Easy & Tested: How to Get Tar Out of Pillows Fast!

Immediate Action (first 5 minutes)

Last July, my nephew tracked fresh driveway sealant right onto my guest bed's expensive down pillows. He had been helping a neighbor pave their walkway. If your teenager came home from a track meet and collapsed on the bed with tar on their shoes, you know exactly the panic I felt. After hosting a backyard BBQ where someone leaned against the freshly sealed driveway, I've also had to rescue my favorite outdoor throw pillows. Tar is a petroleum-based hydrocarbon. Heat makes it melt. Cold makes it shatter. This basic chemistry rule is your best friend when dealing with stubborn driveway sealant on delicate bedroom textiles.

Grab an ice pack immediately. I use a 4x10 inch ThermaCare gel pack from the pharmacy, but a standard 16 oz bag of frozen peas works perfectly. Apply the cold pack directly to the tar spot for exactly 4 minutes. This drops the tar's temperature below 40°F, forcing it to harden. Don't rub the stain. Rubbing pushes the black sludge deeper into the woven threads. Stop immediately if you catch yourself wiping. Just let the ice do the heavy lifting during these crucial first 5 minutes.

What You'll Need (tools/products)

You don't need a massive arsenal of expensive chemicals to fix this mess. I've tested dozens of products over my 10 years of cleaning upholstery and bedding. Here is the exact kit I keep under my sink for petroleum stains. This isn't the cheapest option compared to generic brands, but buying a commercial-grade solvent saves the $40 pillow.

• Ice packs: 4x10 inch gel packs or frozen vegetables.
• Plastic spackle knife: A 2-inch wide plastic scraper costs about $2 at Home Depot. Never use metal.
• Goo Gone Original: The classic citrus formula ($6-$8 for an 8 oz bottle). It breaks down petroleum bonds safely.
• Dawn Ultra Dish Soap: The original blue liquid ($3 for 18 oz). This cuts the greasy residue left behind by the solvent.
• Microfiber cloths: 12x12 inch lint-free towels. Paper towels just shred and leave white fuzz everywhere.
• Enzyme laundry detergent: Tide Hygienic Clean Heavy Duty ($12 for 46 oz).

Solvent Comparison Table

Solvent	Effectiveness on Tar	Fabric Safety	Price Range
Goo Gone Original	Excellent	High (Safe for most cotton/poly)	$6 - $8
WD-40 Specialist Gel	Very Good	Medium (Can leave oil stains)	$9 - $12
Rubbing Alcohol (91%)	Poor	Low (Can strip fabric dye)	$3 - $5

Step-by-Step Removal

When your landlord inspects next week and you need the apartment spotless, you can't afford to leave brown smears on the bedding. Follow these steps exactly. I'll be honest, this takes elbow grease, but it works every single time.

Step 1: Freeze and Scrape

Once the ice pack has chilled the tar for 4 minutes, remove it. Take your 2-inch plastic spackle knife and gently scrape the surface. The tar should flake off in hard, brittle chunks. Work from the outside edge of the stain toward the center. This prevents you from accidentally spreading the softened edges. Throw the scraped chunks directly into the trash. Don't let them sit on the carpet.

Step 2: Apply the Citrus Solvent

Pour a generous amount of Goo Gone Original directly onto the remaining black residue. You need enough liquid to completely saturate the stain. Let it sit for exactly 12 minutes. The d-limonene in the citrus solvent actively breaks the molecular bonds of the petroleum. If the room is cold, let it sit for 15 minutes. The chemical reaction slows down below 65°F.

Step 3: Blot the Residue

Take a clean 12x12 inch microfiber cloth and press it firmly into the stain. Blotting requires patience. You must press the cloth down and lift it straight up. Never wipe in a circular motion. Wiping just smears the dissolved petroleum into the surrounding clean fabric. Switch to a fresh section of the cloth after every three blots. Repeat until the cloth comes away mostly clean.

Step 4: Cut the Grease with Dawn

Goo Gone leaves behind a heavy, oily film. If you skip this step, your pillow will attract dirt for months. Squirt a dime-sized drop of Dawn Ultra Dish Soap onto a damp microfiber cloth. Work the soap into the stained area using small, tight circles. The surfactants in the Dawn will emulsify the citrus oils. Rinse the area with a cloth dampened in cold water. Blot it dry with a fresh towel.

Step 5: Machine Wash (With Caveats)

If you have a standard polyester or cotton pillowcase, toss it in the washing machine. Set your Maytag front-loader to the delicate cycle with an extra rinse. Use cold water. Hot water will set any microscopic tar particles left behind. Air dry the pillowcase completely. I'll be honest, Goo Gone leaves a strong citrus-chemical smell. To fix this, I add half a cup of white vinegar to the rinse cycle.

Warning for Memory Foam: If you have a Tempur-Pedic memory foam pillow, stop at Step 4. Never put memory foam in a washing machine. It will tear apart and trap moisture, causing mold within 48 hours. Spot clean only and let it air dry in front of a fan for 6 hours.

Alternative Methods

Sometimes you don't have Goo Gone under the sink. I've tested these backup methods in a pinch. They aren't my first choice, but they get the job done when you're desperate.

Method 1: WD-40 Specialist Gel

The gel formula is fantastic for vertical surfaces because it doesn't drip down the side of the pillow. Spray a thick layer over the tar and wait 10 minutes. The petroleum distillates in the WD-40 re-liquefy the hardened tar. You will need to use extra Dawn dish soap in Step 4 to cut through the heavy silicone oils left behind by this product.

Method 2: Creamy Peanut Butter

I know this sounds crazy. But the natural oils in creamy peanut butter break down petroleum bonds. Use a cheap brand like Peter Pan. Don't use crunchy peanut butter, as the nut fragments will get stuck in the pillow's weave. Smear a thick layer over the tar, wait 20 minutes, and scrape it off with your plastic knife. It's messy, but it works.

Method 3: Eucalyptus Oil

If you are dealing with a delicate silk pillowcase, harsh chemicals might ruin the finish. Pure eucalyptus essential oil is a gentler alternative. Dab a few drops onto a cotton swab and gently rub the tar spot. It takes longer to dissolve the stain, usually around 25 minutes of repeated applications. The smell is incredibly refreshing compared to chemical solvents.

Prevention Tips

Stopping tar before it hits your bedding is always easier than cleaning it up. I swear by the SafeRest Premium Zippered Pillow Protectors ($15 for a 2-pack on Amazon). They act as a physical barrier between the pillow fill and the outside world. If tar gets on the protector, you can just bleach the protector or throw it away without ruining a $60 down pillow.

Establish strict shoe rules in your house. If you've been walking on fresh asphalt or a newly sealed driveway, take your shoes off at the door. Keep outdoor gear, like gardening gloves and landscaping tools, in the garage. Never toss your work boots onto the bed after a long day outside. A simple $10 shoe rack by the front door saves hundreds of dollars in ruined textiles.

FAQ

Can I use bleach on tar stains?

No, bleach will not dissolve petroleum-based tar. It will only strip the dye from your pillowcase and weaken the cotton fibers. Stick to citrus-based solvents for actual tar breakdown.

Will tar ruin a memory foam pillow?

Tar will only ruin the outer cover if you act quickly. The solid foam core underneath is usually protected by a secondary inner lining. Just remove the outer cover and treat it separately in the sink.

How long does Goo Gone take to work on tar?

Goo Gone Original needs about 10 to 15 minutes to penetrate thick tar deposits. If the tar is exceptionally old or baked on by the sun, you might need to let it sit for up to 30 minutes. Reapply a few drops if the solvent dries out.

Is dry cleaning safe for tar-stained pillowcases?

Dry cleaning is actually one of the most effective ways to handle severe tar stains on delicate fabrics like silk or high-thread-count Egyptian cotton. The chemical solvents used by professional cleaners dissolve tar without shrinking the material. Just point out the exact spot to the clerk when you drop it off.