Are you the one who loves to paint nails but is sick of nail polish and its remover smell? Well, most of the girls out there love to do nail art but are unable to tolerate the smell of nail polish even for a few minutes!
So, how to get rid of nail polish smell in house?
Well, the nail polish’s smell might be quite unpleasant for you but there’s also a group that loves its smell! However, for those who hate the smell, it can be easily removed by using some easily-available items from your kitchen! Yes, it’s not that only fanning out is the available option. In fact, you’ve now hundreds of things to explore!
In this write-up, you’ll learn how to get rid of the nail polish smell in the house by using the simplest ingredients from your kitchen! So, read on!
Activated charcoal is easily available and is a well-known odor absorbent that in its active state becomes porous and acts as a strong nail polish fumes absorbent.
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Is Smelling Nail Polish Bad?
Are you the one who loves sniffing nail polish on purpose or you are sick of its smell? Well, we see both types of people in our surroundings but the proportion of those hating it is higher. So, is nail polish bad for you? Well, the chemicals in nail polish if inhaled excessively, can damage the brain and lead to a medical condition called, “painter syndrome.”

On the contrary, sniffing nail polish remover can also cause acetone poisoning which is a condition when there is an abnormal rise in the level of ketones in the body due to which the function of the liver is impaired. Smelling nail polish fumes can directly affect your brain’s function of coordination, memory, breathing difficulties, and hearing problems, and can also cause some lingual problems.
Such diseases are caused due to the presence of some toxic chemicals in nail polish among which triphenyl phosphate tops the list! One of the toxic components, camphor is a leading cause of dermatitis whereas several other nail polish toxins include dibutyl phthalate, toluene, and formaldehyde resin.
Is Acetone the Same as Nail Polish Remover?
Well, the major difference in them both is that acetone is one of the components of nail polish remover whereas nail polish remover itself is made up of many organic components. Hence, we can’t consider nail polish remover the same as acetone because acetone itself is a volatile and inflammable component of nail polish remover. On the contrary, nail polish can be completely or partially soluble in water.
How to Get Rid of Nail Polish Smell in House
Painting nails is always fun but sometimes this might end you up with the worst possible health-related problems! However, such complications are pretty rare but can you be allergic to nail polish? Nail polish isn’t harmful to those who paint their nails seldom but for women working in salons, daily inhalation of nail polish fumes can be harmful!

Here, I’ll share with you how to get rid of nail polish smell in house by using simple DIY methods! So, read on,
Activated Charcoal
Activated charcoal is easily available and is a well-known odor absorbent that in its active state becomes porous and acts as a strong nail polish fumes absorbent. Make sure you place the charcoal somewhere away from the reach of children. Moreover, you aren’t even required to change it every time you’re applying nail paint as you can leave it for a few days.
Baking Soda
Baking soda is one of the best neutralizers which can be used to help you get rid of the nail polish fumes in your room because of its strong absorbance.

It exhibits somewhat similar absorbing properties as activated charcoal hence, you may keep it in your room safe in a jar or any container.
Coffee Grounds
This might sound strange but coffee grounds can actually suppress the smell of nail polish gradually. Putting some fresh coffee grounds in a glass bowl or jar will remove the long-lasting stubborn smell as if it never existed! It not only removes the unwanted smell but also adds up a slight, sweet scent to your room.

Citrus Fruit Peels
Citrus Fruit peels have a strong scent which might suppress the bad smell of acetone from your room. So, you may put the peels of lemons or oranges in a glass bowl or in a vase to make them look presentable.
That’s how you kill two birds with one stone; remove the smell and add some decoration to your room. However, make sure to keep changing those peels weekly so they don’t rot and make the smell of nail polish even worse to handle.
If my house smells like paint thinner or nail polish, I use the aforementioned easy solutions and trust me, they are truly effective! These were the easiest yet worth-trying tips to get rid of the nail polish smell in the house, and whatever stuff was mentioned headed directly towards your kitchen’s pantry! Some other tips are,

Use Air Purifiers
Air purifiers are life-savers when it comes to eliminating the bad smell. The air purifiers exhibit an odor-neutralizing nature as they work efficiently in getting rid of the air that has been lingering around for days!
Improve Ventilation
The foremost thing to do is to fan out the smell! Open the windows and doors to your room to facilitate cross ventilation. The easier the flow of air would be, the faster you’ll be getting rid of the smell. In the meanwhile, you can also use some air fresheners to suppress the bad smell for the time being.
What Happens if Nail Polish Gets on Your Skin?
If nail polish gets on your skin, then rest assured because it is no big deal! In fact, it doesn’t even pose any threat to your skin or body but tables turn when we talk about nail polish remover. This is because of the chemical constituent of nail polish “acetone,” a type of ketone that when exposed to human skin might cause irritation.
When it comes to finding a cure for acetone damaged skin, the easiest home-based therapy is to use petroleum jelly and rub it on the affected area for a straight week. If you don’t observe any improvement, then consult your doctor immediately.
How to Get Rid of Acetone Smell on Hands?
You must be wondering, why does acetone smell so strong? Well, the smell of nail polish remover is actually the smell of a ketone called “acetone.” It exhibits a strong smell which sometimes even persists on hands.
The effects of acetone on hands can be harsh especially if you have sensitive skin. However, the dangers of acetone nail polish remover are limited to dermatitis, redness, and itching if the contact is for a longer duration.
To get rid of it, you may follow the below-mentioned steps,
- Scrub your hands, particularly the nail area with a mixture of shampoo and water.
- After rinsing, mix sugar and olive oil, and you’ll observe a thick scrubbing granular liquid. Now scrub well and then rinse them once you’re done.
- Clean your nails properly as removing toxins from fingernails is the most important thing.
- Now, squirt a nurdle and gently rub that toothpaste on your hands and rinse them.
- The last step is the simplest of all, add some baking soda to lukewarm water and soak your hands for 3-5 minutes. After that rinse them thoroughly and you’re done!
FAQs
What can I use instead of nail polish remover?
You can use a variety of other methods for removing nail polish without a remover which include rubbing alcohol, applying the same nail polish, and using it as a remover, lemon, and hairspray. You may also use white vinegar or toothpaste to remove it!
How to remove nail polish from the skin around nails?
To remove that pesky nail polish from the skin around nails, all you need to do is use either a nail polish remover (preferably acetone-free) or coconut oil. If you have nothing other than a nail polish itself, it can still do your work! You may also apply vaseline before painting your nails to avoid any mess.
What makes nail polish remover smell?
There are several chemicals in nail polish that are responsible for providing the nail polish with its characteristic smell. However, the most prominent reason for the nail polish remover smell is the presence of “acetone.”
Takeaway
All in all, the nail polish smell isn’t always considered good. Moreover, such type of smell while lingering around makes most of us uncomfortable. So, after following the aforementioned tips, you must’ve learned how to get rid of nail polish smell in house. However, the smell of nail polish remover is even stronger and must not be inhaled continuously because of the high proportion of acetone present in it can adversely affect the brain’s functions.