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12 Nifty (And Thrifty) New Uses for Nail Polish Remover

If you've only been using nail polish remover on your nails, you're only tapping a fraction of its potential.

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Use nail polish remover to clean a keyboardPhoto: Shutterstock

Use nail polish remover to clean a keyboard

Laptop keys getting a bit grimy? Simply moisten a cotton swab with nail polish remover, and gently dab laptop keys to restore them to their original condition.

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New uses for nail polish removerPhoto: Shutterstock

Use nail polish remover to un-stick stubborn glue

Permanent adhesive will stick tenaciously to just about anything—including your skin. And trying to peel it off your fingers can actually cause skin damage. Instead, soak a cotton ball with acetone-based nail polish remover and hold it on the skin until the glue dissolves.

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Use nail polish remover to eliminate ink stainsPhoto: Shutterstock

Use nail polish remover to eliminate ink stains

If the ink stains on your skin won’t come off with soap and water, they are probably not water-soluble. Try using nail polish remover instead. Take a cotton ball and wipe the affected areas with the solution. Once the ink stains are gone, wash skin with soap and water. Nail polish remover can also eliminate ink stains on the drum of your clothes dryer. (Another stain remover is toothpaste!)

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Use nail polish remover to remove stickers from glassPhoto: Shutterstock

Remove stickers from glass

Scraping price stickers from glass objects can be messy, and it often leaves behind a gummy adhesive that attracts dirt and is sticky to the touch. Remove the stickers and clean up the residual glue by wiping the area with acetone-based nail polish remover. The same method can be used for removing stickers and sticky residue from metal surfaces.

Check out 25 more cleaning hacks for stubborn messes.

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Use nail polish remover to dissolve melted plasticPhoto: Shutterstock

Use nail polish remover to dissolve melted plastic

Ever get too close to a hot metal toaster with a plastic bag of bread or bagels? The resulting mess can be a real cleaning challenge. But don’t let a little melted plastic ruin a perfectly good appliance. Eliminate the sticky mess with nail polish remover. First unplug the toaster and wait for it to cool. Then pour a little nail polish remover on a soft cloth and gently rub over the damaged areas. Once the melted plastic is removed, wipe with a damp cloth and dry with a paper towel. Your toaster is read for the next round of bagels. The same solution works for melted plastic on curling irons.

Make sure to avoid these common toaster mistakes.

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Use nail polish remover to take paint off of windowsPhoto: Shutterstock

Use nail polish remover to rub paint off windows

Spare your nails the next time you want to remove paint on a window. Working in a well-ventilated area, dab on nail polish remover in small sections. Let the solution remain on the painted areas for a few minutes before rubbing it off with a cloth. Once finished, take a damp cloth and go over the areas again.

Avoid the problem altogether by brushing up on these interior painting tips from the pros.

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Use nail polish remover to clean laminate floorsPhoto: Shutterstock

Restore laminate floors

Pour onto a paper towel, and wipe away unsightly shoe marks on tile, laminate, and concrete floors (avoid using on wood).

Check out 30 nearly-forgotten house cleaning tips from the past.

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Rejuvenate stained china with nail polish removerPhoto: Shutterstock

Rejuvenate stained china

Soak an old cloth, then dab coffee- or tea-stained areas; rinse off the nail polish remover with soap and water. Avoid decorative patterns, which could be ruined. Another item that can be used in your house is essential oil.

Don’t miss these pro tips on how to clean a coffee maker.

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Shine shoes with nail polish removerPhoto: Shutterstock

Shine shoes

Saturate a paper towel, and wipe footwear until any scuffs or stains disappear. Use a damp cloth to remove leftover residue from the nail polish remover.

Discover the best ways to use ammonia all around the house.

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Nail polish remover - clean bathtubPhoto: Shutterstock

Eliminate bathtub ring

To rid a tub or shower of soap and scum stains, dilute nail polish remover with a little bit of water, and use a stiff brush to quickly scrub away residue. You can also use hydrogen peroxide in the bathroom as a toilet cleaner.

Here are 10 more time-saving bathroom cleaning tricks.

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Use nail polish remover to clean beauty toolsPhoto: Shutterstock

Sanitize beauty tools

Beauty tools like tweezers, eye last curlers, and nail clippers can harbour germs, especially if shared among family members. Rinse these items in nail polish remover and wipe clean for sanitized beauty products.

Would you believe these surfaces are dirtier than a toilet seat?

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Use nail polish remover to revive nail polishPhoto: Shutterstock

Refresh your nail polish

The most common use of nail polish remover is to take off polish from your nails. But you can actually pour a bit of nail polish remover into old bottles of nail polish that start getting dried up or chunky. Pour a very small drop into the polish and shake well to squeeze a few more manicures out of the bottle.

Next, discover 20 clever things to do with nail polish.

Reader's Digest
Originally Published on Reader's Digest