How to wash tar: how to clean clothes at home

Tar is a waste product from oil refining that quickly hardens, creating marks that are difficult to remove on fabrics. But there are a large number of professional and folk methods that allow you to quickly and effectively remove stains.

Before washing tar with improvised means, you need to make sure that they do not destroy the structure of the fibers and do not harm the contaminated product.

Features of fabric contamination with petroleum products

A sticky substance called “tar” is found on streets where road repairs or roofing work are being carried out. Therefore, when you are in such places, there is always a risk of getting your clothes or shoes dirty.

For many people, the appearance of bitumen stains on things becomes a reason for their disposal.However, this is a wrong decision, since there are effective ways to remove even the most problematic marks.

The key rule when clothing is contaminated with petroleum products is to promptly respond to the problem. If you start removing fresh, not dried stains in a timely manner, the likelihood of saving the product will be maximum.

Thin delicate

When caring for items made of thin fabrics, it is prohibited to use sharp or hard tools. To remove bitumen traces, the method of treating with household chemicals or going to a dry cleaner is suitable.

Delicate fabrics can be cleaned with washing mashine wash products such as:

Turtle Wax Bug & Tar Remover.
Cleaner with fresh citrus.

The preparations provide a delicate effect and are safe for tissues with a vulnerable structure. But before using such compounds, you should first check what effect they have on the material by performing a test on an inconspicuous area of clothing, since their primary purpose is washing mashine care.

Wool and knitwear

Specialized ingredients, including glycerin or acetone, can be used to remove stains from natural fiber items. Before treatment, apply a small amount of the product to an inconspicuous place to avoid possible damage to the tissue structure.

If there is no negative reaction, you need to start removing stains using the following algorithm:

Soak a section of clean cloth in acetone or sulfuric ether.
Prepare a cotton pad, moisten it in glycerin or wine alcohol, and then treat all problem areas.
Wring out the fabric that was previously immersed in acetone and blot the stains.

After processing a wool or knitwear item, you must wash it in the machine.

You can remove tar marks from jeans with gasoline or kerosene. In addition, a specialized washing mashine shampoo is suitable for this task.

Among professional drugs, the following have a good reputation:

LIQUI MOLY Teer Entferner - composition against tar, resins and other contaminants.
Automotive solvent WD-40 - effectively removes fresh traces of bitumen and prevents substances from penetrating the fibers.

After treating the product with solvents, you need to apply Vanish or Ace. Organic products are ineffective when caring for denim fabrics.

Natural

You can remove marks on organic fiber clothing with caustic soda.

The cleaning process is quite simple:

Dissolve 250 g of caustic soda in 10 liters of water.
Place the fabric in the product for 1-2 hours.
After this time, rinse the product.
Wash off stubborn marks with laundry soap.

Synthetics

If the contaminated item contains fibers of artificial origin, the use of solvents (white spirit, diesel fuel, gasoline, etc.) is prohibited.

It is possible to remove tar with a mixture of ammonia, starch, turpentine and kaolin (1 tsp each ingredient).

After removing traces, moisten the treated area with hydrogen peroxide. This will help eliminate yellow stains.

Which fabrics cannot be restored after bitumen

While items made from natural fibers can be easily removed from tar, synthetic models can be completely damaged by this substance.

If you leave a contaminated item without proper treatment, it will be impossible to remove old stains.Bitumen can also destroy the structure of delicate fabrics, including cotton and wool.

If you choose the wrong temperature or aggressive washing composition, you can irreversibly damage your clothes.

Preparing the item for tar removal

Before cleaning contaminated items, here are a few tips to keep in mind:

First of all, you should get rid of the stuck stain with scissors or a knife. After this, you can begin processing the contaminated fragment.
It is important to quickly remove traces so that they do not dry out and penetrate into the structure of the fibers.
Use aggressive agents such as gasoline or acetone only for workwear. After such treatment, stains often remain on delicate fabrics.

Is it possible to remove bitumen in a washing machine?

If there are a large number of small and large stains on the item, you will initially need to treat them separately. For this purpose, the method of soaking in gasoline for 3 hours with further spinning and hand washing is suitable. Only after this can you put the item in the washing machine and wash it additionally at a water temperature of up to +90°C.

If there are only a few stains on the item, you can remove them with acetone, white spirit or gasoline.

What products should not be used to remove tar?

Before using professional stain removal products, you must read the instructions for their use and take care of your personal safety. It is recommended to first evaluate the effect of the substance on an inconspicuous area of the fabric so as not to spoil it.

Are solvents suitable?

Removing bitumen stains using solvents is a proven and effective method. But it is important to choose the appropriate composition and take into account several nuances:

If the item is made of cotton material and is not brightly colored, it is allowed to use solvents 646 or 650 or acetone. Since these products are toxic, it is necessary to provide protection for the skin and mucous membranes. It is better to carry out processing in a separate room with good ventilation.
Inorganic tissues can disintegrate when in contact with the active substances of certain solvents. Kerosene or gasoline solvent (BR) is suitable for caring for such things. The latter is sold in washing mashine care stores. Before removing stains, it is worth checking how the item reacts to the composition by applying it to a small fragment. If the effect is negative, it is better to prepare another drug.
Gasoline is the most aggressive stain dissolving agent, so it is not suitable for cleaning light-colored clothing made from organic fabrics with a fragile structure. In addition, white spirit is suitable for caring for work overalls or trousers, but if used incorrectly, the solvent can ruin the color of the fabric.
If you don't have solvents on hand, you can use any dishwashing detergent. With the help of the composition it is possible to get rid of greasy stains, including traces of paint.

When not to use stain removers

Most stain removers are contraindicated for colored fabrics. Due to the presence of individual substances in the composition, they can destroy the structure of the fibers and discolor them. Do not use stain removers on delicate or delicate fabrics.

How and how to wash tar with your own hands

If you have contaminated an item with bitumen, but there are no special preparations at hand, try to get rid of the trace using traditional methods.There are several proven methods that provide high efficiency in removing tar stains at home.

Tar and laundry soap

Residues of tar can be easily removed with tar soap. To do this, wet the contaminated clothing with water and soap it generously.

After 20 minutes from the moment of treatment, you should wash the stain with your hands, and then rinse the item under running water.

In addition, you can get rid of traces of dissolved tar with laundry soap. The processing method is identical.

A mixture of starch, clay and turpentine

A product based on these components is suitable for caring for items made from rough fabrics.

To remove tar, you need to do the following:

In a glass container, combine equal amounts of white clay, turpentine and potato starch.
Mix the resulting mass and apply with a sponge to the contaminated area.
After waiting for the mixture to dry, clean it off with a brush.
Wash the treated area of clothing and place the item itself in the washing machine.

Butter

The product effectively dissolves paraffins and resins from bitumen and provides good results when removing fresh stains.

The sequence of actions is as follows:

Leave the butter in the room for several hours to melt.
Spread the softened composition in a thin layer over the problem area, and then gently rub it into the stain.
Wipe the layer with a paper napkin and wash the item.

Fir or sunflower oil

These oils dissolve tar components and are therefore used to remove stains of petroleum origin.

To remove stains, you need to take 2 cotton pads, soak them in oil and apply them to the fabric on both sides. After 3-5 minutes, the bitumen should gradually dissolve.

The cleaned area can be washed and the item put into the washing machine.

Ammonia

If you need to get rid of traces of bitumen from a light or white item made from linen or cotton material, you can use the following method:

Spread the clothes over the container, placing the area with the stain in the middle.
Pour ammonia onto the contaminated area and then wipe with a cotton pad.
Finally, rinse the item under running water and wash it in the machine.

Lemon juice

To remove resin marks, you need to treat the problem area with half a lemon. Some people simply pour lemon juice on the stain and leave it for 25 minutes, and then wash it with powder. The method is effective when caring for natural fabrics.

Coca Cola

If the item is slightly contaminated with tar, you can use Coca-Cola. The drink has long been widely used not only for internal consumption, but also for economic purposes.

To wash items you need:

Place soiled clothes in the washing machine.
Place a standard amount of washing powder in the appropriate compartment and add 1 tbsp. carbonated drink.
Start the wash in a suitable mode.

Coca-Cola effectively deals with fresh stains.

Caustic soda

The substance is effective for cleaning bitumen stains from natural fabrics.

The processing method is quite simple:

1 tbsp. caustic soda (250 g) should be dissolved in 10 liters of warm liquid.
Dip the contaminated object into the resulting solution and leave for 1-2 hours.
After the soaking procedure, the item should be removed (the action must be carried out with gloves), and then rinsed under running water.
Remaining traces must be removed with laundry soap.

Petrol

Automotive fuel in its purified form also dissolves the remaining petroleum product. But gasoline is only suitable for items made from natural fibers, since synthetic fabrics can unravel and lose their original structure.

In addition, the method should be used in particularly difficult cases and for processing heavily contaminated products.

To remove tar you need to:

Place the clothing in the container with the area with the stain on top.
Pour a little gasoline onto the dirty fragment and leave for 2-3 hours.
Wring out the item and rinse.
Wipe off the mark with laundry soap, and place the product in the washing machine to wash again.

How to remove tar from shoes

To remove traces of tar on shoes, you need to perform 3 procedures:

Using a knife or scissors, remove the outer layer of oil refinery waste.
Wipe off the stain with a small piece of cloth or a cotton pad soaked in solvent.
Wipe shoes with a soft cloth.

Household chemicals against bitumen

Compositions of household chemicals are highly effective in combating tarry contaminants. Certain preparations can remove even the most difficult stains.

Super DeGreaser

The cleaner removes bitumen residues both on vehicle parts and on textiles. It is recommended for clothing made from natural fibers, such as cotton and calico, or for denim items.

The composition should be distributed over the problem area and left for 5 minutes, and then removed with a cloth or cotton swab. After this, the item must be washed with a suitable powder.

Tar Remover

The mixture allows you to remove oily and tar stains, even if they were left a relatively long time ago. Tar Remover should be applied to the dirty item for 5-10 minutes and then wiped off.

If the bitumen layer is thick enough or the contamination is old, the treatment cycle will need to be repeated. After the traces have been successfully removed, the product should be washed using the usual method.

"Eltrans"

“Eltrans” product is used to remove tar stains on machine parts, clothing and shoes. To clean the desired area, shake the can and spray the contents over the contaminated area. After 5-10 minutes, the remaining aerosol should be cleaned with a sponge. To consolidate the results, the item can be washed in the machine.