Tar Stain Removal

By Matt Oden | Comments | Oil and Wax Stains → Tar

Tar stain removal can be a difficult process. Tar can come from cigarettes or from the tar that is used on driveways and roads. Like most other stains the longer you allow the stain to set the harder it will be to remove.

Tar Stain Removal From Fabrics

What you will need:

Pretreatment laundry stain remover
Heavy-duty liquid detergent
Chlorine bleach or oxygen bleach
Dry cleaning solvent
Absorbent paper towels

Wet tar stains are much easier to remove than dry tar stains. Like most stain removal processes you will need to start the cleaning process right away. To aid you in the tar stain removal from clothing you can follow these simple steps:

Saturate the area with the pretreatment laundry stain remover. The aerosol types of pretreatment work better for these types of stains.
Wait about 1 minute for the pretreatment to start penetrating the stain. For the most stubborn stains, rub with heavy-duty liquid detergent.
Wash the clothing immediately after the 1 minute wait time. Remember not to put the garment in the dryer if the tar stain remains. It will then be impossible to remove the tar stain.
If the stain remains, you can soak or dry the clothing in chlorine bleach (if it is safe to use on the stained clothing) or in oxygen bleach.
For those extra stubborn tar stains, apply a dry cleaning solvent to the back of the stain. Make sure you place the stained clothing over a few absorbent paper towels as to not make a mess. Let the dry cleaning solvent dry and then rinse with lukewarm water.
Finally, wash the fabric as directed on the back of the tag. After the clothing is laundered ensure that the tar stain has been removed completely before drying. If the stain persists repeat the tar stain removal steps above.

Many think it is impossible to clean tar from clothing, but that it not entirely true. The longer you allow the tar to set the harder it will be. Most tar stains are stubborn, but not impossible to rid your clothing of.

Tar Stain removal From Carpets

What you will need:

Clean absorbent towels
Carpet Shampoo
A dull knife
A Vacuum

Tar can be brought into your house a number of different ways. There might be a smoker in the house and the residue can stain the carpet or maybe you just had your driveway sealed and your 10 year old forgot to take his shoes off before he walked on the carpet. No matter how it got there many are concerned tar stain removal will be impossible. In most cases tar stains are not impossible to remove if you follow these simple steps:

Begin the tar stain removal process by removing any of the wet tar from the surface. You can do this by blotting the liquid up with a clean absorbent paper towel. Once the liquid is removed you can then scrape the dry tar from the surface with a dull knife. Take care not to cut yourself!
Gently sponge the tar stain with cool water and blot several times. Apply the diluted carpet shampoo (a ratio of 1:4 shampoo to water) with a brush or a towel. Since you are using harsher cleaning tools take care to not rip the carpet.
Let the area dry thoroughly.
Once the area has dried you can now vacuum the surface.
If the tar stain is removed you have completed the tar stain removal process, but if the stain still persists you can repeat the steps above.

Removing tar stains from carpets is a little easier than most think if you act quickly. Remember when scraping the area try and be gentle as to not rip the carpet or create a bald area. These could be more catastrophic than the tar stain itself.

Tar Stain Removal From Upholstery

What you will need:

Dry cleaning solvent
White cloth

There are many different theories on removing tar stains from upholstery. The easiest way to tar stain removal can be found in the following steps:

To begin you should use a clean white cloth to blot the tar stain with the dry cleaning solution. Ensure that you have completely worked in the dry cleaning solvent.
Continue to blot the dry cleaning solvent into the upholstery until the solvent is absorbed. This step is important. You do not want dry cleaning solvent left on the surface of your upholstery.
If the stain remains you can continue to repeat steps 1 and 2 until the tar stain has been removed completely.

As stated before there are many different theories on tar stain removal on upholstery, but this process seems to be the easiest and the most effective.