I Tested What Can Be Used as Nail Polish Remover—Plus 7 Surprising Hacks

1. Ink Stains

One of the ways to use nail polish remover that might not occur to most people is for removing ink stains! If your child gets a hold of a pen and scribbles on the wall, or your ink pen leaks inside your favorite purse, no worries! Just dab some nail polish remover onto a rag and scrub it all off. This is also a great trick if you need to remove ink stains from nails or skin after a craft project. For more cleaning tips, check out our guide on how to tackle tough laundry stains.

2. Scuff Marks

Dreaded scuff marks can easily occur on linoleum, tile, or even baseboards. But nail polish remover can come to the rescue! My dog has a rubber toy he loves to play with that leaves black marks on my white floors and walls. I always use nail polish remover to get them off, and it works like a charm! If you're wondering how to get nail polish off a wall, this same method can often work on non-porous surfaces, but always test a small spot first.

3. Keyboard Cleaner

Do you have a white keyboard? Then you know how easy it is for the keys to get sticky and grimy looking. All you need to do to clean it up is to dip a cotton swab into nail polish remover and gently wipe the keys! Use a dry rag to follow up, and be careful that you don’t let excess liquids drip into the keys. It's a simple part of any effective home organization routine. For official cleaning guidelines, you can also check out tech advice from HP.

4. Removing Super Glue

Super glue works well for many fast fixes, but I hate using it because it leaves residue all over my fingers! One way to get your paws clean is by using polish remover to scrub off the dried glue residue. If the glue is stuck really tight to your fingers, try soaking your fingers in the polish remover for a few minutes first. It's similar to how you would treat tough ink stains. You can find more professional advice on the official Loctite website.

5. Price Tag Residue

One of the most annoying things ever is buying something new, getting it home, and finding that the price tag has left horrid residue on your new item! You can remedy this problem by taking an old toothbrush and dipping it in polish remover. A little scrubbing and your problem will be easily solved! It's one of those genius life hacks that everyone should know. This works just as well as the scuff mark method for restoring surfaces.

Quick Tips for Safe Use

6. Bath Tub Ring

Cleaning the bathtub is not my favorite chore, especially when there is a bad bathtub ring. I’ve found nail polish remover to be a powerful bathtub ring cleaner, helping remove the tough stains that residue leaves behind! Don’t dilute with water to get faster results, and follow up with your favorite bathroom cleaner. That way your bathtub won’t reek of nail polish remover the next time you take a shower! For more deep cleaning advice, visit Better Homes & Gardens.

7. Refresh Your Old China

If you have some old white china that you love, but it is looking a little worse for the wear, try this trick! Soak a rag in nail polish remover, and then lightly wipe the china down. Wash and dry like normal, and enjoy your like-new sparkling white china!

If you can tolerate the scent of nail polish remover, these ideas will come in handy! I love not having to buy a different product for each of these issues when they arise. Just be cautious and always test a small area of any item you plan to use the remover on to make sure it doesn’t make a bigger mess of things. What uses do you know of for nail polish remover?