Last Updated on 9 months by Susan Mayrich
Acetone is a useful chemical when it comes to removing nail polish and other substances. It is a solvent, meaning it dissolves other substances. Because of this property, acetone can be used to clean certain items like metal and plastic. However, it can also dissolve certain fabrics and materials such as paint, rubber, and plastics.
If you’re using acetone on your clothes or other fabrics, be aware that the solvent may cause stains due to its ability to dissolve certain materials.
This article will answer whether or not acetone can stain your clothes. Read on to learn how to avoid staining and how do you get acetone out of clothes.
What is Acetone?
Acetone is a chemical solvent and a colorless liquid with a distinctive, solvent-like odor. It is commonly used as an ingredient in nail polish remover, although it can also be found in industrial products as well.
It dissolves oils, fats, and waxes as well as some plastics in addition to cleaning products like nail polish remover.
What is Acetone Made Of?
Acetone is a solvent made from petroleum, which is then purified and distilled. The resulting liquid is colorless, highly flammable, and has a low boiling point of 56 degrees Celsius (132 degrees Fahrenheit). It’s also extremely volatile, meaning it evaporates quickly.
Because acetone dissolves other substances like protein-based substances (such as skin oils), its use in cosmetics can lead to dry, flaky skin. That’s why it’s recommended you only use it on your nails or hair, not your face.
How Does Acetone Work?
Acetone works by dissolving oils, greases, and other organic materials. It breaks down the molecules in these substances so they’re more easily removed from surfaces like clothing, carpeting, and wallpaper.
Does Acetone Stain Clothes
Acetone is a strong solvent that will dissolve most substances, but it also has the effect of staining and bleaching the fabric that it comes into contact with. This means that if you use acetone to remove nail polish from your clothes, they may eventually become white where they were once colored.
If you want to know whether a stain will come out or not, dab some on a hidden part of the fabric first and see what happens. If it disappears easily without discoloring the rest of the material, then go ahead and use it for that purpose.
However, if there is discoloration afterward, don’t use acetone on those clothes again because you might ruin them permanently.
Does Acetone Take Color Out of Fabric?
Acetone can remove the color from fabrics, but it won’t dissolve most synthetic fibers like nylon or polyester. If you want to use acetone to remove dye from the fabric, you must first test the dye on a small area of the fabric to ensure that the dye will dissolve.
Acetone can damage some synthetic fibers and should be used cautiously on delicate fabrics such as silk or wool.
Are Acetone Stains Permanent?
When acetone is spilled on clothes, the solution should be removed as soon as possible before it penetrates deep into the fibers of your clothing. If left for too long, acetone may cause permanent damage to your clothes and other materials.
Can Acetone Stains Be Removed?
Yes. It’s easy to get rid of acetone stains on clothes by using an acetone removal product or an acetone substitute like rubbing alcohol. But you’ll need to act quickly before the stain sets and becomes permanent.
If you’ve spilled acetone on your clothes or shoes, try removing it immediately before it dries out completely or becomes set in place by running cool water over the area until all traces are gone.
How Do You Get Acetone Out of Clothes?
If you have accidentally gotten acetone stains on your clothing or skin, follow these steps to remove it as quickly as possible:
Use Rubbing Alcohol for Acetone Stains
You can use rubbing alcohol to get acetone out of clothes. Rubbing alcohol is an effective solvent for removing nail polish, paint, ink, and other liquids from fabric.
Rubbing alcohol evaporates quickly, so you won’t have to worry about the acetone soaking into your clothing. However, rubbing alcohol can be harsh on delicate fabrics such as silk or rayon, so it’s best to test a small spot of the garment before applying full-strength rubbing alcohol directly to the stain.
Steps to use rubbing alcohol:
- Pour some rubbing alcohol onto a clean rag or paper towel and blot the stain with it. Keep blotting until no more color transfers onto the rag or paper towel.
- If there is still color transferred onto the rag or towel after blotting, continue to apply rubbing alcohol until no more color transfers onto it.
- Then rinse off the alcohol with warm water and soap or detergent.
- Repeat this process until all traces of ink are gone from the fabric.
Vinegar Solution
Vinegar is one of the many ingredients that can help remove acetone from clothes. Vinegar is an acidic liquid that helps to neutralize the alkaline properties of acetone. In other words, if you apply vinegar to acetone-damaged clothes, it will help to break down the chemical bonds in the fabric so that they can be restored back to their original state.
Vinegar has been used for centuries as a household cleaner and disinfectant because of its ability to remove stains and kill bacteria. It is one of the most common ingredients found in homemade cleaners because it is cheap, easy to find, and works well on almost every surface imaginable.
Steps to use vinegar:
- Mix a solution of equal parts water and vinegar in a bowl or container. If you’re using white vinegar, add 1 cup of vinegar to 1 cup of water. If you’re using apple cider vinegar, add 2 tablespoons of vinegar to 1 cup of water.
- Apply this mixture directly to the stained area and let it soak for 15-20 minutes.
- After that time has passed, launder as usual in warm water with detergent and allow your clothes to dry on their own before wearing them again.
- If there are still stains on the garment, repeat the process until they are gone.
Use Hydrogen Peroxide
Hydrogen peroxide is a great way to get acetone out of clothes. It’s an effective solvent, and it’s cheap. You can also use it to reduce the color-changing effect of using acetone.
Hydrogen peroxide is not only a great solvent for acetone, but it also reduces the color-changing effects of using acetone. If you want to get rid of your clothes’ yellow tint after removing some nail polish with acetone, simply soak them in hydrogen peroxide for 15 minutes and then wash them as normal.
The other benefit of hydrogen peroxide is that it doesn’t harm most fabrics or materials that are used in clothing manufacture. It’s also often used as a stain remover in laundry detergents because it breaks down organic compounds that would otherwise remain on clothing fibers, such as blood stains from wounds or grass stains.
You can use either 3% hydrogen peroxide or 6% hydrogen peroxide depending on how much acetone you have spilled on your clothes.
Steps to use hydrogen peroxide:
- Add a few drops of hydrogen peroxide directly onto the stain and rub it into the fabric using your fingers or a brush.
- Add more hydrogen peroxide if needed until all traces of acetone are gone from your fabric.
- Rinse the clothing with warm water.
- Repeat if necessary until no more stain remains on the fabric.
Final Thoughts
Acetone may be an effective solvent, but it can quickly destroy clothing. It isn’t easily removed from the garment, so consider taking precautions before using it on your clothing.
Your best hope for removing acetone from clothes is to search for a solvent, like rubbing alcohol, vinegar, or hydrogen peroxide. There are many other solvents that do the same thing. Other options include hand sanitizer or WD-40
