# nail polish removing **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [March 19, 2003, 7:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nail-polish-removing/162500 "2003-03-19T07:52:25Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![meyer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ccd318/32.png) [@meyer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/meyer)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2003, 7:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nail-polish-removing/162500/1 "2003-03-19T07:52:25Z")
Today is my day off. I was quite bored. I thought that my day off would be more fun if my fingernails were electric blue. It was cool for a while, then I realized that I look like a tool. Ain’t that always the way. Anyways, I want to take this crap off now. But I have searched high and low, and there is no nail polish remover. Barring a run to the drug store in the morning, I’m not sure what to do. Does anyone know a handy home hint for removing nailpolish? ---
**Author:** ![Smeghead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f1d935/32.png) [@Smeghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smeghead)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2003, 8:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nail-polish-removing/162500/2 "2003-03-19T08:03:15Z")
Chainsaw? ---
**Author:** ![elfje](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e19b73/32.png) [@elfje](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfje)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2003, 12:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nail-polish-removing/162500/3 "2003-03-19T12:59:58Z")
sticky tape, just tear of a strip and stick it to your nails and rip it off again, keep on doing until all polish is removed hope it works for ya ---
**Author:** ![radar\_ralf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b2d939/32.png) [@radar\_ralf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/radar_ralf)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2003, 2:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nail-polish-removing/162500/4 "2003-03-19T14:17:03Z")
Do you have some acetone in the garage? That’s the main ingredient of old-style nail polish remover. Be careful with the fumes, though - that stuff is flammable and not good to breathe. ---
**Author:** ![Felonious\_Mink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Felonious\_Mink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Felonious_Mink)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2003, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nail-polish-removing/162500/5 "2003-03-19T15:57:55Z")
Run to the drugstore _now_ instead of tomorrow? ---
**Author:** ![Bad\_News\_Baboon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/5fc32e/32.png) [@Bad\_News\_Baboon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bad_News_Baboon)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2003, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nail-polish-removing/162500/6 "2003-03-19T16:09:49Z")
ok, here is a trick I have used. it’s not the best, but it does work. reapply nail polish. this will usually ‘rewet’ the layers below. then wipe off with a paper towel. usually a clear works best. ---
**Author:** ![radar\_ralf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b2d939/32.png) [@radar\_ralf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/radar_ralf)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2003, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nail-polish-removing/162500/7 "2003-03-19T20:33:54Z")
That’s a good suggestion, Babs. It’s one of the ways to remove permanent marker from hard surfaces, too (use some of the original offender, then quickly wipe it all off) - not the best way, but it works. Meyer, I just thought of another thing to try, but I don’t know if it will work okay or not. You could try some of that universal solvent - bug spray. Yes, the kind of stuff we put on our own selves to keep mosquitoes away. Cutter Insect Repellent works wonders. Have you ever wondered why the lawn mower plastic grips melted while you mowing the lawn after applying some Cutter’s? uh huh…