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How to Remove Tar

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Category: Home Improvement

Tar stains happen and Eric Stromer has a great tip on how to get rid of them. What's his secret stain-fighting weapon? Kerosene. Tar and kerosene have similar chemical properties, which is why they work to dissolve each other. Here, Eric shows you his trade secrets on how to remove tar stains from carpet, upholstery and other surfaces with ease.

Step 1: Bust Out the Kerosene
Kerosene is an organic petroleum product similar to tar this chemical similarity is the reason why it is so effective in dissolving tar.

Step 2: Scrape
Using a putty knife or another flat hard object scrape up as much of the tar as possible.

Step 3: Glasses and Gloves
Put on some safety glasses and some chemically resistant gloves, kerosene is great for removing stains but you don’t want to get any on you.

Step 4: Sponge
Completely cover the tar stain with a folded piece of paper towel. Using a sponge, saturate the paper towel thoroughly with kerosene; the tar will be wicked up into the paper towel. Be sure and change the paper towels as they absorb the tar. When finished be sure and let air out to allow any remaining kerosene to dissipate.

Step 5: Tips
Kerosene is highly flammable so it is a good idea to keep a fire extinguisher handy before you begin cleaning; also test a hidden spot of your carpet first, make sure the kerosene won’t discolor your flooring.

Items You'll Need for this GMC Trade Secret

  • Kerosene
  • Putty Knife
  • Safety Glasses
  • Chemically Resistant Gloves
  • Sponge
  • Paper Towels
  • Fire Extinguisher

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142 Comments

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kc2aup

All are very good comments. You can also use diesel fuel. This will also break down the tar in no time at all. Use a mild soap afterwards to clean up the area.

November 28 2011 at 12:27 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Laura LALA LF43

I used WD40 to remove tar from our carpet worked like a dream. Spray part of stain then use white paper towel and blot blot blot...spray more part of the stain then blot--repeat and all the tar will be gone..Blot up any excess DW40---Then get DAWN dish soap...and clean area --rinse--Blot--let area dry--Fabuloso like it never was there!!!

November 27 2011 at 7:25 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
brnlegs

avon skin so soft works great. I had tar on my carpet in my car and in my house and I used skin so soft and it got every bit out.

November 24 2011 at 9:20 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
jeffnorgard

Now the carpet has kerosene soaked into it, and the room sticks for days, weeks, or longer. Plus kerosene is somewhat oily, if you have ever gotten it on your hands you would know this, and now more than likely the spot that was cleaned of tar, will now have other particles continually sticking to it, creating anothe rspon on the carpet..

Not a solution. The best product for tar removal is the acid in the peel of an orange, lemon, or grapfruit. It is completely natural, is not flamable or toxic. Granted it takes more work to get the stain out, but there are no bad side effects created.

October 03 2011 at 12:16 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
dad

Baby oil is much easier to deal with. Soak the tar in baby oil, then clean up with a rag with dish soap.

October 03 2011 at 1:22 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
viviansharp2

what will remove caulking compound from the carpet?
Viviansharp2 @aol.com

October 02 2011 at 8:48 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
kngfsh7

What do you use to get deck stain off of siding?

October 02 2011 at 3:50 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
brianacallahan

Suntan lotion works too... for your info

September 05 2011 at 10:33 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
mhsden

W-D 40 works really good on tar and alot of other stains it also gets tar it off your car with out harmiing the paint and will remove most spray paint if you have a low life taging things

September 05 2011 at 8:12 AM Report abuse +1 rate up rate down Reply
cparios

comments listed are good. kerosene stinks and is tough to get rid of. scented lamp oil will also work. If possible, put paper towels under carpet to wick away stain that washes through when applying solvent.

September 05 2011 at 8:10 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply

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