[dmartin]

How can you remove nail polish off a wood end table. I believe it might be oak.

[Clough]

How much nail polish is spilled on the table? What kind of finish is on the table? Knowing those two things would help in answering your question better.

Besides not knowing about the above things that I asked, your question is a little harder to answer because we are talking about nail polish here and not some sort of stain from a drink being left on the table, or paint from a painting project that was accidentally dripped on the table.

Just for right now, knowing what I do know, I will submit to you the following. Nail polish is a lacquer-based product. Lacquer thinner or acetone will get the lacquer thinner off the finish. But, both products will also remove some of whatever finish is on the table.

Right now, I'm just going to guess that the nail polish is built up some on the finish. If so, then I would suggest taking a single-edged razor blade and very carefully scraping away, in the direction of the grain, all of the nail polish that you can remove with the blade.

There is probably going to be some nail polish residue left on the finish after doing that. Then, I would suggest purchasing a product that you can get at paint or hardware stores for removing paint product spills from things. The two products that I can think of right now are Oops! And Goof-off. You would use a clean rag or nice paper towel in order to apply these products. Please follow the direction on the labels for how to apply. I would try one of those products first, since they will be the least invasive to the finish that is already on the table.

I have not used the above products on lacquer-based products though. I know that they work great on removing latex or oil-based paint spills and splatters!

If trying the above does not work, or even if it does, since you think that the table is made of oak, and since oak tends to have a very wide, deep grain to it, chances are that you are going to have some nail polish residue remaining in the grains which you may need to then pick out with a large sewing needle or the tip of an awl.

If the above products don't work at all, then I would try rubbing off the nail polish, again in the direction of the grain, with some #0000 steel wool and a lubricant of some kind that won't be likely to damage the finish. Water, paste wax and paint thinner are good lubricants to use.

No matter what you use, it's going to look like you have removed something from an area of the finish. So, it is important that whatever rubbing out that you do be done over the entire surface area, in the direction of the grain, so that the finish then looks even.

That's the best that I can do for right now without knowing the answers to the first two questions that I asked you. I hope that the information that I have given to you has been helpful to you.

[Clough]

rpg219 agrees: You took the words right outta my mouth! Great answer.

Gosh, rpg219, thanks for the support and great response! Much appreciated!

[Clough]

So, how are things going with this, dmartin?

[dmartin]

So, how are things going with this, dmartin?

Just wanted to let you know the polish was spilled and tried to be wiped up, so it looks like a smear on the table. It is smooth. I would think the finish is some kind of varnish

[Clough]

Just wanted to let you know the polish was spilled and tried to be wiped up, so it looks like a smear on the table. It is smooth. I would think the finish is some kind of varnish

Is the finish light or dark? Does the color of the table appear to be changed at all because of the wiping off the fingernail polish? Have you tried using Oops! Or Goof-off that I mentioned in my original answer?

[E_MAJOR]

I have a similar problem, nail polish REMOVER has been spilt on my "Dark Cherry" kitchen table and it has taken off the finish to the wood. The surface that the nail polish remover has taken off is smoth and you can see the wood design. If anyone can help that would be amazing thanks!!