How To Get Dried Polyurethane Out Of Carpet

Polyurethane is a type of liquid plastic. It’s used for tons of different purposes, including underneath carpets, on bedding, and on furniture. So, how to get dried polyurethane out of carpet?

Polyurethane, while a useful substance, can cause quite a few problems if you spill it on your carpet. It can leave stains on your carpet that require a bit of elbow grease to clean up. 

To get dried polyurethane out of your carpet scrub the spot with soapy water and a toothbrush. Then, use a bit of acetone and a paint scraper to get rid of the rest. 

How To Get Dried Polyurethane Out Of Carpet

Are you dealing with the frustrating aftermath of a spilled polyurethane accident on your beloved carpet? Roll up your sleeves and get ready to bid farewell to that unsightly polyurethane stain. Say hello to a clean and pristine carpet once again!

Step One: Scrub the Area

If you’ve got polyurethane on your carpet the first step is to take a toothbrush and a bit of soapy water. Start scrubbing at the stain using the toothbrush. 

If the polyurethane is wet, it will usually come right up. If it’s dried, you may have a tougher time getting it up with just a toothbrush. 

Either way, once you’re finished scrubbing, vacuum up the particles that you were able to get out of the carpet. Then, move on to the next step to tackle any remaining chunks of polyurethane. 

Step Two: Apply Acetone

Now, dampen a clean rag with a little bit of acetone. Use the rag to dab the acetone onto the stain. 

No acetone at home? Well, this powerful chemical is often the main ingredient in nail polish removers mixed with other things. So, if you have nail polish remover, you can try your luck with it. 

Acetone is a corrosive substance that eats away at coatings. In fact, it’s usually sold as a commercial paint stripper because of its corrosive properties. 

Allow the acetone to sit on the stain for a couple of minutes. If there’s a particularly large stain, you can douse the section of carpet in acetone to saturate the carpet

Step Three: Use a Paint Scraper

Once the acetone has soaked into the carpet, it’s time to start chipping away at the dried polyurethane. You can use a paint scraper to do this. 

Chunks of polyurethane should come up as you chip away at it. If there’s still remaining polyurethane, you can use a rag to clean up the remaining chunks. 

You may notice that there are still chunks even after chipping and using a rag. In that case, repeat the entire process to get up the remaining pieces. 

Step Four: Scrub With a Brush

Finally, you should use a coarse scrub brush on the stain. This helps tear particles of the polyurethane off of the carpet. Finish up by vacuuming the floor to remove any loose particles.

Step Five: Steam Clean

The last step of the process is to steam clean the entire carpet. This step is important for getting the acetone out of your carpet and preventing further corrosion from happening. 

To steam clean the carpet, grab your favorite steam cleaner and fill the water tank with hot water. You can add a couple of drops of white distilled vinegar or dish soap to help you get the dirt out of the carpet and leave it sparkling clean. 

Then, start in a corner that’s diagonal from the door. Work your way from one wall to the other, making sure to push or pull the steam cleaner according to the manufacturer’s instructions. 

Saturate every part of the carpet with the steam cleaner. A pro tip is to overlap the areas that you work on to make sure that you don’t miss a spot while steam cleaning. 

When you’re done steam cleaning, allow the room to dry completely before re-entering it. You can leave fans in the doorway to help speed up the process, or you can turn on a ceiling fan. 

Frequently Asked Questions

What Removes Polyurethane Stains?

Acetone is the key to removing polyurethane stains. Acetone eats away at the substance on the carpet so that you can pick off the remaining pieces of dried polyurethane and vacuum it up.

How Do You Get a Finish Out of a Carpet?

Apply a corrosive substance such as acetone (your nail polish remover should contain it), apply a dab of water, wipe excess off and finish it all off with a steamer. The steam clean step is there to remove toxic fumes and substances from your carpet’s fibers.