Nail Polish On Leather

B

Boongie

New member
My wife got some nail polish (burgundy colored) on the leather steering wheel of her three month old 2011 Toyota Sienna. It is not a large amount, she accidently swiped her wet fingernail on the steering wheel, which is light gray in color. Any ideas on how to safely remove the nail polish without damaging or de-colorizing the leather?

Thanks!
 
It's lacquer based, acetone is what removes it.

Unfortunately, it will also remove the color from the leather.

You may get by if you go slow and take a little at a time off when removing, reduce the amount of dye coming off the wheel.

Grumpy
 
Boongie said:
My wife got some nail polish (burgundy colored) on the leather steering wheel of her three month old 2011 Toyota Sienna. It is not a large amount, she accidently swiped her wet fingernail on the steering wheel, which is light gray in color. Any ideas on how to safely remove the nail polish without damaging or de-colorizing the leather? Thanks!
Click to expand...



Do you have pictures?



Is the leather texture soft?



Any idea if it is absorbent?



Roger Koh

info@leatherdoctor.com
 
Ron Ketcham said:
It's lacquer based, acetone is what removes it.

Unfortunately, it will also remove the color from the leather.

You may get by if you go slow and take a little at a time off when removing, reduce the amount of dye coming off the wheel.

Grumpy
Click to expand...



This will work. Use a q-tip to apply the fingernail polish remover. Just work slowly and change q-tips a couple times. It's very easy and controllable.
 
It may be possible to work very carefully but generally speaking acetone will damage the finish and remove the top coating on the leather.

Best to start with a foam leather cleaner which given dwell time may soften it enough.

The next step would be Alcohol Cleanerv- used on a qtip or paint brush and using just on the nail varnish itself. If this reduces it enough it should be possible to recolour the leather with a leather repair pen which will apply a small amount of colour to the right area.



Hope this helps

Judyb
 
I have a dull, rounded off little flat head screwdriver, that has served me well for picking off paint on leather. Sometimes it does leave a depression mark from picking off the paint, but it usually goes away with a little time. It would be my line of attack. Then onto the solvents.
 
Most nail polishes are made of nitrocellulose dissolved in a solvent (e.g. butyl acetate or ethyl acetate) which will damage the finish and may remove the top coating (urethane) on finished leather.

1. Removing nail polish from leather can be tricky and time consuming. Always test the leather before trying any chemicals; if it is not tested, the leather could be damaged beyond repair



2. Acetone is a strong solvent, but can be used if you work very carefully, generally acetone will damage the finish and remove the top coating (urethane) on finished leather. Gently dab using a paper towel, don’t rub the nail polish as this will exacerbate the problem by spreading the polish. Then test the leather for colour fastness. This will help you determine if the leather can withstand the chemicals needed to clean it.



3. It would be safer to use foam cleaner (Leather Master™ Foam Cleaner) which given time may soften it enough to enable its removal with a plastic razor blade. If the foam doesn’t soften it sufficiently use a safe solvent (Wurth Clean Solve) by applying with a small paintbrush or a cotton Q-tip on the nail polish. If the nail polish has removed some colour it may be necessary to renew the pigmentation



4. If neither one of these methods work on your leather, contact a leather professional. They have access to more chemicals and should be able to remove the stain.



http://www.autopia.org/forum/guide-detailing/138225-removing-stains-leather.html#post1468879
 
Post a pic so we can see what you're working with here. I'd try out acetone on a q tip, but it really depends where it is on the steering wheel.
 
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