How to Remove Tar from Carpets – Stain Removal Guides 2019

Tar stains on carpets are not something that you encounter every day, and that is something to be thankful for. Tar is designed to handle the harsh elements and not to mention the daily onslaught of both machine and human traffic.

In other words, tar was made to be tough. So, you can imagine how difficult it must be to get rid of entirely, especially when it glues itself to your carpet. However, this s not a complete doom and gloom type of situation. There is some good news.

There are specific conditions that have to be met for tar to get to that almost impossible state to remove. And one of those conditions is water. As long as you don't apply water to the tar stain before you remove it, you are going to be okay.

Water causes tar to set so, pause on the water you were going to start your stain removal process with. And enough with the old wives’ tale about cleaning potions and salts. It is 2019, time to get with the program.

There are lots of fresh ways to remove tar from carpets, and some of them mean you would not break out in a sweat. And the best part? You can get everything you need from your kitchen cupboard.

Video Explainer

How to Get Tar Out of Carpet Using Glycerin

Glycerin is a stain removing genius that can be sourced from your local pharmacy if you don't have some at home already. It has multiple uses, so it is a convenient substance to have in your home.

Besides being tough on stains, it is known to have moisturizing properties, and ironically, it is super gentle on your skin. This is why it is useful in the manufacture of soaps and other skincare products. But we are not making soap today. We are getting rid of tar and here is how to go about it.

What You Will Need

1. Glycerin
2. Clean white cloth
3. Ice cubes
4. Blunt instrument (for scraping the tar)
5. Shaving foam (A dry-cleaning solvent or foaming carpet cleaner can work too)
6. Water
7. Ziplock bag (optional)

Step 1: Ice the tar

• Get a few ice cubes and rub it on the tar stain
• The bigger the stain, the more ice cubes you would need
• Do this for a few minutes

Step 2: Scrape the tar

• Use a spoon or if you prefer, the dull end of a knife to scrape the topmost layer of the carpet
• Keep the pressure light so as not to push the stain deeper into the carpet
• Gather up the chunks of tar you have scrapped and toss

Step 3: Apply glycerin to tar stain

• Depending on the size of the stain, apply a few drops at a time
• You could use a dropper to apply the drops for accuracy
• Ensure that you cover the tar stain completely in glycerin

Step 4: Leave glycerin to soak the stain

• The glycerin on the stain should feel wet to the touch
• Don’t try to blot the glycerin deeper into the carpet
• Just set the timer to one hour and then come back to the stain

Step 5: Blot out the glycerin

• Get a dry and clean white cloth
• Dab the stain gently. The tar should come off easily
• Use a mopping motion to mop up the glycerin and the tar stain

Step 6: Inspect the stain

• With the glycerin gone, you should be able to see the stain clearly
• Chances are the satin should be gone completely
• If not, repeat the steps leading up to this point until you get the results you want

Step 7: Apply shaving foam and sponge it down

• Pour shaving foam generously over the spot where the remnants of the stain are
• Use a clean white cloth to rub the shaving foam into the stained area
• You could use a sponge to achieve the same result if you prefer

Step 8: Rinse of the shaving foam and glycerin mix

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• Finally, wash out the cloth or sponge that you use to blot the stain
• Rinse it in cold water and rub gently on the stained area
• Blot any excess water and allow the carpet to dry

How to Remove Tar from Carpeting with Detergent Solution

If the previous method of​​ removing tar from carpet seems a little complicated or perhaps you don't have the keep ingredient for that cleaning method, you can opt for this second method. For starters, detergent is something that we all have at home, so this is something you can easily access.

Go for detergent brands that don’t have bleaching agents in them. You want to get rid of the tar stain, but you don't want to destroy the carpet in the process.

Barring the composition of the detergent that you choose, the key to the success of this method is the detergent solution. You must ensure that the solution is strong enough to attack the tar stain but mild enough to cause any damage to the fabric of the carpet.

What You Will Need

1. Ice cubes
2. Vacuum
3. Detergent
4. Warm water
5. Clean cloth
6. Coldwater
7. Dry cleaning solution (optional)
8. Blunt instrument

Step 1: Freeze the tar

• You have to freeze the tar before it sets
• Take the ice cubes and rub it on the stain
• It would take about a minute for the ice cube to work its magic

Step 2: Scrape out the frozen tar bits

• When the ice cube has done its work, the tar will become naturally comfortable to remove
• Take the blunt instrument you have and scrape off the frozen tar bits
• Throw away the chunks and vacuum the smaller bits

Step 3: Prepare the detergent solution

• Measure a quarter tablespoon of detergent into a mixing bowl
• Pour a cup of warm water into the same bowl
• Mix the two gently

Step 4: Apply the detergent solution

• Dip the clean cloth in the detergent solution
• Apply it on the stained area of the carpet
• Rub it in gently to cover the spot and allow to sit for 5 minutes at least 5 minutes

Step 5: Blot and assess the stain

• Take a dry clean cloth and blot the stain
• As you do this, you would notice that most of the tar has come off; leaving black pigments from the asphalt
• If the dye doesn't come off ultimately, proceed to the next step

Step 6: Put the dry-cleaning solution on the stained area

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• Pick a preferred dry-cleaning solution
• Be sure to carry out a “carpet test” before you use
• Apply the solvent on the stain and leave it to soak for another 15minutes

Step 7: Remove the stain with a clean cloth

• Rub the stain gently to push the dry-cleaning solution into the carpet
• Then dab the stain to absorb the solution and the stain
• Use a different part of the cloth when the dye is too much and continue until there is no more stain transference

Step 8: Rinse out the solution in the carpet

• Pour cold water in a bowl and dip a clean cloth in it
• Wring the fabric loosely so that it is not dripping, but it isn't dry either
• Lightly dab the stained area to get out as much solution as you can

Step 9: Mop up water and leave the carpet to dry

• Get a clean cloth that is completely dry
• Use it to rub the spot to absorb the water in the area
• When the stained area is no longer wet but damp, aerate the room and allow the carpet to dry

Step 10: Vacuum spot to restore the carpets vibrancy

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• Check the place to confirm that it is dry
• Putting a fan directly over the spot can speed up the drying process
• Use a vacuum cleaner as you usually would on the previously stained spot

Final Note

After taking out the tar, the pigment left behind is the next battle. Dry-cleaning solutions can take care of that. If not, you can always use hydrogen peroxide. In that case, you would need to replace the dry-cleaning solution with hydrogen peroxide and then allow to soak for one hour.

Besides this, the rest of the steps in the process follows. That is until you get to the part about rinsing the solution out of the carpet. Skip that and go straight to getting the carpet dry and then vacuuming.

And if after everything, the stain remains annoyingly persistent, it may be time to call the professionals.