Tested: How to Get Asphalt Out of Patio Furniture Fast

By Amara Johnson · December 12, 2025

Immediate Action (First 5 Minutes)

Asphalt and tar stains happen fast. Usually, it's because you walked on a freshly sealed driveway and rubbed your shoe against the chair leg. Or maybe your contractor dropped a glob of hot mix right onto your favorite lounger. Whatever the cause, your first five minutes dictate whether that black gunk comes out or ruins your $600 Polywood set forever.

Asphalt is essentially a mixture of bitumen and crushed rock. The bitumen is a petroleum byproduct that acts as the glue, and it is highly sensitive to temperature changes. Don't wipe it. I repeat, do not grab a paper towel and smear it. Smearing pushes the petroleum binders deeper into the microscopic pores of plastic, wicker, and painted metal. This creates a massive headache that takes hours to fix. Instead, grab an ice pack from your freezer. I keep a few flexible 16-ounce ThermaCare ice packs specifically for cleaning emergencies. Press the ice directly onto the asphalt blob for exactly 3 to 5 minutes. You want the tar to drop below 40°F so it turns brittle. If it's still gooey, you aren't ready to move to the next phase.

Heat is your enemy here. If the sun is beating down on the patio, the asphalt will stay soft and pliable. I learned this the hard way last July. I tried wiping a fresh tar spot off my Trex Yacht Club chair in 90°F heat, and I just smeared it into a massive black shadow. Wait for the ice to do its job.

What You'll Need (Tools and Products)

I've tested dozens of solvents on my own back patio over the last decade. Some melt the plastic. Others leave a greasy film that attracts dirt for months. Here is the exact kit I use to get asphalt out of patio furniture without causing secondary damage.

Plastic Putty Knife: A 3-inch Husky plastic scraper ($4 at Home Depot). Metal scrapers will gouge resin wicker and scratch powder-coated aluminum frames.
Citrus-Based Solvent: Goo Gone Outdoor or De-Solv-It. These cost about $8-12 and break down petroleum safely without eating through high-density polyethylene.
Heavy-Duty Degreaser: Dawn Platinum Powerwash Dish Spray. The $6 bottle works wonders on the leftover oily residue that citrus cleaners leave behind.
Microfiber Cloths: Grab a pack of yellow detailing cloths from Chemical Guys. Don't use your good indoor towels; they will get permanently stained and smell like a gas station.
Stiff Nylon Brush: A detailing brush with 1-inch bristles for getting deep into wicker weaves and textured plastic grain.
Nitrile Gloves: Tar solvents will strip the natural oils right out of your skin. Wear 4-mil black nitrile gloves to keep your hands clean.

Here is a quick breakdown of how different solvents perform on common patio furniture materials based on my field tests.

Solvent Type	Best For	Risk Level	Price Range
Citrus Cleaner (Goo Gone)	Resin wicker, HDPE plastic	Low	$8 - $15
WD-40 Specialist	Powder-coated metal	Medium	$10 - $18
Mineral Spirits	Bare aluminum, teak wood	High (melts plastic)	$12 - $25

Step-by-Step Removal

I'll be honest, this takes elbow grease. You can't just spray and walk away. But if you follow this exact sequence, you'll save your furniture. I used this method last summer on a set of resin wicker chairs after my kids tracked driveway sealer all over the patio.

Step 1: Protect the Surrounding Area

Before you start scraping, lay down a heavy canvas drop cloth or a piece of cardboard under the chair. Dissolved tar drips. If it lands on your concrete pavers or wooden deck, you'll just be trading one stain problem for another. I use a 9x12 foot canvas drop cloth that I bought for $15.

Step 2: Freeze and Fracture

Apply your ice pack for 5 minutes until the asphalt is rock hard. Take your 3-inch plastic putty knife and gently pry the edges of the tar blob. It should pop off in chunks. If it smears, stop immediately and apply more ice. You want to remove about 80% of the physical mass before introducing any liquids.

Step 3: Apply the Citrus Solvent

Spray Goo Gone directly onto the remaining black stain. Let it sit for exactly 4 minutes. Don't let it dry out. If you are working in direct sunlight on a hot day, the solvent evaporates fast. I usually throw a damp microfiber cloth over the area to keep it wet and active while it breaks down the bitumen. If the stain is particularly thick, you might need to apply the solvent twice. Don't rush this step. Let the chemistry do the heavy lifting for you.

Step 4: Agitate the Weave

Take your stiff nylon detailing brush and scrub in small circles. If you have resin wicker furniture, the asphalt loves to hide in the textured grooves. Push the bristles deep into the crevices. You'll see the black stain start to turn into a brown, sludgy mess. This means the petroleum bonds are finally breaking.

Step 5: Wipe and Lift

Use a clean yellow microfiber cloth to wipe away the sludge. Fold the cloth frequently so you aren't just pushing the tar back into the furniture. Discard the cloth when it gets saturated. It's not worth trying to wash it out in your washing machine.

Step 6: Degrease the Surface

Citrus solvents leave an oily film. If you skip this step, your chair will attract pollen and dust for weeks. Spray Dawn Platinum Powerwash over the entire cleaned area. Let it sit for 2 minutes, then wipe it down with a wet cloth. The Dawn cuts through the Goo Gone residue perfectly.

Step 7: Rinse and Inspect

Hose off the furniture with a standard garden nozzle. Don't use a pressure washer; 2000 PSI will strip the finish right off your polywood. Let it air dry in the sun and check for any faint shadows left behind. If you see a shadow, repeat steps 3 through 6.

Alternative Methods

Sometimes you don't have commercial solvents on hand, or you're dealing with a delicate material that reacts poorly to citrus oils. Here are three backup methods I keep in my arsenal for stubborn stains.

The Peanut Butter Trick

This sounds crazy, but it actually works on small splatters. The natural oils in peanut butter break down the petroleum in asphalt. Smear a thick layer of creamy Jif over the stain. Let it sit for 15 minutes. Wipe it away with a paper towel and follow up with dish soap. I only recommend this for smooth metal or solid plastic surfaces. Trying to get peanut butter out of wicker weave is a nightmare you don't want to experience.

Mineral Spirits for Metal Frames

If you have a powder-coated aluminum frame, like the ones on Sunbrella sling chairs, mineral spirits work incredibly well. Dampen a rag with Klean-Strip odorless mineral spirits. Rub the stain gently. The tar dissolves almost instantly. Keep this far away from any plastic joints, vinyl straps, or fabric cushions. It will melt them on contact.

Stoner Tarminator for Heavy Duty Jobs

When the driveway sealer is thick and baked on, I reach for Stoner Tarminator. It's an aerosol spray that costs about $12 a can. It contains specialized solvents that liquefy tar without harming automotive paint, which means it's generally safe for painted metal patio furniture. Spray it on, wait 60 seconds, and wipe. It's highly effective, but the fumes are strong, so only use it outdoors.

Prevention Tips

Dealing with tar is frustrating. Preventing it is much easier, especially if you live near a busy road or frequently seal your driveway.

Use Fitted Covers: I use the Patio Furniture Covers from Classic Accessories. They cost around $40-60 and completely block airborne tar mist from nearby roadwork.
Strategic Placement: Keep your seating area at least 15 feet away from the edge of your driveway. When contractors use blowers to clean the asphalt before sealing, they blast tiny black pellets everywhere.
Apply a Ceramic Spray: Spray a layer of Turtle Wax Hybrid Solutions Ceramic Spray Coating on your hard plastic and metal chairs. It costs about $20. This creates a slick barrier that makes future tar spots wipe right off with a damp rag.
Coordinate with Neighbors: If you live in an HOA, check the community calendar before driveway sealing season. Move your furniture into the garage for 48 hours while the neighbors are applying hot sealcoat. Also, pay attention to the wind direction if you are using a leaf blower near the street. I've seen neighbors accidentally blow fresh road tar right onto their expensive outdoor dining sets.

FAQ

Can I use a pressure washer to blast off asphalt?

No, you shouldn't use a pressure washer for this task. The high pressure will just atomize the tar and blast it deeper into the texture of your furniture. It can also permanently etch the surface of resin wicker and strip paint off metal frames.

Will WD-40 ruin my plastic patio chairs?

Standard WD-40 can degrade certain types of cheap plastics and acrylics over time. I always recommend testing it on a hidden spot under the seat first. If you are cleaning HDPE lumber like Polywood, stick to citrus cleaners to be completely safe.

How do I get tar out of outdoor fabric cushions?

Fabric is much harder to clean than hard surfaces. Scrape off the excess with ice, then apply a heavy-duty laundry stain remover like Shout Advanced Gel. Let it sit for 10 minutes before washing the cushion cover in warm water on a heavy-duty cycle.

Does asphalt stain permanently if left in the sun?

Yes, the sun bakes the petroleum binders into the pores of the furniture material. A fresh tar spot takes about 10 minutes to remove. A stain that has baked in the hot sun for three weeks might require multiple treatments and could leave a permanent shadow.

Can I use this method on real teak wood furniture?

Teak is highly porous and will absorb the asphalt quickly. Skip the citrus cleaners and use a dedicated teak cleaner mixed with a soft brass brush. Sanding the top layer of the wood with 120-grit sandpaper is often the only way to remove deep tar stains from raw teak.