This is the kind of tip that's always good to pull out of the hat. A trace of varnish on an item of clothing can wreak havoc... so it's best to know how to get rid of it. We tell you how! 

It's an unpleasant experience we've probably all had before: varnish that spills over, varnish that isn't dry and ends up on a wall or, worse still, on a clean cloth... In the latter case, it can be a tricky job to remove, since you don't want to damage the fabric of the garment in question. So how do you go about it? Fortunately, our grandmothers, who understood everything about life, have left us a host of homemade solutions that are more or less easy to apply, to avoid irreversible catastrophe! 

What is a classic varnish made of? 

To get rid of a nail polish stain, you need to understand what's in the liquid that colors your nails. Obviously, the composition of classic nail polish varies from brand to brand, and from vegan to organic. If it's semi-permanent, that's another matter! But generally speaking, the composition of a nail polish includes the following elements:

• Resin: resin is the main ingredient in nail polish, responsible for its hardness and shine.
• Solvents: solvents such as ethyl acetate, butyl acetate, acetone and isopropyl alcohol are used to dilute the resin and facilitate varnish application.
• Pigments: pigments are added to give color to the varnish. Pigments can be of natural or synthetic origin.
• Bonding agents: bonding agents such as nitrocellulose are added to improve the varnish's adhesion to the nail.
• Suspension agents: suspension agents such as bentonite are added to prevent pigments from settling to the bottom of the varnish bottle.
• Additives: additives such as UV filters are added to protect nails from fading and yellowing.

Good to know 

Some nail polishes may contain additional ingredients such as plasticizers, hardening agents, emollients and fragrances to enhance performance and appearance.

Why is it so difficult to remove a varnish stain from clothing? 

Removing conventional nail polish requires a certain amount of preparation (in fact, we explain how to remove semi-permanent nail polish), as well as an after-care to avoid damaging the nail (with a super invigorating nail serum, for example).

So when it comes to removing a stain from a textile... You can imagine how difficult it can be! Nail polish is designed to adhere firmly to the nail and resist external elements such as water and air. Inevitably, this adhesion can make nail polish very difficult to remove from surfaces other than nails, especially on clothes, which are fragile textures. Most nail polishes contain solvents such as acetone, which are used to dilute the resin and facilitate polish application. These solvents can be very powerful and can unfortunately damage fabric fibers. Therefore, it's important to use gentle and careful methods to remove nail polish stains from clothing! 

Removing nail polish according to garment material  

When it comes to removing nail varnish from clothing, it's essential to consider the material of the garment, as different methods may be appropriate depending on the material. 

Removing nail polish from denim jeans 

Materials required:

• Cotton buds.
• Nail polish remover, preferably non-acetone.
• A clean, white cloth.
• An iron.

How do you remove a varnish stain from clothing? 

There are many ways to remove stubborn varnish stains from clothing. Discover 5 of the most common methods:

1. Use acetone: If the varnish stain is fresh, you can gently dab it with a cloth soaked in acetone. This should help dissolve the varnish. However, acetone can damage some fabrics, so be sure to test on a small, hidden area of the garment first.

2. Use rubbing alcohol: If you don't have acetone, you can use rubbing alcohol instead. Dab the stain with an alcohol-soaked cotton pad, then rinse with cold water.

3. Use white vinegar: White vinegar is also an excellent solvent for varnish stains. Mix one part white vinegar with one part water, then dab the stain with a clean cloth soaked in the mixture. Rinse with cold water.

4. Use dish soap: If the stain is still damp, you can try removing it with dish soap and an old toothbrush. Apply a small amount of soap to the stain, scrub gently in circular motions with the toothbrush, then rinse with cold water.

5. Ammonia: If the varnish stain persists, you can try dabbing it with a damp cloth soaked in diluted ammonia. Beware, ammonia can damage some fabrics, so be sure to test on a small, hidden area of the garment first. And don't forget to always wear rubber gloves to protect your hands when handling corrosive products. 

Before applying any of these methods, remember to absorb any excess varnish with a square of absorbent paper to avoid spreading the stain further! Note also that the more fragile the fabric of your garment, the more difficult it will be to remove traces of varnish. In this case, it's best to call in a professional.