wood table.

4. Wipe the area with a clean cloth

Use a soft cloth or towel and carefully wipe away the Vaseline and baking soda solution from the table. Don’t use water. The existing finish on your table has likely been removed by the acetone and applying water can cause water damage or stains to the bare wood.

5. Refinish the surface

Because acetone is a solvent, removing the spillage from the table will prevent further damage, but it won’t restore the finish on the wood. You’ll need to refinish the area with a thin coating of wood stain, varnish, clear lacquer, or paint, depending on what finish your wood table already has. Before applying your finish, lightly sand the entire surface of the stain with fine-grit sandpaper. Read our guide on how to finish plywood to learn more.

Does Nail Polish Remover Ruin Wood Tables?

Yes, nail polish remover can quickly cause damage to wood tables. It can damage both the finish and the grain. You’ll know if nail polish remover has damaged your wood table if the stain color becomes white, pale, or faded, or if the wood has sunken, shriveled, or coarse.

The effects of nail polish removers on wood are easily fixable. The quicker you work to remove the spillage, the less damage control you’ll need to do. When you spill nail polish on a wooden table, clean it quickly with a Vaseline and baking soda solution (not water) and reapply the finish.

How to Remove Nail Polish From Wood

Spilled nail polish on wood is easily fixed, especially if you’ve spotted the drips quickly. If the polish is still wet, you can wipe it away with a damp cloth or cotton swab. Never use nail polish remover to remove nail polish from wood. It will cause severe damage to the finish and grain.

However, if the polish has dried, it can be slightly trickier to remove, depending on the type of wood. Some wood (like oak) is more porous than others (like birch, cherry, and maple) and won’t easily release the color, especially if it’s very light or very dark nail polish.

What you’ll need:

• A cotton swab or clean paper towel
• A soft, clean, lint-free cloth
• Rubbing or denatured alcohol
• 0000-grade steel wool

Here’s how to remove nail polish from any wood product, including plywood, a coffee table, wall paneling, cabinets, wooden furniture, or hardwood flooring:

1. If the spill is still wet, use a cotton swab or clean paper towel to clean away as much as you can
2. Apply a small amount of rubbing or denatured alcohol to a clean cloth
3. Gently rub the cloth over the stain in the direction of the grain
4. Apply very light pressure until the stain is removed – rubbing too hard will remove the finish
5. Lightly buff the area with 0000-grade steel wool, as needed

If the wood finish has been removed, use a touch-up pen, or reapply the stain, varnish, or lacquer to restore the wood to its original finish.

Will Acetone Take The Finish Off Wood?

Yes, acetone will remove the finish off wood, including wood tables, furniture, or plywood products. Because acetone is a powerful solvent, it reacts with a painted, stained, or varnished finish on wood, causing it to bubble.

When left on the surface for some time and wiped, the paint, stain, or varnish will come away very easily. If you simply spill a small amount of acetone on wood and wipe it away quickly, it will cause the finish to fade, but won’t remove it entirely.

Despite its ability to strip finish from wood, you should not use acetone as a paint or stain stripper on wood products. Acetone is too corrosive and will likely cause damage to the grain or surface of the wood product, especially if your wood is a low-grade plywood. 

It also won’t offer a clean removal, and there may be remnants of the finish left behind. Instead, it’s best to use a custom-built product to remove stain from wood or strip paint from wood. 

Summary: Things to Remember

• Never apply water to an acetone stain – it can cause water damage to your table and make the stain worse
• Don’t use nail polish remover to remove nail polish from wood
• Act quickly to address any spillage to a wood table to minimize damage