How To Clean Out A Nail Polish Bottle

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When you reach the end of the nail polish bottle, give pause before tossing it out. There is still more you can do with it yet!

1

Add a few drops of nail polish thinner to the bottle. Put the lid back on firmly.^[1]
2

Give the bottle a good shake. The nail polish thinner will help to release any congealed nail polish, making it usable again.^[2]

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3

Use as usual, until it's all gone.

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1
Work over a surface where it's okay to make stains. One good way is to line a counter with several layers of newspaper and work over an old ice cream container placed on this paper surface.
- See Warnings below for ventilation and proper disposal.
2
Tip the bottle over to empty out any nail polish that will come out on its own. Tip into a lidded container ready for proper disposal.
- This step may not be applicable, if so, simply skip to the next step.
3
Add a few drops of nail polish thinner or paint thinner in the bottle if there are dried-up remnants of nail polish. Swish it about and dispose of the remains in a lidded container that you can dispose of properly. Don't wash it down the drain, as these contents may harm the environment.
- If you find there are dried-on blobs of polish that stubbornly resist removal, add nail polish thinner to cover, then soak for about five minutes. Then use a toothpick to pick off the stuck-on polish.
4

Add some acetone to finish cleaning out all polish residue. Add the lid on tightly. Shake this around for about a minute, to lift off any remains and pick up the last of the nail polish. This will also clean the brush. Tip into the container, then dispose of the container properly.^[3]
5

Allow to dry fully. Then rinse out with soapy water.
6

Allow to dry fully again. Once dried, it's ready for repurposing.
7
Clean the brush as you clean the bottle if you need it. It might be already cleaned with the bottle but may need additional cleaning upon closer inspection. Allow to fully dry before reusing.^[4]
- Only use non-toxic cleaners on the brush if the brush is to be reused on your body, although even if it's just for craft use, non-toxic is a good idea.
- If you don't need the brush but you do need the lid, such as for one of the storage options, simply snap the brush off at the highest point possible and dispose of it.
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1

Clean the bottle. See the cleaning method of the article for this. Remove the lid completely, as it is not needed for this project.
2

Decorate the bottle. Use nail polish from other bottles to paint pretty designs onto the bottle. For example, flowers, stripes, patterns, etc. Allow to dry.
3

Decide whether you'd like to add other features too. For example, you might stick on small artificial gems, beads or sequins.
4

Use. The tiny vase can be used to hold a small bunch of dried flowers or leaves, or it could hold incense sticks, or anything long and skinny that you find decorative.

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1

Clean the bottle. See the cleaning method for this. Keep the brush applicator intact.^[5]
2
Start experimenting with making your own nail polish colors. Choose eyeshadow colors that you think would be interesting when combined with nail polish colors. Choose one eyeshadow to one nail polish to begin with.^[6]
- Alternatively, choose clear nail polish if you just want the eyeshadow color.
3

Start adding drops of nail polish and small amounts of powdered or crushed eyeshadow to the cleaned bottle. ^[7]
4
Shake the bottle to combine the colors and items.
- If you like what you see, continue adding the colors in the same ratio, so as to make enough for continued use.
- If you don't like the colors, either abandon this combination (clean the bottle again), or adjust the ratios.
5

Keep experimenting. Making your own nail polish colors can be a lot of fun and will have people asking you where you get your colors from.

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1

Clean the bottle. See the cleaning method for this. Decide whether or not keeping the brush is useful by the end use you're seeking.
2

Use the bottle to keep loose makeup in. If makeup is powdery or liquid in nature, it may be suitable for storing in the bottle. This can be helpful if you have broken a container or if you only need a small amount to take with you to work or college.
3
Use the bottle to keep cosmetics in when traveling. You can add shampoo, conditioner, makeup, etc. to the little bottle for short travel trips. Even liquid detergent for washing your delicates could be stored in the bottle.
- Use it for taking nail polish remover with you when you travel. Just be sure to screw the lid on very tightly.
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The great thing about this method is that you can easily see what is stored inside the bottle, making craft work easier.

1

Clean the bottle. See the cleaning method for this.
2

Decide which craft items would benefit from being kept in a small storage container. Some suggestions include: Glitter, sequins, seed or tiny beads, small buttons, tiny modeling items, etc. Simply fill the bottle with these items, then attach the lid (with the brush snapped off). When you need the little items or glitter, they'll be very easy to locate and use.
3

Reuse the bottle as a glue dispenser. If you're tired of tipping up the huge bottle of craft glue every time, siphon some into the little glass bottle. Use the brush applicator in the lid to apply glue to your craft projects with ease.
4

Keep hobby or modeling paints inside the nail polish bottle. This makes it easy to mix colors too and keep the mixed color longer.

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Add New Question

Question

How can you clean out the bottle after you put makeup inside of it?

You can use liquid makeup remover and a tiny baby bottle brush or a pipe cleaner, or you can just pour the remover into it and shake it until the makeup is diluted. Then just wash it and you're done.
Question

How do I make glitter polish?

Take some glitter of your choice and apply it to transparent gel. Mix well until the mixture is as smooth as regular nail polish. Then apply to your nails. Wait for twenty minutes for best results.
Question

How do I remove printed labels from the outside of the nail polish bottle?

Fill your sink with hot water, a few squirts of dish soap, and a few cups of vinegar. Let the nail polish bottle soak in there for a few minutes and the label should peel right off.
Question

Any other ideas on what I can use the bottles for?

You can use the bottles to store small jewelry items like earrings or charms.
Question

Is there any way to re-purpose the polish after it dries out?

FAB4MERMAIDS

Community Answer

If it's a complete hard rock, you might take out the dry polish and use the bottle for some cute DIY project. If the polish is still pasty, add eye drops to revive it.
Question

What if nail polish remover doesn't work either?

Cecilia Flores

Top Answerer

Try using straight acetone. Shake it in the bottle several time a day, change the acetone before going to bed. Shake it before bed and let it sit for the whole night and shake it several times. Dump out the acetone and repeat until the bottle is clean. You can also do this with nail polish remover.
Question

Can I use nail polish remover instead of nail polish thinner?

The result won't be as good as when you use nail polish thinner, but it'll definitely work.
Question

What if I don't have nail polish thinner?

You can use a tiny bit of nail polish remover, but don't use too much.

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If a friend has a color you really like, ask if you can share some and siphon it into your newly cleaned bottle.
If you're camping and have very slim, long candles, the nail polish bottle might be just ideal for holding them upright.
Keep some of these little bottles clean and handy for collecting precious makeup or other liquids should the original container for such items accidentally break or crack. Having the bottles already cleaned and ready for use will give you the chance for fast rescues of expensive liquids!
Fill old bottles with memories, such as unusually colored soil from your travels, or sand from your favorite beaches. Label and date, so that you'll remember.
If your nail polish is water based, you might not even need nail polish thinner to clean it up. You might be able to use water alone to clean it.

Thanks for submitting a tip for review!

Always work in a well-ventilated area when handling chemicals such as nail polish thinner and acetone.
Never use old nail polish bottles for food or drink. The residue from the nail polish cannot be guaranteed to be fully removed.
Do not tip the contents of the nail polish container or the cleaning agents down the drain.
Disposal of nail polish and nail polish bottles is subject to waste management rules, as the contents are as problematic for the environment as paint. Therefore, in many places, nail polish is considered household hazardous waste.^[8] Contact your local waste management department to find out what method of disposal is preferred (in the USA, this will usually consist of dropping it off to those handling household hazardous waste).

Things You'll Need

Old bottles of nail polish
Nail polish thinner
Soapy water
Decorative items (optional)
Other nail polish
Eyeshadow in colors you like

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