Proven: How to Get Tar Out of Comforter Fast (2026)

Immediate Action (First 5 Minutes)

Tar is an absolute nightmare to deal with. I learned this the hard way when my golden retriever tracked fresh driveway sealant onto my guest bed. If you are reading this right now, stop panicking. You have a tiny window to keep this sticky mess from bonding permanently with your comforter's fibers.

First, grab a dull edge. I use a plastic putty knife or an expired credit card. Gently scrape off the excess tar. Don't press hard. You will just push it deeper into the batting.

Next, grab an ice pack. I keep a bag of frozen peas in my freezer specifically for stain emergencies. Wrap it in a thin microfiber cloth. Press it directly onto the tar spot for exactly 3 to 5 minutes. The cold makes the tar brittle. Once it hardens, you can pick off the larger chunks with your fingernails.

Whatever you do, don't use hot water. Heat melts tar. I've seen people try to wash it immediately in warm water, and it just spreads the black stain across the entire duvet. Keep it cold and dry for now. If the tar is from a pine tree rather than a driveway, it will be slightly stickier and require even more chilling time. Last summer, my nephew dropped a tar-covered pinecone on my couch, and the ice pack trick was the only thing that saved the upholstery.

What You'll Need (Tools & Products)

Getting tar out of thick bedding requires more than just standard laundry detergent. I've tested dozens of solvents over my 12 years of cleaning homes. Here is the exact toolkit I use for this specific job.

Item	Brand/Model Recommendation	Estimated Cost
Citrus Solvent	Goo Gone Original (8 oz spray)	$6 - $9
Heavy Duty Degreaser	Dawn Powerwash Dish Spray	$5 - $7
Blotting Cloths	Scott Shop Towels (Blue, 55-sheet roll)	$15 - $20
Stain Remover	OxiClean Max Force Spray	$4 - $6
Ice Pack	TheraICE Rx or frozen veggies	$0 - $15

I'll be honest, this isn't the cheapest stain to treat. You'll spend about $45 total if you need to buy everything from scratch. But replacing a $150 down-alternative comforter is way worse.

Make sure your citrus solvent is the original formula. The Pro-Power versions sometimes contain harsher chemicals that can strip the dye right out of your bedding. I ruined a navy blue quilt doing that back in 2018. Stick to the standard yellow bottle. Also, skip the cheap paper towels from the dollar store. They shred when they get wet and leave white lint all over the tar. The blue Scott Shop Towels are practically indestructible.

Step-by-Step Removal

Now we get to the actual cleaning. This process takes about 45 minutes from start to finish. Grab your supplies and let's get to work.

Step 1: Test for Colorfastness

Before applying any chemicals, find a hidden corner of the comforter. Spray a tiny bit of Goo Gone on the inside seam. Wait 5 minutes and blot it with a white cloth. If the fabric dye transfers to the cloth, stop. You'll need to take it to a professional dry cleaner. If the cloth stays clean, proceed to step two.

Step 2: Apply the Citrus Solvent

Lay the comforter flat on a hard surface. I usually use my kitchen island or a clean section of the garage floor. Slide a piece of cardboard underneath the stained area. This stops the tar from bleeding through to the back of the comforter.

Spray the Goo Gone directly onto the tar spot. Saturate it completely. Let it sit for exactly 10 minutes. You'll see the tar start to dissolve and turn into a brown sludge.

Step 3: Blot and Lift

Take your blue Scott Shop Towels and start blotting. Don't rub. Rubbing just frays the fabric and pushes the sludge deeper. Press down firmly and lift straight up.

Switch to a clean part of the towel every few blots. I usually go through about 6 or 7 sheets of paper towel for a stain the size of a quarter. Keep blotting until no more brown transfers to the towel.

Step 4: Attack the Oily Residue

The tar is gone, but now you have a massive grease stain from the solvent. This is where Dawn Powerwash saves the day. Spray a generous layer over the oily spot.

Use your fingers to gently massage the degreaser into the fabric. Let it sit for 15 minutes. The enzymes in the Dawn break down the citrus oils perfectly.

Step 5: Pre-Treat and Wash

Rinse the spot with cold water. Keep your tap water below 65°F to ensure the tar doesn't reactivate. Then, apply a light layer of OxiClean Max Force.

Toss the comforter into your washing machine. Wash it on a heavy-duty or Bulky cycle using cold water. I use the Bedding setting on my LG front-loader for this. Add your regular detergent and select an extra rinse cycle to flush out all the soap.

Step 6: Air Dry and Inspect

Do not put it in the dryer. I can't stress this enough. The heat from a dryer will bake any remaining oil into the fibers permanently.

Hang it outside or lay it flat on a drying rack. Once it's 100% dry, check the spot under bright light. If you see a faint shadow, repeat steps 4 and 5.

Alternative Methods

Sometimes the standard citrus route doesn't cut it. Maybe you have a delicate silk-blend comforter, or the tar is weeks old. Here are two backup methods I keep in my arsenal.

Method 1: The Peanut Butter Trick

This sounds crazy, but it works on delicate fabrics where Goo Gone is too harsh. The natural oils in peanut butter break down the petroleum in tar.

Smear a thick layer of creamy peanut butter (Jif or Skippy work best) over the stain. Let it sit for 20 minutes. Scrape it off with a butter knife, then wash the spot with Dawn dish soap. It takes a bit more elbow grease, but it's safe for most dyes. Just make sure you use creamy, not crunchy. The nut fragments will get stuck in the fabric weave.

Method 2: Mineral Spirits for Stubborn Stains

If you're dealing with roofing tar that's been baked in the sun, citrus won't touch it. You need mineral spirits. I use Klean-Strip Odorless Mineral Spirits ($12 for a quart at Home Depot).

Dampen a cotton ball with the mineral spirits. Dab the stain from the outside in. Work in a well-ventilated room because the fumes are no joke. Once the tar lifts, you must wash the comforter immediately to remove the toxic solvent. Never use this on synthetic fills like polyester, as it can melt the batting.

Method 3: Eucalyptus Oil

For a more natural approach, pure eucalyptus essential oil works wonders on tree sap and light tar. Apply 10-15 drops directly to the spot. Let it penetrate for 12 minutes. Wipe away with a damp cloth. It smells much better than mineral spirits, though it won't tackle heavy driveway sealant.

Prevention Tips

Dealing with tar is a headache. If you have kids who play near freshly paved driveways, or a dog that loves digging in the garden, prevention is your best friend.

• Keep a dirty blanket by the back door. I bought a cheap $20 fleece throw from Target just for this. When the dog comes inside muddy or sticky, he gets wrapped in the fleece before he can jump on the good furniture.
• Store outdoor comforters in a sealed plastic bin. If you use a nice duvet for backyard movie nights, don't just toss it in the garage. Tar bugs and tree sap will ruin it overnight. I use a 27-gallon Rubbermaid tote with a latching lid to keep pests and sap out.
• Check your shoes before walking on indoor rugs. I keep a stiff-bristled brush on my porch to knock off driveway debris before stepping inside. When your landlord inspects next week, or when you're just trying to keep your security deposit, these small habits save you hundreds of dollars in professional cleaning fees.

FAQ

Can I use WD-40 to remove tar from a comforter?

I strongly advise against using WD-40 on bedding. While it does dissolve tar, it leaves behind a horrific, lingering chemical odor that is nearly impossible to wash out of thick batting. Stick to citrus-based cleaners like Goo Gone for fabrics you actually sleep under.

Will dry cleaning get tar out of a down comforter?

Professional dry cleaners have specialized solvents that easily lift tar without damaging delicate down clusters. However, you must point out the stain to them beforehand. If they run it through a standard cycle without pre-treating, the heat will set the tar permanently.

What if the tar stain is already washed and dried?

If the comforter has already been through a hot dryer cycle, the tar is essentially baked into the fibers. You can try scraping it with ice and applying mineral spirits, but the success rate drops to about 20%. At that point, you might just need to buy a duvet cover to hide the damage.

Is tar toxic to sleep on if a small spot remains?

Dried asphalt tar is generally inert and won't off-gas harmful chemicals once fully cured. However, it will feel scratchy and uncomfortable against your skin. It's more of a physical annoyance than a health hazard, but you still want it gone for a good night's sleep.

How do I get tar out of a silk comforter?

Silk is incredibly fragile and will dissolve under harsh chemical solvents. Do not use Goo Gone or mineral spirits on silk bedding. Take it to a professional dry cleaner immediately and let them handle the extraction with specialized protein-safe enzymes.