A solvent or strong detergent like mineral spirits can get rid of pesky tar, asphalt, and oil stains. For really tough stains, try using a paint-cleaning polish.
You can use mineral spirits on all surfaces to remove difficult dirt and grime. You can also use mineral spirits to remove tar and oils from a variety of other surfaces.
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.
Any type of petroleum distillate will work in dissolving tar so you can use kerosene, diesel, mineral spirits, turps, xylene, paint thinner...etc. What I do is I have a mix of Xylene and Turpentine at 1:1, which is a crude version of AutoSmart's Tardis, in a spray bottle.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Vinegar, for example, can help clean and dissolve tar from concrete. Simply mix one tablespoon of vinegar into the water (two cups) together with a dishwashing liquid. Using a sponge, apply the solution to the surface and blot it continuously.
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.
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.
It is highly effective at cleaning paint brushes and painting tools, provided that you take care not to let the paint dry before cleaning. People also use mineral spirits to clean a variety of messes that other cleaners struggle with, like the sticky residue left behind from price tag and scuff marks on the floor.
Apply a thick layer of mayonnaise over the cooled tar. Let the mayonnaise work into your skin for at least 30 minutes. This allows the mayonnaise to break down the tar.
I've been using mineral spirits for a very long time. I use them in thinning asphalt, making a glaze, for oil based paints and varnishes, wet sanding and for cleaning furniture as well.
Using protective gloves and making sure there is good ventilation (no, that's not just a suggestion – read the label warnings!), apply odorless mineral spirits to a clean white cloth and blot up the stain, rotating to clean areas of the cloth as you progress. This can take a while. Be patient.
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.
Isopropyl or Rubbing Alcohol: This powerful solvent can dissolve various substances, making it ideal for removing tricky tar stains.
By some tar and glue remover (also known as TFR) at an auto shop, wipe on , wipe off, re-polish area to protect and reseal the paint. As simple as that. If you can't find any tar and glue remover use an aerosol of WD40, spray on, rub off the tar and then polish affected area to protect the paint again.
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.
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.