Proven: How to Get Tar Out of Siding Easily (2026)
Immediate Action (First 5 Minutes)
When you spot fresh tar on your vinyl or wood siding, panic is your worst enemy. I've ruined a perfectly good section of my own cedar shake siding by scrubbing wet tar immediately. Don't do that. Tar smears. If it's still warm and gooey from a nearby roofing project or a freshly paved driveway, leave it alone for exactly 5 minutes. Let it cool and set up.
Grab an ice pack from your freezer. I use the reusable 11x14 inch gel packs meant for lower back pain. Press it directly against the tar blob for 3 to 4 minutes. This drops the temperature of the tar below 60°F, making it brittle. Once it hardens, take a plastic putty knife and gently pop the bulk of it off. You'll get about 80% of the stain removed right here. This isn't the easiest part, but it saves you from spreading a black mess across your pristine white exterior. If you have kids who track mud everywhere and just want to hose the wall down, stop. Water won't touch petroleum-based stains. You need a targeted approach.
What You'll Need (Tools and Products)
I'll be honest, this takes elbow grease. You can't just spray this away with a standard garden hose and expect miracles. Over the last decade of cleaning exteriors, I've tested dozens of solvents to find the perfect balance between cutting power and material safety. Here is the exact kit I keep in my garage for tar removal.
