Saturday, July 25, 2015

And Off Goes The Polish!

Tonight I noticed the polish on my toes was looking chipped and needed to be replaced.  I decided that tomorrow I'd treat myself to a mid-summer pedicure at a nail salon, but having the salon remove the old polish is pricy, so I decided to take it off myself.  However, when I pulled out the bottle of nail polish remover it was almost empty.  There was just enough to saturate a couple of cotton balls, which only removed some of the polish.  Most of it remained. What to do?

All of a sudden I had a revelation. One of the main ingredients in the nail polish remover is acetone. I had some acetone paint remover left over from a long-ago decorating project in the basement.  I wondered if it would work on my nails?

I pulled the gallon-sized container down from its spot on a shelf and blew off a couple of cobwebs.  Because of the strong smell of the industrial strength paint remover I decided to do the job outside on the back patio.  I poured a small amount into the cap, then dipped a cotton ball in and touched it to my toenail.  The polish melted away immediately!  It only took two minutes to complete the entire job. I came in with natural-colored nails, which I washed well with soapy water to remove any remaining chemical.

I can't wait to pick out a new 'piggy' color at the salon tomorrow.

Five years ago today: Garden Update

10 comments:

  1. creative solution, I would've thought it was too strong.

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    1. It probably was, but I figured that if I washed it off quickly there wouldn't be too much damage done.

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  2. Brilliant! I'm glad that worked! I wouldn't do it too often though, because apart from any risk of absorbing it through the skin (which I have no idea about, but might be possible) that stuff will strip all the oils out of your nails, too, and leave them brittle.

    Have fun at the salon. :)

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    1. I'm NOT planning on using paint remover on a regular basis! Fingernail polish remover is now on my list for the next big grocery shopping.

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  3. I do my own nails. I've never had a pedicure.

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    1. My professional pedicures are few and far between-I think the last one I had was in the spring of 2012.

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  4. Smart idea, one I wouldn't have thought of! That surprised me that the salson would charge you extra to remove the polish. I don't often have my nails done, but that's always been included as part of the service.

    I should probably repolish my nails too.

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    1. Maybe there are salons that throw in polish removal, but the one closest to my house charges...or at least they did last time I was there three years ago.

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  5. It's amazing when we find other things around the house that do the job equally well.

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    1. It just proves the old saying 'there's more than one way to do anything'.

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