Why Is There a Strange Nail Polish Smell in My House?

By HomeSmitten Team · · Updated

Why Is There a Strange Nail Polish Smell in My House?

The quick answer

A nail polish smell is almost always a solvent, usually acetone or a similar liquid, from an open bottle, a spill, glue, paint, lacquer or a new finish. These vapors are flammable and can cause headache and dizziness, so ventilate and find the source. If no product explains it, check whether it's on someone's breath, and keep gas and electrical causes in mind.

The smell of nail polish remover is the smell of a flammable solvent. That's the stake. Acetone vapor can ignite from a pilot light or a spark, and breathing too much causes headache and dizziness. Small spills are easy to clear. A smell with no obvious product is worth a proper search.

Safety First

  • Keep flames and sparks away. NIOSH lists acetone as a Class IB flammable liquid with a flash point of 0°F. Poison Control says to store and use nail polish remover away from flames, cigarettes and heat.
  • Ventilate and leave if it's strong. If you're worried about fumes, Poison Control's advice is to open windows and doors and leave the building. NIOSH lists eye, nose and throat irritation, headache and dizziness as acetone exposure symptoms.
  • Rotten egg or sulfur smell means gas. Leave first, then call your gas company from outside. Don't flip switches or use a phone near the smell (Connecticut's utility regulator).
  • Several people with headache, dizziness and nausea. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission calls carbon monoxide colorless and odorless. If a CO alarm sounds, go outside and call 911.
  • Someone swallowed a remover or has trouble breathing. Call Poison Control on 1-800-222-1222 (free, 24 hours) or 911.

For the other smells that call for action, see the acetone section of our smells guide, or the full strange smells in the house page.

Products That Smell Like Polish Remover

Random acetone smell in house

Poison Control says nail polish remover is usually acetone. Acetone-free versions may contain ethyl acetate, butyl acetate, isopropyl alcohol, methyl ethyl ketone and other solvents. MedlinePlus lists acetone in nail polish remover, some cleaning solutions, some glues (including rubber cement) and some lacquers. NIOSH describes ethyl acetate as having an ether-like, fruity odor, so not every remover smells exactly the same.

That gives a short list to check:

  • An open or leaking bottle of remover, in a bathroom drawer, a bag or a child's room.
  • A spill under a sink or vanity that soaked into the cabinet floor.
  • Glues and adhesives, especially rubber cement or contact cement.
  • Paint thinners, strippers and lacquers in a closet, garage or basement.
  • Craft and hobby supplies, including markers and model cement.

Close the container, wipe any spill with a paper towel, and ventilate. Putting the towel outdoors in a closed container is our judgment, not a sourced step. The EPA lists paints, strippers, solvents, adhesives and hobby supplies as household sources of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and says gases can leak even from closed containers. It advises keeping opened containers of unused paint and similar products out of living spaces and taking old chemicals to a local collection day instead of the trash.

New Finishes and Stored Chemicals

If nobody has done their nails, think about the building. Fresh paint, varnish, floor finish, cabinet lacquer and glued-down flooring all give off solvent smells while they dry. The EPA says paints, lacquers, strippers and varnishes release gases while they dry and while they're stored, and that building materials, furnishings and adhesives are VOC sources too. Its advice: increase ventilation when using these products and use them outdoors where you can.

A solvent smell that appears a few days after painting or refinishing something is expected. The EPA says that not much is known about the health effects of the levels usually found in homes. Poison Control lists the effects of VOC exposure as eye, nose and throat irritation, headache, dizziness and nausea, so stop and ventilate if you get them.

Dry-cleaned clothes

The EPA also lists dry-cleaned clothing as a source. If a freshly cleaned garment smells strongly of chemicals, the EPA says not to accept it until it's been properly dried, and to try another dry cleaner if later returns still smell.

What about the old claims about plumbing or HVAC?

Many older articles blame plumbing or air conditioning for a nail polish smell. We found no source that supports either. HVAC.com does say chemical odors from a furnace can mean a broken heat exchanger, so a smell that only appears when the heat is on is worth a technician's call. A smell from a drain is more likely sewer gas, which has its own causes in our sewage smell guide.

If It's on Someone's Breath

Cleveland Clinic says ketones can give breath a sweet, fruity or nail-polish-remover-like smell. Ketones form when the body burns fat for energy. A keto diet, fasting, a lot of extra protein or very hard exercise can do it, and that isn't usually dangerous for most people.

The serious cause is diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA), which can be fatal if untreated. Cleveland Clinic says: "If you have diabetes, seek emergency care for fruity breath." Warning signs include extreme thirst, frequent urination, nausea or vomiting, belly pain, rapid deep breathing, extreme tiredness and confusion. DKA can develop within 24 hours, faster with vomiting. MedlinePlus also lists a fruity odor and sweet taste in the mouth among the symptoms of acetone poisoning.

If the smell is only around one person and you can't find a product, raise it with a doctor.

Clear the Smell Safely

  1. Find and close the source. Take out stored products you no longer need.
  2. Open windows and run a fan so air moves through the house, not just in the room.
  3. Keep pilot lights, candles and cigarettes away until the smell is gone.
  4. For skin contact, Poison Control says wash with soap and water right away. For eyes, flush with water for 10 to 15 minutes.
  5. Store removers up and out of sight of children.
  6. If the smell keeps returning with no product, look at the other causes on this page and call a professional for any burnt, electrical or furnace smell.
What you findWhat it likely isDo this
Open bottle or wet spillRemover, acetoneClose it, wipe, ventilate, no flames
Smell after painting or new floorsDrying finish, VOCsVentilate, keep lids closed, wait for it to fade
Smell near stored cans or gluesLeaking containerMove outdoors, dispose at a collection day
Follows one personKetonesDiabetes means emergency care, otherwise see a doctor
Rotten egg or sulfurGasLeave, call from outside

Frequently Asked Questions

Is a nail polish smell in my house dangerous?

It can be. The usual cause is acetone or a similar solvent, which is flammable and can cause headache and dizziness. Ventilate, keep flames away and find the source. If a child swallowed a remover, call Poison Control on 1-800-222-1222.

Why does my house smell like nail polish when no one has used any?

Common causes are a leaking bottle, a spill, glues or lacquers in storage, new paint or finish, or ketones on someone's breath. Check storage areas and cabinets first.

Can a gas leak smell like nail polish?

No. Natural gas is given a rotten egg odor. If you smell sulfur, leave and call your gas company from outside.

Is nail polish remover smell harmful to breathe?

NIOSH lists acetone vapor as an irritant to the eyes, nose and throat, causing headache and dizziness. Use remover in a well-ventilated area, as Poison Control advises.

How long does the smell last?

We found no reliable timeline. It lasts as long as the source does. Remove the product or finish, ventilate, and it should fade. If it doesn't, you may not have found the source.

Sources