Nail Polish Remover Hacks You’ll Wish You Knew Sooner

Say goodbye to the days of using nail polish remover solely for taking off old nail color. From cleaning keyboards to removing dried paint off window glass, nail polish remover can be used for so much more.

It's time to tap into the true potential of the acetone-based liquid with some clever hacks. We trust that you won't be disappointed and will most likely wish you knew these tips and tricks sooner.

Eliminate Scratches And Scrapes On A Watch Face

Eliminate Scratches And Scrapes On A Plastic Watch Face
Mathis Wienand/Getty Images
Mathis Wienand/Getty Images

Scrapes and scratches on a watch face are no fun to look at, especially if the watch happens to fall into the "really nice" category. Well, for those of you who tend to find themselves hitting their arms on random things, accidentally scratching their watch in the process, you'll be happy to know there's a way to save its face.

Acetone melts plastic. So, take a small cotton swab, soak it in nail polish remover, and watch as the watch face magically levels itself out!

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Dissolve Superglue From Pretty Much Any Surface

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Dissolve Superglue From Pretty Much Any Surface
Yegor AleyevTASS via Getty Images
Yegor AleyevTASS via Getty Images
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Superglue is difficult to clean up, especially if the surface happens to be skin. While it's reflexive to peel off that dried glue, doing so can potentially damage the skin.

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So, let's bypass painful irritation and go straight into a handy hack that will do the work for us. Grab an acetone-based nail polish remover, dampen a cotton ball with the solution, and soak the dried glue. Then watch as the glue dissolves.

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Exploding Pens In The Washer Are No Longer An Issue

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Exploding Pens In The Washer Are No Longer An Issue
Soeren Stache/picture alliance via Getty Images
Soeren Stache/picture alliance via Getty Images
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If you've ever left a pen in a pants pocket or even the breast pocket of a shirt before tossing it into the wash, then you know the following mess is horrible: an exploded pen's ink covering the surface of the washer drum.

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Thankfully, there is an easy way to remove the annoying stain before tossing the clothing into the laundry -- nail polish remover. Take a washcloth, soak it with some nail polish remover, and then show that stain who's boss.

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Sticker Residue On Glass Is A Thing Of The Past

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Sticker Residue On Glass Is A Thing Of The Past
Tom Weller/picture alliance via Getty Images
Tom Weller/picture alliance via Getty Images
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One of the more annoying things in life is peeling off a sticker, only to have the gross residue remain stuck to the object's surface. And if that surface just so happens to be glass, it's worse. That surface is supposed to be pristine, after all!

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Well, at least worrying about that sticky residue is a thing of the past. The acetone in nail polish remover is a great agent to lift that glue, leaving the surface smooth and residue-free.

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Say Toodaloo To Temporary Tattoos

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Say Tootaloo To Temporary Tattoos
Cindy Ord/Getty Images for Bustle
Cindy Ord/Getty Images for Bustle
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Whether it's Halloween, a sporting event, or you felt like seeing how a tattoo sleeve would look on your arm, temporary tattoos can be a struggle to remove. No matter how hard you scrub using the rough side of a sponge, these tricky things tend to stick like a second skin.

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The good news is there's a way to remove them without scouring your skin off. Soak a bit of nail polish remover on a cloth and have at it! The temporary tattoo will all but slide right off.

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Melted Plastic Is No Longer A Problem

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Melted Plastic Is No Longer A Problem
Andrew Aitchison / In pictures via Getty Images
Andrew Aitchison / In pictures via Getty Images
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For people who have made the mistake of putting a plastic bag of bagels too close to a hot toaster, then you most likely know the result isn't fun. We're talking about melted plastic on the toaster's face.

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The sticky mess is hard to clean. But nail polish remover makes it easier! First, be sure to unplug the appliance and let it cool. Then, dampen a soft cloth with an acetone-based remover and have at it. The sticky plastic will be a thing of the past in no time.

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Lift Ink Stains From Your Hands

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Lift Ink Stains From Your Hands
CRIS BOURONCLE/AFP via Getty Images
CRIS BOURONCLE/AFP via Getty Images
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Some ink stains are a pain to scrub off, especially if the ink isn't water-soluble. If that's the case, then no matter how hard you scrub, the only result will be red hands. Thankfully, nail polish remover is here to make life a bit easier.

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All you have to do is grab a bottle of remover from your medicine cabinet or the store, dampen a cotton ball, and go to town on the stained area. The ink will lift in no time.

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Sanitize Beauty Tools

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Sanitize Old Beauty Tools
Chris Walton/South China Morning Post via Getty Images
Chris Walton/South China Morning Post via Getty Images
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Beauty tools such as tweezers, nail files, and nail clippers can quickly harbor germs, especially if multiple people use them. So, it's important to sanitize them every once in a while.

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But instead of buying pricey "beauty tool sanitizers," just reach for acetone-based nail polish remover. The solution is a great sanitizing agent. Just drop each beauty tool into a bath of nail polish remover, rinse clean with water, and pat dry.

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Accidently Painted Your Windows? No Problem!

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Accidently Painted Windows? No Problem!
Tim Graham/Getty Images
Tim Graham/Getty Images
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When painting a windowsill, sometimes the paint will find its way onto the actual window. But instead of ruining your nails trying to pick away at dried paint, try this hack out for size.

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First, grab an acetone-based nail polish remover. Then you're going to want to dab the solution on the dried paint. Let the nail polish remover settle for a few minutes before wiping it clean with a soft cloth.

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Make Floors Look Good As New

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Make Floors Look Good As New
Bettmann/Getty Images
Bettmann/Getty Images
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Unsightly shoe and scuff marks on the floor are a thing of the past with this next hack. Instead of going to the store and buying expensive cleaners, think about picking up a large bottle of nail polish remover instead.

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All you have to do is pour some of the acetone-based solution on a paper towel and wipe away any eyesores! Be sure only to use this trick on laminate, tile, and concrete floors—hardwood floors and nail polish remover don't mesh well.

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Keyboard Grime is A Thing Of The Past

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Keyboard Grim is A Thing Of The Past
Mairo Cinquetti/NurPhoto via Getty Images
Mairo Cinquetti/NurPhoto via Getty Images
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Like anything used frequently, keyboards get dirty over time. Their primary function is for people to tap away at keys, after all. So if it doesn't have germs coated all over it, is it even a keyboard?

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The good news is there is a way to clean a keyboard without frying the computer because you tried soap and water. Dampen a cotton ball with nail polish remover and gently wipe it across the keyboard. The acetone will kill bacteria, and the solution will lift any stickiness.

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Polish Tarnished Metal Jewelry

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Polish Away Tarnished Metal Jewelry
SAM PANTHAKY/AFP via Getty Images
SAM PANTHAKY/AFP via Getty Images
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Over time, metal jewelry can tarnish, leaving a strange film over the necklace, bracelet, or ring. And while multiple cleaning agents on the market will help bring a new and improved shine to those old accessories, they can be fairly pricey.

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Instead, grab nail polish remover and pour it into a big bowl. Then, drop your jewelry into the acetone-based bath and watch as those old metal pieces start shinning like new. Be sure to test this one out on an unimportant piece first!

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Bring Stained Chinaware Back To Life

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Bring Stained Chinaware Back To Life
Rick Findler/PA Images via Getty Images
Rick Findler/PA Images via Getty Images
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Scene: it's the holidays, and you're having people over for dinner only to realize your china is stained from the previous year. Sigh and end scene. Thankfully, that sigh can easily be turned into a triumphant smile with this tiny hack.

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Soak a soft cloth in an acetone-based nail polish remover and gently run it over the coffee, tea, or food stain you're trying to lift. In no time, the chinaware will look as good as new! Be sure to avoid any decorative patterns, though!

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Give Patent Leather Shoes A Nice Shine

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Give Patent Leather Shoes A Nice Shine
Hanna Lassen/Getty Images for Australian Turf Club
Hanna Lassen/Getty Images for Australian Turf Club
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Over time, patent leather shoes become scuffed, dingy, and looking like they need some new life thrown back into them. Instead of going out of your way for a professional shoe shine, think about doing it yourself! Just use nail polish remover instead of that black goop.

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All you're going to have to do is soak a paper towel in the solution and run it over your shoe. Do this until all of the scrapes, scuffs, and stains disappear!

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Make Razor Blades Last Longer

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Make Razor Blades Last Longer
Rosdiana Ciaravolo/Getty Images
Rosdiana Ciaravolo/Getty Images
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Razor blades can be expensive, so making them last as long as possible probably sounds fairly attractive. Not only is acetone a solid disinfectant, but it can also clean the blades, extending their life.

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First, be sure you have a strong acetone-based nail polish remover. Then, pour a bit into a glass, dunking your razor directly into the solution. Not only will the remover sanitize the blades, but it will also remove all of the gunk that gets stuck between each razor!

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Erase Soap Scum With Ease

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Erase Soap Scum With Ease
Jeff Greenberg/Universal Images Group via Getty Images
Jeff Greenberg/Universal Images Group via Getty Images
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Tired of seeing that gross ring around the drain of your tub, shower, or sink? If the answer is yes, have no fear! Nail polish remover is a great agent to lift the soap scum right off the surface.

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First, you're going to want to dilute the nail polish remover with a little bit of water. Then, using a stiff brush, scrub away the soap scum ring. You'll be amazed by how easily the surface will scrub clean.

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Refresh And Revive Nail Polish

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Refresh And Revive Nail Polish
Christian Charisius/picture alliance via Getty Images
Christian Charisius/picture alliance via Getty Images
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While nail polish remover is mostly used for... you know... removing nail polish, there is another use for it. Ironically, nail polish remover is great at reviving old and clumpy nail polish.

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All you have to do is grab your old bottle of clumpy and dried out nail polish, pour a tiny drop of nail polish remover into the paint, and stir. You'll be amazed at how the remover magically fixes crusty nail polish that would have otherwise been destined for the trash can.

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Remove Ink Stamps

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Remove Ink Stamps
Edwin Remsburg/VW Pics via Getty Images
Edwin Remsburg/VW Pics via Getty Images
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Have you ever been to a concert where they stamp your hand to admit entrance into the venue? Well, if you're like us, then you definitely get home and head to bed without thinking about that lone stamp on your hand. Unfortunately, the next morning, that stamp is a pain to remove.

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But when soap and water don't cut it, there's always nail polish remover. All you have to do is soak a cotton ball in the solution and wipe it across your skin. Then watch as the ink disappears!

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Remove Permanent Marker

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Remove Permenant Marker
Adam Glanzman/Getty Images
Adam Glanzman/Getty Images
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If you've ever reached for a permanent marker instead of a dry erase marker, then you know the pain of not being able to remove it from a whiteboard. Well, the days of feeling silly are over.

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Pour some nail polish remover onto a soft cloth and wipe it over the permanent marker until it is a distant memory. You'll be happy to know that this little hack works on virtually any surface. Not that we recommend going around and drawing on walls with a permanent marker.

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Deep Clean Old Silverware

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Deep Clean Old Silverware
Natasha Breen/REDA&CO/Universal Images Group via Getty Images
Natasha Breen/REDA&CO/Universal Images Group via Getty Images
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As it goes, old silverware sets tend to get tarnished over time. And while there are many cleaning agents on store shelves, they can break the wallet if you're not careful. So, instead of going through the steps of looking up the best cleaner, just grab some nail polish remover.

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Dip a soft cloth into the solution and polish away at those old forks, knives, and spoons, watching as their old shine is restored.