Need Help - Stovall, NC

I have Persian carpets from the Middle East and had that problem with them. Use WD-40 - spray and wipe up with towels. Then use small amount of detergent to get the oil out. It works to well.

Orange Miracle. I think its a stanley product, but it works great on tar. My mom's boyfriend works with tar and if she accidentally puts something of his in the dryer, she has to use it to get tar out of the dryer. And it comes out 90% of the time!

Have you tried resolve? It's a carpet cleaner in a red bottle. I've never tried it for tar, but it has always worked for other things
Good luck

Do you have any spare pieces of the carpet around the house. If you do, cut out the messed up section and replace it with a hot glue gun into the spot. Make sure the carpet is going in the same direction though.
Other then that I don't have any ideas on something that will actually bring it up.
T.

Try Goop. It is in the automotive dept. at Wal-mart, Target., etc. It is a hand cleaner that mechanics use. It works great on laundry stains tool.

I don't know how to help other than to say if you cannot get it out or replace that little section I would try this (i wouldn't think it would hurt to try anyway):

If you get wax on your carpet you can remove it by placing wax paper over the spot and ironing it. It causes the wax to cling to the paper and out of the carpeting. It may work on the tar as well since it would be gooey once ironing it.

Sorry if this doesn't help though!

Hi A.,
Have you called any of the carpet showrooms in you area? Ask them what they'd recommend. I don't know of any carpet cleaning place that will guarantee they can get tar out of your carpet. My best guess would be that you need to try a petroleum-based cleaner, but this may not be in the best interest of your children. They're pretty potent. Where is the spot? What color is the carpet? Do you have any scraps of carpet that you could use to patch it? That would probably be your best bet. I would check and see if the place that installed your carpet can match it. Good luck!

Hi A., I have never had problem w/ tar but i have had some stubborn stains, specifically doggie throw up, which I treated w/ vinegar/water solution. I think it is 1 part vinegar to 4 parts water (I actually made it a little stronger for mine and it came out completely -can't even tell where it was). The actual "recipe" came from a "how to clean anything" book put out by consumer reports a few years ago. You may want to look it up on the internet just to verify, but according to what I read something in the vinegar (maybe PH balance??) keeps it from damaging your carpet. Just scrape all that you can of the tar off your carpet, then pour a little of the solution directly on the carpet and press down with a dry rag to soak up the liquid. Do this a few times, maybe several if it's really bad. You should notice it lightening as you repeat. Just be sure to get all the water out of the carpet so you don't end up with a mildewy smell. Good luck! J.

Hey A.,
I know exactly what will work on that tar! I used to use some products from a company called Melaleuca and their concentrate Sol-U-Mel is good for just about anything! It is mild enough for your skin and breathing, but boy does it cut through the tar, lipstick, magic marker on walls, etc...you can probably find someone you'd like to order from by searching on the internet. Just Google Melaleuca Products. My favorite product was Tough-N-Tender, it makes great bubble bath for kids with sensitive skin, leaves your car looking like you just waxed it and makes crystal clear windows too! No I don't sell it! ;-)

This may sound silly re your dilemma about tar on your carpet, but way back when (I was a child) ... a remedy for cleaning tar off of skin ... i.e. when a kid fell on the street and got tar on knees, elbows, etc. ... was rubbing butter on it. This method worked on me and, later, on my little daughter when she fell into a mess of tar. Of course it may not work on your carpet and, if it does, in turn you may have to find a product to remove the butter, but sometimes these "Old Wives Remedies" do work!! So, whether you try the butter method or not, good luck with cleaning your carpet!!

I'm a customer with a company called Melaleuca they have a product called Sol-U-Mel it is great for removing tar, grease, paint because it uses tea tree oil to penetrate the stain. It's non-toxic too, which is great if you have children or pets that will be in that area. I've even used it to remove Sharpie marks off my countertop. Hope this helps. Good luck!

T.

If you want more information just email me at ____@____.com or call me at ###-###-####.

There is a product from the dollar store (Dollar Tree) called Awesome that lives up to it's name! Can't hurt... just costs a buck, but don't let that fool you into thinking it's weak! It comes in a clear container, the liquid is yellow and the writing on it is red, just so you can find it easier. I use it to clean everything and it says it's safe for carpets. I've gotten rust stains and other stains that I have scrubbed forever off in seconds with this stuff! Good luck!

Have you tried WD40? Our dogs brought tar into the house one day. It got on the carpet and couch. WD40, got the tar right out. Just a FYI, when you spray the WD40 it appears very greasy, but it dries leaving no makes behind.

Check with a carpet store and tell them your problem. They may have something just for that. Couldn't hurt to ask.

Try baby oil....may or may not work but it's good at dissolving sticky things like that.

I grew up near the beach in Santa Barbara, and we'd often come home with tar on our feet. My mom swears by Goo-Be-Gone. Always seemed to work!

Have you tried Goo Gone? We love it because it cleans up every sticky mess we have. Good luck!

TRy Lestoil you find it in the laundry detergant section of the supermarket. I use it on my husbands clothes to remove all kinds of grease and grime. It breaks down petrolium. Just pour it on the spot and let it sit for a couple hours but dont let it dry then use a paper towel or something to dab it up then if you have a carpet shampooer use it to clean up the lestoil or just get it really wet and soak it up.

try white vinegar, it works on many things. Also, try whatever would get it off your car...try it in a closet first to make sure it won't bleach your carpet. Worst case, you can call a company to come and shave off the top of your carpet. They can just shave off the tips. What about finger nail polish remover? You just need something to take away the stickyness. I know peanut butter gets gum out of your hair, try that. Baking soda????

Good luck! let us know what gets it out!

W. M M'boro, TN

Tar comes from rosin which dissolves with denatured alcohol. If it's sitting on "top" of the pile (not ground in) you can also try carefully clipping off the top edge of the pile with a pair of cosmetic scissors or the like. If it's ground in, weeelll.... Area rug?

gas or turpintine is the only thing I can think of. It will probably not ever come out ( bad husband)

I second the SolUMel from Melaleuca. It's worth its weight in gold. And it non-toxic - such an important thing to us mommies. You have to be a member to buy it (like Sams Club). If you'd like to get some more details, I would be happy to help.

P.
____@____.com

Maybe you should try goo gone.

LOL!! how did you manage to get tar in your house? Is that code for resin? my friend used wd-40 and that worked, but she said her carpet was pale in that spot.