How to remove tar stains from clothes, carpet and cars

How to remove tar stains

1. 1

   Scrape off the tar

   Chill soft tar with ice until it firms up, then scrape off as much as you can with a dull knife.

   Why: Cold tar is brittle and lifts off; warm tar smears.

2. 2

   Sponge solvent through the back

   Lay the stain face down on paper towels and sponge the back with dry-cleaning solvent or a solvent-based prewash. Replace the towels as they darken.

   Why: Tar dissolves in solvent and transfers into the towels instead of spreading through the fabric.

3. 3

   Let it work, then add detergent

   Leave the solvent 10 to 15 minutes, then rub in liquid laundry detergent and scrub in hot water. If any tar remains, rub in detergent again.

   Why: Detergent removes the oily residue and the solvent itself. This is Iowa State Extension's method.

4. 4

   Wash in the hottest safe water

   Once the solvent has evaporated, launder in the hottest water the fabric allows.

   Why: Hot water and detergent remove the remaining film.

5. 5

   Air-dry and check

   Air-dry and check for dark spots before using the dryer.

   Why: Heat softens leftover tar and spreads it.

Why tar won't wash out with water

Tar is a dark, sticky material made from carbon-rich sources such as coal, wood or petroleum, and road tar and asphalt behave much the same on fabric. It softens when warm, hardens with age and dissolves in oil-type solvents but not water. It also carries black material deep into the fibers. That oily, resinous behavior puts it with the wax and resin stains, and the Kentucky and Iowa State guides treat it as a combination stain: solvent first for the oily part, then detergent.

Washing before you use a solvent is the classic mistake. The warm water softens the tar, the agitation spreads it, and it can smear onto other clothes and the washer drum.

By situation

Old, hardened tar

Chip off what you can, then use solvent for the residue. Old stain bulletins softened hardened tar with petroleum jelly or lard before solvent and soapy water; that's traditional, with weak evidence, and the grease then needs detergent.

It went through the wash

It has probably spread. Re-treat with solvent from the back, then detergent, and rewash. Check the washer drum and the rest of the load.

Beach tar on feet, shoes or towels

Towels and washable clothes get the solvent and detergent method. Leather shoes should go to a specialist, as the Kentucky extension guide advises.

Tar on car paint

Owner's manuals advise removing tar spots from paint as quickly as possible to avoid lasting damage, using products made for automotive finishes rather than household solvents or strong detergents.

Tar on carpet

The Carpet and Rug Institute's order for asphalt is a dry-cleaning solvent on a cloth, then a dilute dish-detergent solution, then a professional. Never pour solvent onto carpet.

Silk, wool and dry-clean-only items

Take them to a cleaner. See tar on clothes for whites, colors and delicate fabrics.

What not to do

• Don't wash before removing the tar. Heat and agitation spread it through the garment and onto other items.
• Don't put solvent-damp items in the dryer. Solvent vapors are a fire risk. Let them evaporate fully first.
• Don't pour solvent onto carpet. It can damage the backing. Apply it with a cloth.
• Don't use gasoline or other fuels as stain removers. They're highly flammable. Modern extension guidance uses dry-cleaning solvents instead.

Other methods that work

Adhesive remover

Iowa State lists adhesive remover for tree sap, tar and sticker residue.

Caution: Test it, ventilate, and wash the item afterward.

Petroleum jelly or cooking oil

Oils soften tar, an old method from historical stain bulletins. Weak evidence.

Caution: It adds an oil stain that then needs detergent.

Stain still there?

A gray shadow is left after the tar is gone

Rub in liquid detergent and wash again. On whites, an oxygen bleach soak can help.

Tar smeared onto other clothes in the wash

Treat each spot with solvent from the back, then detergent, and rewash. Wipe the drum with solvent on a cloth, then with soapy water, before the next load.

Safety

• Solvents are flammable and toxic. Ventilate, keep them away from flames, and let them evaporate before washing.
• Wear gloves when working with solvents.

Never mix cleaning products; see chemicals you must never combine.

Questions

Other wax, gum and resin

• Crayon stains
• Gum stains
• Tree sap stains
• Wax stains