Have you ever walked into a room in your house and caught a whiff of something strangely similar to nail polish?
This distinctive and unexpected scent can be perplexing, especially when you haven’t indulged in any recent DIY manicures.
While it may be easy to dismiss a fleeting nail polish-esque fragrance as your imagination, the persistent presence of this odor likely indicates an underlying issue that requires further investigation.
In this article, we’ll explore the various sources that could be causing your house to smell like a nail salon and provide actionable solutions to help banish the odor for good.
Why Your House Smells Like Nail Polish Remover And Ways To Get Rid Of It
Several reasons could be responsible for the nail polish smell in your home. In this section, we’ll look at all the most common reasons and different ways to eliminate the nail polish smell.
1a.) Cause: Hidden Spills
If you’ve noticed a bothersome nail polish-like odor permeating your home, one of the most common culprits is hidden household spills. But not all spills can produce this unique polish-like smell, right? Hence, the spills responsible for the polish-like smell include:
1. Nail Polish Remover
Hidden spills of nail polish remover may be responsible for that stubborn nail salon smell lingering in your home. This pungent odor, reminiscent of fresh manicures, has a surprising source – the powerful chemical acetone found in nail polish removers. Acetone and other solvents allow nail polish to dissolve nails. But when bottles leak in closets or drip under furniture, these chemicals are unleashed into the air. As they evaporate, their concentrated fragrance overpowers the room.
2. Paint, Varnishes
The chemicals used in paints, varnishes, stains, and other painting supplies can produce odors similar to nail polish. Paints contain solvents that evaporate as they dry, releasing VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds) into the indoor air. Oil-based paints tend to have a more pungent smell. So, hidden paint spills or improperly sealed cans of paints, varnishes, polyurethanes, and other painting products can produce persistent nail polish-like odors in your home.
3. Other Chemicals
Household products like cleaners, adhesives, and automotive supplies contain strong chemical ingredients that can smell like nail polish. For example, gasoline, brake fluid, and other automotive chemicals have an acetone-like smell. While glues and adhesives contain solvents that evaporate into the air. Cleaning products with harsh chemicals can produce foul odors as well. Spills from these household products can make your home smell like nail polish.
1b.) Solution: Identify and Clean Up Spills
If you have recently done any painting, staining, automotive work, or used cleaning chemicals or nail polish in your home, then properly cleaning up and containing materials will eliminate lingering odors.
You can start by identifying rags, sponges, or other materials that have come in contact with chemicals and seal them in plastic bags before disposal to prevent further odor release. You can also check the labels for proper disposal directions.
For empty containers that held chemicals, paints, etc., make sure that the lids are tightly sealed, and put them in bags before dumping them in the trash. Never dump toxic products down drains, instead check to see if your community has special facilities for household hazardous waste.
Finally, wash all reusable brushes, trays, rollers, and other equipment using the appropriate type of soap and water after use. Rinse them thoroughly and allow them to air dry before securely storing them in sealed plastic bins or bags.
2a.) Cause: Plumbing Issues
Another very common reason behind the nail polish-like smell in your home is your plumbing system. If there are issues or problems with your plumbing system, gases that smell like nail polish can get into your home. Curious about this problem? Let’s take a look at it in more detail.
1. Leaks Allowing Sewer Gas to Enter
Faulty plumbing that allows sewer gas to enter your home is a common source of nail polish-like odors. How is that so? You might wonder. The reason is sewer gas contains hydrogen sulfide gas which has a foul rotten egg smell. But as it interacts with the air, sewer gas can take on a chemical odor reminiscent of nail polish. The chemical odor gets into your home via plumbing leaks, deteriorated pipes, and faulty seals.
2. Faulty Seals Around Drains/Toilets
Improperly installed or deteriorated seals around the drain and toilet bases can allow sewer gas to enter your home. The seals in the drains and toilets were designed to prevent sewer gas release while allowing water to drain. But cracks, gaps, or malfunctioning seals, cause the gases to leak upwards.
3. Blocked Drains Causing Gas Buildup
When drains become blocked with grease, soap residue, or other debris, the blockage can obstruct the flow of wastewater. Asides obstructing wastewater flow, blocked drains cause sewer gas to backup and release foul odors. The buildup of hydrogen sulfide gas from a clogged drain or toilet can smell like nail polish. Routinely cleaning the drains to remove accumulations of hair and gunk will help in preventing blockages and on the long run, nail polish-like odors.
2b.) Solution: Address Plumbing Issues
To address plumbing issues causes your home to smell like nail polish, you need to inspect and repair leaks, replace faulty seals, and clear drain blockages.
Step 1: Inspect and repair leaks
Start by inspecting all visible plumbing pipes and fittings for signs of corrosion, damage, or water leaks that can allow sewer gas to enter your home. Look out for staining, mineral deposits, or rust indicating pipe corrosion. Also listen for running water in walls or dripping under sinks. Probe questionable areas using a moisture meter. Then proceed with replacing any leaking, corroded or defective pipes and fittings. If you don’t do the inspection and repairs on your own, hire a professional plumber to help you out.
Step 2: Replace faulty seals
Next, examine the seals around all drains and toilet bases for cracks, gaps, or signs of deterioration. Apply weight to seals and check for compression or movement. If there’s compression or movement, carefully remove the old sealant and use a utility knife to scrape the area completely clean. Apply fresh plumber’s putty or a wax-free sealant like silicone caulk as directed by the manufacturer.
Step 3: Clear drain blockages
To clear drain blockages, pour ½ cup of baking soda down the drain followed by ½ cup of vinegar. Cover the drain for 5 minutes – this gives it enough time to create bubbles and foams that help break up debris. After 5 minutes, flush with hot water. For stubborn clogs, use a plunger or drain snake. You can also try to loosen clogs by boiling water and slowly pouring it down the drain. Try to avoid using chemical drain cleaners because some can damage the pipes. Once your drains become clear, prevent future blockage by regularly maintaining your drains.
3a.) Cause: HVAC System Odors
If you use a HVAC system in your home, it could be the culprit behind the nail polish smell, but it is often overlooked. Multiple issues affecting the cooling and heating units can creates noxious smells (similar to nail polish) permeating living spaces.
1. Dirty Filters
If you fail to regularly replace dirty HVAC filters, it’ll allow dust, dander, and other particles to accumulate. This accumulation leads to restricted airflow and growth of mold or bacteria. The buildup or circulation of these contaminants can cause your HVAC system to emit a chemical or nail polish-like smell.
2. Mold and Mildew in Ducts
Excess moisture in an HVAC system promotes mold and mildew growth, especially inside the air ducts. As a result, when air passes over the mold colonies, it disseminates a musty smell throughout the home. These odors can smell like nail polish chemicals.
3. Refrigerant Leaks
Chemical refrigerants are used in HVAC systems for the cooling process. The refrigerants circulate through the coils and over time, those coils can corrode or even develop leaks. When a refrigerant leak occurs, it emits potent chemical fumes similar to that of nail polish. Refrigerant leaks can be detected and repaired but it requires professional HVAC service. Note: Complete replacement of the HVAC unit may be necessary if it uses older refrigerants (like the banned R-22) that have phased out due to environmental concerns.
3b.) Solution: Clean and Maintain HVAC Systems
Cleaning and maintaining your HVAC system will eliminate the nail polish-like smell in your home if they are responsible for it. To maintain your HVAC systems, you need to change the filters regularly, address moisture or leaks, and clean the ducts. Now let’s see how to do all that in detail:
Step 1: Change filters regularly
Mark your calendar to replace HVAC filters every 1-3 months depending on use and your manufacturer’s recommendations. Take note of your filter size and buy replacements in bulk for convenience. When changing the filters, make sure that airflow arrows point in the proper direction.
Step 2: Address moisture/leaks
Excess moisture permits mildew and mold growth in HVAC systems. To address mold and moisture issues, regularly check the condensate drain line and pan for blockages that can cause water to back up. If blockages are found, pour ¼ cup each of vinegar and baking soda down the line to clear it – don’t just do it once, repeat it monthly to keep the drain line clear all the time. Also, insulate air ducts located in unconditioned spaces to reduce condensation. Finally, repair damaged ducts, seals, coils, or other leaks to limit or reduce humidity problems.
Step 3: Professional duct cleaning
If nail polish-like (or moldy) odors still persist, have a technician inspect your ductwork for fungal growth or other contaminants. Based on their findings, they may recommend sanitizing treatments or full duct cleaning services.
4a.) Cause: Household Products and Chemicals
Do you know that household products and chemicals can also be the reason behind the nail polish smell in your home? Well, if you didn’t, now you know. We are going to briefly see how household products (e.g., your cleaning supplies or air fresheners) can influence the air in your home.
1. Cleaning Supplies
The powerful chemical ingredients used in creating cleaning products can react with each other and the air to produce unexpected smells, including those similar to nail polish. Mixing products together or using them in unventilated areas allows concentrated chemical fumes to enter the indoor air. Always use cleaning products as directed and ensure you always have proper ventilation. If you are still experiencing the nail polish smell, you can opt for natural cleaning alternatives instead.
2. Air Fresheners and Candles
Even though air fresheners and scented candles are intended to produce pleasant aromas, they still contain synthetic fragrance chemicals that can react poorly with other household scents. The combination and concentration of air fresheners or scented candles with cleaning products or existing odors can create an unpleasant nail polish-like smell in most cases. In this case, you can try avoiding the overuse of scented products while ensuring adequate ventilation.
4b.) Solution: Properly Store and Use Household Chemicals
When using household products, make sure to always read the product labels thoroughly before use and follow all the instructions outlined in the label. Never mix chemicals or cleaning products together unless expressly stated on the labels. Mixing these products can create dangerous chemical reactions. Always wear gloves and other protective gear when using cleaning or chemical products. Do not use products that have gone past their expiration dates as they’ll lose their effectiveness and may smell stale.
5a.) Cause: Poor Ventilation and Indoor Air Quality
Just like all the other reasons mentioned so far, poor ventilation is another cause of your indoor air smelling like nail polish. Naturally, you’d wonder how and why. Continue reading to discover the answer to those questions.
1. Gaps/Cracks Allowing Pollutants to Enter
If your home is poorly sealed, it can allow outside pollutants and odors to infiltrate the indoor air. Gaps around the windows, doors, wiring, and plumbing penetrative allow contaminants to enter your home. For example, something as simple as the car exhaust fumes coming from your garage can take on a chemical odor resembling nail polish.
2. Gas Leaks
Natural gas contains mercaptans which have a strong rotten egg smell. But when gas leaks from appliances, pipes, or meters, the mercaptans oxidize and take on a more chemical nail polish remover-like scent.
3. Pest Infestations
Pests like rodents, cockroaches, and even spiders can emit odors that permeate a home. The droppings, food, and nesting materials of these pests can produce pungent smells. When the odors produced interact and mix with air, they can create a chemical scent similar to nail polish.
5b.) Solution: Improve Ventilation and Air Quality
Most of the time, the nail polish-like smell in your home is as a result of your home not being ventilated. Sometimes simple fixes like opening your windows every now and then can fix many problems related to air quality.
Other things you can try include:
1. Seal gaps and cracks
Inspect areas around doors, windows, pipes, wiring, and any exterior openings for gaps allowing outdoor pollutants inside your home. If found, seal them using caulk, spray foam, or weatherstripping to create an air barrier. While you are at, also ensure that attic hatches and pull-down ladders/stairs have seals. Ensuring that you have tight seals in all the areas mentioned improves insulation and Indoor air quality. If there are so many openings in your home, consult professionals for whole-house air sealing services.
2. Address gas leaks
If you perceive a nail polish smell near gas appliances, evacuate the area immediately and call the gas company or fire department to test for leaks. They’ll use a leak detection fluid or electric sensors to check for leaks and any identified leak will be repaired before the appliance can be safely used again.
3. Professional extermination of pests
If you think the nail polish smell is a result of a pest problem, then contact a reputable exterminator to identify and eliminate the source. After infestations have been eradicated by professionals, ensure that all entry points are sealed to keep new pests out. Thoroughly clean all droppings, nests, food sources, etc. And follow your exterminator’s instructions for continued monitoring and prevention.
Odor Removal Solutions
If you have the solutions for each of the problems above but you are still unable to get rid of the nail polish smell in your home, here are a few more tips you can try to eliminate the smell once and for all.
1. Activated charcoal
Activated charcoal absorbs odors easily. Place bowls of activated charcoal around the rooms where the nail polish smell is present. As air circulates, the charcoal will soak up odor molecules. Leave bowls out overnight, then you can reuse the charcoal for a few weeks before replacing it. Activated charcoal is inexpensive and available at most stores.
2. Baking soda
Baking soda is a natural deodorizer. Lightly sprinkle baking soda on carpets, fabrics, and affected areas overnight to help absorb odors. Let it sit for 12-24 hours then vacuum up. Baking soda can be sprinkled inside refrigerators, freezers, and other enclosed spaces to keep smells at bay too.
3. White vinegar
Fill shallow bowls with white vinegar and set them around the rooms with nail polish odor. The acetic acid in vinegar absorbs unpleasant smells. Replace the vinegar daily until odors dissipate. A ratio of 1 part vinegar to 2 parts water in a spray bottle also eliminates smells when spritzed on surfaces.
4. Coffee grounds
Place fresh coffee grounds in small bowls around the smelliest areas. The grounds’ aromatic oils help neutralize strong chemical odors. Exchange the used grounds for fresh daily. The spent grounds can be used to fertilize plants.
5. Citrus peels
Gather leftover lemon, orange, lime, and grapefruit peels and place them in a glass bowl. The natural citrus oils help mask chemical smells. For longer effects, periodically poke holes in the peels. Replace every few days as the peels dry out.
6. Air purifiers
HEPA air purifiers actively filter and refresh indoor air. They remove airborne particulates like dust, dander, and smoke that can carry scents. Activated charcoal filters in purifiers also absorb gases and odors. Position purifiers near odor hotspots and run continuously until the smell clears.
Conclusion
With a bit of detective work and some simple solutions, you can successfully eradicate any mysterious nail polish smells that sneak into your home.
Identifying the underlying cause and addressing it at the source will provide the most effective and long-lasting results.
While strange scents can be perplexing, arming yourself with the knowledge provided in this article will help you quickly pinpoint problems like hidden spills, faulty appliances, poor ventilation, or lingering fumes.
Implementing the recommended tips for thorough cleaning, maintenance, and odor elimination can swiftly neutralize unpleasant odors and restore indoor air quality.
Remember—act promptly when you notice a bothersome nail polish aroma, as many culprits can deteriorate and become health hazards if left unchecked.
Partnering with qualified professionals is key for issues beyond DIY expertise. With persistence and the right strategies, you can bid farewell to chemical odors and keep your living space smelling fresh.
Related Article: Fridge Smells Like Chemicals
Related Article: How To Stop Smells From Coming Through Walls
David Kessler is a CSLB licensed contractor with over 25 years of experience. He is specialized in home building, construction, and electrical works; he also has a keen eye for interior design and, over the years, has collaborated with various architects.
