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
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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.
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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.
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.
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
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
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There are some items in your kitchen that may be successful in removing tar.