# Fingernail polish on antique

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fingernail-polish-on-antique/621159>\
**Category:** Cafe Society\
**Created:** [May 7, 2012, 1:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fingernail-polish-on-antique/621159 "2012-05-07T13:18:51Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Dustin\_the\_Wind](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f1d935/32.png) [@Dustin\_the\_Wind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dustin_the_Wind)\
**Post date:** [May 7, 2012, 1:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fingernail-polish-on-antique/621159/1 "2012-05-07T13:18:51Z")

</div>

Polishing my fingernails the other night, tipped the bottle over. I managed to right it fairly quickly but got three pencil lead sized drops on my cherished antique table. How do I get this off without damaging the finish?

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![well\_he\_s\_back](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/3ab097/32.png) [@well\_he\_s\_back](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/well_he_s_back)\
**Post date:** [May 7, 2012, 2:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fingernail-polish-on-antique/621159/2 "2012-05-07T14:30:49Z")

</div>

Call your nearest art museum that has a conservator on staff. They are trained in such matters, and good library staff are willing to help. If the table is truly valuable that’s what I’d suggest.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Kimstu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ecd19e/32.png) [@Kimstu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimstu)\
**Post date:** [May 7, 2012, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fingernail-polish-on-antique/621159/3 "2012-05-07T14:51:53Z")

</div>

Fingernail polish is tough to get off furniture finishes. If you want to try to do it yourself rather than calling in a professional, you will probably wind up with a not-entirely-flawless finish, although the damage may be minor enough to be unnoticeable.

The methods I’ve seen recommended are prying up the nail polish drip with a flexible plastic putty knife (not a metal one); rubbing the drip lightly with denatured alcohol; or rubbing it lightly with 0000-grade steel wool. All of those methods will mess up the finish if you’re too vigorous with them, so gently does it.