How to Remove Tar and Asphalt from Clothing

Preparing for Removal

Peel off as much tar as possible before treating. You can use a dull knife to gently scrape the tar off the fabric. Although hard tar is easier to pick off, the sooner you are able to pick the tar off, the easier the stain will be to remove. If the residue is very hard to get off, try rubbing some petroleum jelly on it and waiting a few minutes before trying to scrape.

Test your chosen method on a small area or one garment. Some fabrics may be lightened in color, stained, weakened or have change in texture, grain or the lay of its nap from some of these cleaning methods.

Do not dry with heat.

Removing a Thick Tar Piece/Glob (Freezing Method)

Put pieces or cubes of ice in a plastic bag and rub the bag over the tar, if a piece or glob of tar is stuck to the fabric.

Let the tar freeze (harden) to become brittle.

Peel away the brittle tar with finger nails or a smooth, dull knife (like a butter knife or case knife), spoon or an ice cream stick, when tar has hardened.

Removing Thin Smears or Spots (Oiling Method)

Coat and soak with one of the following oily products/solvents: Warmed (not too hot) lard, bacon grease or chicken fat-drippings; Vaseline, petroleum jelly, or chest vapor rub, mineral oil; Automobile tar and bug remover; Vegetable cooking oil; Orange hand cleaner.

Or, take clothing outdoors and spray the spot with penetrating oil (WD40 or such) -- not near a flame or cigarette, etc.

Similarly, take clothing outdoors and dab a small amount of white kerosene, paint thinner, mineral spirits, turpentine, alcohol or lamp-oil (not gasoline) onto a persistent stain with a white paper towel or cleaning rag -- not near a flame or cigarette, etc.

Consider using fingernail polish remover as your solvent -- not near a flame or cigarette, etc.

Remove dissolved, oiled, greased tar by rubbing with paper towel or cleaning rag.

Repeat oily treatments, before washing: try a different solvent (volatile kinds, kerosene for instance), if the cooking fat or oil wasn't sufficient -- choosing from options above for stubborn spots.

Cleaning with Detergent

Do this after one of the previous methods, or by itself.

Treat with a prewash stain remover. Prewash stain removers come as a stick, a spray, or a gel. Test the prewash stain remover on a part of your clothes that won't be noticed to make sure it doesn't affect the color of your garment. Apply the prewash stain remover directly to the stain. For sticks, rub the stain liberally with the stain remover. When using a spray stain remover, spray the stain until it is fully saturated. A gel stain remover should be applied liberally, until the stain is covered. Let the prewash stain remover sit on the stain for a period of time. Check the bottle for instructions on how much time to let it work.

Apply a liquid enzyme laundry detergent to the stain. Tar and asphalt stains are oil stains, so you need an enzyme laundry detergent to remove them. Pour the enzyme laundry detergent directly onto the stain. Use a towel or paper towels to tamp the stain by pressing firmly on the stain and then lifting the towel back up. Press the stain several times with the towel, making sure to use a clean part of the towel every time you tamp.

Launder the clothing in the hottest water possible for the fabric. Look at the tag on the clothing to find out what temperature water it can be washed in. Wash the clothing using the enzyme laundry detergent.

Hang clothes to air dry. Allow your clothing to air dry to avoid setting any part of the stain that wasn’t completely removed. If the stain remains, repeat the steps using a dry-cleaning solvent in place of the prewash stain remover.