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Home / Cleaning Guides / Automotive / Interior / How to Remove Tar from Upholstery

How to Remove Tar from Upholstery

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Table of Contents:
  1. Removing Tar with WD-40
  2. Additional Methods to Remove Tar
  3. Additional Tips and Ideas

San asked: “I have light gray fabric car seats. I have a black tar stain about the size of a nickel. I haven’t used anything except a cloth to wipe up the tarry residue. This was probably a mistake since it smeared. Unfortunately this is a new lease car, so I can’t afford to do anything that will ruin the seats. How do you get tar off fabric car seats?”

Removing Tar with WD-40

Removing tar with WD-40 is the most popular removal method with a high level of success.

You Will Need:

  • Plastic spoon or knife
  • WD-40
  • Soft cloth
  • Water
  • Mild soap

Steps to Remove the Tar:

Wet tar stains are easier to remove than dry tar stains. If the stain has dried, it can still be removed but it will require more persistence.

  1. Start by using the plastic utensil to gently scrape away as much tar as possible.
  2. Next, spray a small amount of WD-40 on the tar.
  3. Gently work it in by rubbing the area with your fingers. You may need to let it set for a minute or two.
  4. Wipe away the tar with a soft cloth.
  5. Repeat as necessary.
  6. When the tar is removed, clean the area with water and a mild soap to remove any residue from the WD-40.
  7. Dry completely.

Additional Methods to Remove Tar

If you are hesitant to spray oil on your seats to remove the tar, consider one of these options.

You Will Need:

  • Plastic spoon or knife
  • Choose a removal agent:
    • Rubbing alcohol
    • Dry cleaning solution
    • Baby oil
    • Glycerin solution (1 part glycerin to 1 part water)
  • Soft cloth or cotton balls
  • Water
  • Mild soap

Steps to Remove the Tar:

Wet tar stains are easier to remove than dry tar stains. If the stain has dried, it can still be removed but it will require more persistence.

  1. Start by using the plastic utensil to gently scrape away as much tar as possible.
  2. Moisten a cotton ball or soft cloth with water and gently dab the area to wet the tarred area.
  3. Next, moisten some cotton balls with the chosen removal agent and gently dab to apply it to the tar stain.
  4. You may need to let it set for a minute or two.
  5. Use a clean cloth or cotton ball to blot the area. You should start to see some of the tar coming off.
  6. Continue applying the removal agent and blotting to remove until all of the tar is gone.
  7. When all of the tar is removed, clean the area as normal to remove any residue from the removal agent.
  8. Allow the area to dry thoroughly.

Additional Tips and Ideas

  • Though safe for most upholstery types, you may want to test a small, hidden are to ensure that there are no adverse affects to the fabric and/or colors when the removal agent is applied.
  • Lighter fluid can also be used in some situations. Be sure to use with caution as it is highly flammable.
  • Peanut butter has a natural oil that has been useful in removing tar. Simply apply it to the area, allow it to sit and then remove and wash as normal.

Cleaning Guides, Interior

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Mark is the founder and lead content planner here at HowToCleanStuff.net. He spent 4 years as a professional carpet cleaner followed by a career providing professional cleaning services to businesses and residential homes.

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Comments

  1. Betsy says

    May 11, 2009 at 11:45 pm

    I just got my fabric car seats recovered to the tune of $1,000. The dogs stepped in tar and hopped all over the seats (front and back) at my son’s ball game. I can’t believe how well this worked–they look fine. The tar came off so well; it was like magic. Another miracle cure via WD-40.

    Reply
  2. Tom says

    June 20, 2009 at 6:35 pm

    I’ve been told that mayonnaise also works well.

    Reply
  3. Tina says

    December 18, 2009 at 2:17 pm

    My son got tar on a pair of Dickies shorts so I soaked a cotton ball in eucalyptus oil and put it on the stain, then used a cotton tip to get it off, then soaked them for a day in oxy wash solution.

    Reply
  4. Todd says

    May 9, 2010 at 10:38 am

    I used baking soda. I pressed – not rubbed – it into the fabric with a toothbrush, then vacuumed it up.

    Reply
  5. Woo says

    June 19, 2010 at 8:40 pm

    Amazingly enough, the WD-40 worked like a charm to get tar off of car upholstery. Thanks!

    Reply
  6. Andrew says

    March 14, 2012 at 11:32 am

    Beach tar on a rental car seat – nightmare! The WD-40 trick worked unbelievably well though; you’d never know the tar was there. Thanks, Internet community, for saving my bacon once again!

    Reply
  7. Brian says

    July 27, 2012 at 4:45 pm

    How would you get tar off of a jersey?

    Reply
  8. Andy says

    June 24, 2013 at 4:36 pm

    We had a big beach day and my wife jumped in the truck with super thick tar on the bottom of her flip flops which got all over the floor mat. I just used the WD-40 and it worked great! Thanks!!

    Reply
  9. Fuller says

    July 23, 2013 at 4:59 pm

    WD-40 for the win! Hot summer days, parking lots, shoes, sho’ nuff, I also had tar glops on my floor mats.
    Dowsed a spot with WD-40, let it set about 30 seconds, and dabbed with a terry cloth rag. Hit the spot again with WD-40, gave it a few to work, and rubbed the spot clean with a rag. Worked on every area! It was harder to rinse the WD-40 out of the mat than to get the tar out! Washed the mats pretty thoroughly with Dawn dish soap after the de-tarring to get any remaining odor of WD-40 out.

    Should have taken a before and after pic. No trace of tar.

    Reply
  10. Joni says

    October 9, 2013 at 11:07 am

    I followed a post I read and put petroleum jelly on it and rubbed it in, then I used a Mr. Clean Eraser. I had tar on my 1950’s plastic-like kitchen set. Off it came. I did use the WD on my jeans and off it came…great ideas.

    Reply
  11. Clrariz says

    August 22, 2017 at 6:51 pm

    Roofing mastic on the truck seat!
    My little can of WD-40 was so old it wouldn’t spray.
    I tried Murphy’s Oil Soap & a popsicle stick for a scraper & the truck seat looks like it just came from the show room.
    I don’t hold any hope for the 100% polyester shirt though.

    Reply
    • Eddio says

      October 27, 2017 at 2:34 pm

      Just get a nail…because the PRESSURE is so low in an old can of WD-40 and hammer it into the can…and you will be able to USE the residual WD-40, even though you can’t spray it. I put the contents in a small clean little plastic bottle and it comes in handy all the time…and no waste of the old WD-40!! Enjoy!

      Reply

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