Did you get tar or asphalt on clothes?If the fabric is machine-washable, you can choose among the techniques listed in the article to help remove marks, stains, pieces or particles.
Step 1: Before treating, remove as much tar as you can.
The tar can be removed with a dull knife.The quicker you can pick the tar off, the easier it will be to remove the stain.If it's hard to get off, try rubbing some petroleum jelly on it and waiting a few minutes.
Step 2: You can test your method on a small area.
Some fabrics may be lightened in color, stained, weakened or have a change in texture from some of the cleaning methods.
Step 3: Do not use heat.
Step 4: If a piece of tar is stuck to the fabric, put ice in a plastic bag and rub it over the tar.
Step 5: The tar should be frozen hard to make it brittle.
Step 6: When tar has hardened, you can peel it away with a smooth knife, spoon or ice cream stick.
Step 7: Apply one of the following oily products to your skin.
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 and orange hand cleaner.
Step 8: Take clothing outdoors and spray the spot with penetrating oil, not near a flame or a cigarette.
Step 9: Similarly, take clothing outdoors and apply a small amount of white kerosene, paint thinner, mineral spirits, turpentine, alcohol or lamp-oil to a persistent stain with a white paper towel or cleaning rag -- not near a flame or cigarette.
Step 10: It's a good idea to use fingernail polish remover as your solvent, not near a flame or cigarette.
Step 11: Rub a paper towel or a cleaning rag on the tar to remove it.
Step 12: Before washing, repeat oily treatments:
If the cooking fat or oil wasn't enough, try a different solvent and choose from options above for stubborn spots.
Step 13: This can be done after one of the previous methods.
Step 14: You can treat with a stain removal product.
Prewash stain removal can be a stick, spray, or gel.To make sure the stain removal doesn't affect the color of your garment, test it on a part of it that will not be noticed.The prewash stain removal should be applied directly to the stain.For sticks, rub the stain liberally.Wait until the stain is fully saturated before spraying it.Once the stain is covered, a gel stain removal should be applied liberally.Allow the prewash stain removal to sit on the stain for a while.Instructions on how long to let it work can be found in the bottle.
Step 15: The liquid detergent should be applied to the stain.
You need an detergent to remove tar and asphalt stains.The detergent should be poured directly onto the stain.Press firmly on the stain with a towel or paper towel and then lift the towel up.Make sure to use a clean part of the towel every time you press the stain.
Step 16: The hottest water is not good for fabric.
To find out what temperature water can be washed in, look at the tag on the clothing.The clothing can be washed using the detergent.
Step 17: To dry clothes, hang them up.
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.