How To Remove Tar

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, or other items, with a little pressure.

Take a clean microfiber cloth and spray it with either WD-40 or Goo Gone. You can also apply a little bit of either solution onto the tar spots directly. Use the towel to rub the solutions into the tar more deeply. Once applied, let the WD-40 or Goo Gone soak into the tar for 10 to 30 minutes. After the time has elapsed, rub the area with a clean microfiber towel until all tar has been removed

If you plan to use WD-40, clean the area twice to make sure you get rid of any residue. Any leftover chemicals or substances may potentially cause long-lasting damage to your car’s paint job if you aren’t careful with the application and clean up.

FMM: I used Goo Gone to remove tar from a putty knife. It was quite thick so it had to be scraped off once it softened.

I also used Goo Gone to remove pine pitch from a pair of pants. Some had dripped onto a fence rail that I leaned against. I had to clean it several times with the Goo Gone but it came out leaving no trace.