You can pick up denatured alcohol (EtOH) and mineral spirits (MS) at home depot, which should dissolve the tar (and the wax or sealant on the paint too).
How do you remove tar, sealer, and asphalt? That's easy: Use Oil-Flo Safety Solvent. You could try paint thinners, diesel, kerosene or some other chemical, but they all leave a residue and can be pretty harmful to you and your environment, not to mention what they could do to your tools and equipment.
Isopropyl or Rubbing Alcohol: This powerful solvent can dissolve various substances, making it ideal for removing tricky tar stains. White Vinegar: Known for its acidic properties, white vinegar can break down the sticky residue left by tar.
Kerosene and Diesel are the best bets for removing tar marks and bugs. Having tried both, I feel that diesel does a better job than kerosene.
Apply WD-40 to remove tar from car surfaces
Next, take your trusty can of WD-40 Multi-Use Product, and use the handy Smart Straw to target the tar spot areas with precise application. Once this is done, wait for a few minutes to allow the product to work its magic.
The popular cleaning products WD-40 and Goo Gone also work well as tar removal solutions. Both use oils to penetrate tar and lubricate the affected area, sliding the tar off your car's paint with a little pressure. Take a clean microfiber cloth and spray it with either WD-40 or Goo Gone.
Use a petroleum-based cleaner or a citrus-based degreaser, especially to remove tar from metal. Dilute the cleaner according to the directions and apply it to the tar stain using a rag. This should loosen the tar.
Using household products to remove tar stains from clothing
Baby oil can be used to break up the tar before it can set permanently in the fibers. Club soda can also be effective, especially on fresh stains.
Using regular home detergents like dish washing soap and laundry soap will slowly remove the wax on your car and oxidize the finish. So, don't do that unless you need to strip off the old wax and buff the car or something. Get a good car washing solution that is made just for washing car paint.
You may like to try using toluene, petroleum ether or hexane (probably in that order)… but it does depend on what you're trying to remove the tar from and whether you are worried about losing and paint or dye from the material below.
If the above mentioned method is not successfully removing the tar stain from your carpet, try the following: Moisten the affected area of the carpet with 3% hydrogen peroxide. Let the tar stain sit for 1 minute. Blot with a paper towel to absorb any remaining stain.
Expose to Direct Sunlight
Prolonged storage results in hardening, making it difficult to use. Place the bag in the sun for 1 to 2 hours before cutting it open. Temperatures of above 10 degrees centigrade make the tarmac loose and restore its workability.
Substances such as mineral spirits and lacquer thinners will remove tar but may also remove the clearcoat finish or damage the paint.
It will soften plastic, Plexiglass, linoleum, latex paint, synthetic fabrics, asphalt and tar. It can be used as a special purpose thinner, cleaner and remover. It is not recommended for most conventional oil-based paints, stains, varnishes or lacquers.
OxiClean, Clorox 2, Country Save Bleach, or Purex 2 Color Safe Bleach are recommended. Follow the package directions for how much product to add per gallon of water. Completely submerge the garment and allow it to soak for at least 8 hours. If the stain is gone, wash as usual.
Fabric softener sheets, peanut butter, linseed oil, hand lotion, butter, dish soap, mayonnaise, bath oil, cold cream, baking soda, and just about anything else that you might find in your kitchen or bathroom have made the list of home remedies for tar removal.
Any type of petroleum distillate will work in dissolving tar so you can use kerosene, diesel, mineral spirits, turps, xylene, paint thinner...etc.
Coal tar is notoriously challenging to remove once it has cooled and adhered to the skin. The tradition teaching is to apply large quantities of petroleum jelly to the black tar, let it sit for at least 60 minutes, and then diligently try to rub away the tar. Repeat as needed.
While you may be wondering how to remove tartar from your teeth without a dentist, it is best to seek help from a dental professional for a clean and accurate job! Once plaque hardens into tartar, a toothbrush can't remove it.
Peanut butter.
No, it isn't snack time, although a sandwich may be a nice reward after all that cleaning. You can spread peanut butter on the areas effected by tar and let it stand for 10 minutes while the oils breakdown the tar enough to remove. Rub away the peanut butter with a towel, then wash like normal.
Dissolve Safety Solvent Cleaner. 1 Gallon Dissolve Safety Solvent Cleaner. Dissolve removes tar, asphalt, roofing adhesives, tape residue and other materials. Ideal for cleaning splatters from concrete driveways.