Got road tar on your new car? Instead of using abrasive bug and tar removers that can strip off wax, use peanut butter. Just rub a little on the spot with a clean rag and the tar will start coming off. Safe for your paint and earth friendly.
By Steve from Memphis, TN
This page contains the following solutions.
Road tar and asphalt which splatters up and sticks to an automobile is almost impossible to remove. That is, unless you first saturate the spots with linseed oil.
Take road tar off you car by smearing it with butter. Leave on overnight and wipe it off in the morning with a rag. Good as new. My friend had bought a brand new car and took it on her first road trip and went thru some road construction.
To remove tar spatters from your vehicle, spray with Avon Skin So Soft on the tar, let it set a minute or so and wipe off.
They were re-surfacing the roads in our housing development. I went to the near by local, Mom and Pop market, to get several needed supplies.
Here are the questions asked by community members. Read on to see the answers provided by the ThriftyFun community.
What can I use to remove tar from the outside door panels of my automobile?
By Joan from Russellville, AR
I use kerosene. Put a little on a rag and gently rub the places where there is tar and it will disolve and come off with no harm to the paint.
How do you remove a tar stain on the hood of a vehicle? I've used compound, WD-40, and also a tar and sap remover.
Normally these should have taken the tar off the roof of your car. If this is not helping you'll need to visit an autobody shop and get some special compound that they use to remove the tar. You don't want to try to use too many abrasive cleaners on this because in the end it can damage the paint on your car or remove the protective coating.
It sounds like it is very much baked in and you may need to talk to the dealer or a mechanic or you risk damaging the paint. One thing to try before that though is a very cheap, oily peanut butter. I have had moderate success with using it to get tar off of metal...just be sure to rinse well or you will get flies :)
Post back how it goes!
Does anyone know what takes tar off of cars? I recently got a little bit on mine & can't remember what I read about it. It was a non-chemical/toxic solution.
Try peanut butter
Not exactly non-toxic, but I've used carburetor cleaner. Jayne.
I have used skin so soft from Avon and it worked great.
Thanks guys! I love this forum. I thought it was a food & I think peanut butter was it. If it doesn't work, I'll try the skin so soft.
spray on WD 40, it'l take it right off, might have to do it a couple times.
Since I am outside anyway, fumes is not an issue with me ... gasoline on a wrag will take it off.
Try WD-40
Many years ago a friend of mine and I were double-dating a couple of girls and the road to their homes was being paved. We were in my friends dad's brand new Pontiac and got tar all over it. We took it off with kerosine, but then had to wash it immediately with soap and water to keep from messing up the paint.
Whatever you use, be sure and wash the car with a good car wash soap and water when you are finished. If you don't do this the paint will suffer.
Thanks guys! Great info!
Coke is supposed to work. I have never tried it so can't guarantee it. You can buy Bug and Tar remover from a hardware store and it does work good.
I'll try the bug and tar remover and let you know, my white car has this globs on it, as if the worker on the road swung a full mop at the whole side! What a mess.
Avon works great.
Peanut butter worked wonderfully
WD40 works great, I just bathed my torent in it this week because I ran over a spilled bucket of tar. Doesn't seem to affect the wax job so far.
I just had one little spot and peanut butter took it right off.
sticky stuff remover works well
SPIC & SPAN! WORKS GREAT!
How about if it's been on there for years! The sun baked it in !! Help!!!!
What is the easiest way to remove road tar off of cars? Elbow grease goes a long way, but there has to be an easier way. We wash our car with Dawn and this helps, but the tar stains are so stubborn. Help!
By Peggy
Never wash your car with household soaps such as Dawn. Go to the automotive store and buy some tar removal liquid and follow the directions.
We always use WD40 to clean off tar. Just spray, let it sit for a few minutes, and wipe with a dry cloth.
Don't spray while the auto is in the sun.
WD40 works great.
There is a product called "Goof Off" that would probably take care of the problem. I'd be sure to wash it off completely afterwards.
Do not use Magic Eraser on your car. It is an abrasive and will ruin the surface. I believe I used kerosene one time. It was pretty smelly and not the nicest thing to deal with. There is probably a product in the automotive section of a hardware store specifically for this purpose. You need something to dissolve the tar, and most household cleaners are not made for this purpose.
Goo Gone will take it off without any problem or damage to your paint!
I may be a little late here but Mayonnaise and a paper towel takes the tar right off. I've done this for years and will never buy special tar remover from the store.
I didn't have much success with WD40 when I applied it and it was probably because I didn't let let sit long enough before trying to wipe of the spots. I did, however, have reasonable success by using a rag well dampened with WD40 and continued rubbing until the tar spots would disappear.
This was amazing advise. I just got home and found tar all over the side of my white car. I tried everything and then found this post. It came right off...thank you!
Thank YOU!!! I'm sending a virtual HUG. I ran right out and tried it and my beautiful yellow Mustang is now happy and healthy looking. LOL
What took the tar off your white car? Wondering because after follong the direction of our lovely construction workers this morning I have that asphalt spray specks all over my white car.
How do you remove tar from a car that's been on for a long time? I've used gas, WD40, all types of removers, Varsol, peanut butter, mayo, and nail polish remover. Nothing works!
By Don
What works for me is adhesive and tar remover available from auto parts stores. Also gasoline does a good job as well. You have to rub it in with a rag.
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There are some items in your kitchen that may be successful in removing tar.
