Tested: How to Get Tar Out of Patio Furniture Fast

Immediate Action (first 5 minutes)

When a landscaping crew seals the driveway next door and the wind catches the overspray, your weekend is ruined. I've dealt with this exact nightmare on my own Trex composite deck and the adjacent woven wicker chairs. You have a tiny window to act. If the tar is still warm and gooey, do not touch it with a paper towel. You'll just push the black sludge deeper into the texture.

Grab a frozen gel pack or a bag of peas from the freezer. Press it firmly against the tar spot for exactly 4 minutes. The goal is to drop the tar's temperature below 50°F. Cold tar becomes brittle and loses its adhesive grip. Once it hardens, you can pop it off in one solid piece. If you missed the window and the tar has already cooled and hardened in the sun, skip the ice. You'll need to rely entirely on chemical solvents to break the petroleum bonds. I'll be honest, this takes elbow grease, but it's entirely fixable.

What You'll Need (tools/products)

Over my 12 years of restoring outdoor furniture, I've ruined a few finishes by using the wrong chemicals. Acetone will melt plastic resin chairs instantly. Bleach does absolutely nothing to petroleum-based stains. Here is the exact, safe toolkit I use to get tar out of patio furniture without stripping the UV-protective coatings.

Product	Price Range	Best Material	Dwell Time
WD-40 Multi-Use	$6 - $8	Resin, Metal, Wicker	10 Minutes
Goo Gone Automotive	$9 - $12	Glossy Resin, Glass	15 Minutes
Odorless Mineral Spirits	$12 - $15	Teak, Powder-Coated Aluminum	3 Minutes
Creamy Peanut Butter	$4 - $6	Kids Furniture, Eco-Friendly	20 Minutes

I highly recommend the OXO Good Grips scrub brush because the bristles are stiff enough to dig into wicker weaves but soft enough not to scratch glossy resin. Don't use wire brushes. They will leave permanent silver streaks on your dark-colored furniture. For the solvent, WD-40 is my go-to because it's cheap and highly effective. Keep a bucket of warm water mixed with Dawn Ultra nearby to cut the grease immediately after the tar lifts. Don't use old t-shirts for wiping. Cotton leaves lint behind that gets trapped in the sticky tar. I buy the Meguiar's Supreme Shine microfiber towels in bulk because they have a deep pile that grabs the sludge and holds it away from the furniture surface.

Step-by-Step Removal

Step 1: Mechanical Removal

Take your Hyde plastic putty knife and gently slide it under the edge of the hardened tar. Keep the blade at a 15-degree angle to avoid gouging the furniture surface. If the tar flakes off, great. If it smears, stop immediately. You are dealing with a soft tar spot that needs more freezing or a chemical breakdown. I've found that plastic resin chairs respond best to this scraping method, while metal frames might require a bit more pressure.

Step 2: Solvent Application

Spray a generous amount of WD-40 directly onto the remaining tar stain. Don't spray it on the cloth first. You want the solvent to pool slightly on the stain so it can penetrate the porous surface of the material. If you are working on Sunbrella fabric cushions, spray the solvent onto a microfiber cloth and dab it onto the fabric to prevent the oil from spreading to the foam inside.

Step 3: The 10-Minute Dwell Time

Walk away and let the chemistry do the heavy lifting. Give the solvent exactly 10 minutes to break down the complex hydrocarbon chains in the tar. If it's a hot day and the solvent evaporates quickly, cover the spot with a piece of plastic wrap to trap the moisture. I learned this trick after watching my solvent dry up in the Texas heat before it could work.

Step 4: Agitate the Surface

Take your soft-bristle brush and scrub the area in tight, circular motions. For wicker furniture, you'll need to scrub in multiple directions to get into the 3/8 inch gaps of the weave. The tar should start turning into a brown, muddy sludge. Wipe this sludge away with a clean microfiber cloth. Fold the cloth frequently so you aren't just rubbing the tar back into the furniture. If you are cleaning a textured metal sling chair frame, use an old toothbrush instead of the large OXO brush. The small bristles easily navigate the tight corners and welded joints where tar loves to hide.

Step 5: Degrease and Rinse

Now you have a clean spot covered in oily WD-40 residue. Spray the area with Dawn Powerwash. This product is a game-changer for outdoor cleaning because it cuts through petroleum grease in seconds. Let it sit for 2 minutes, then rinse thoroughly with a garden hose. If you skip this step, the oily residue will attract dirt and pollen, leaving you with a dark, ugly spot by next weekend.

Critical Safety Warning: Rag Disposal

I cannot stress this enough. Rags soaked in petroleum solvents and tar can spontaneously combust if balled up and thrown in your indoor trash can. The oxidation process generates heat. I always lay my tar-soaked microfiber cloths flat on the concrete driveway to dry out completely in the sun. Once they are stiff and dry, I put them in a metal bucket with a tight-fitting lid before disposing of them. Don't risk burning your house down over a patio chair.

Alternative Methods

Method 1: The Pantry Raid (Peanut Butter)

If you don't have WD-40 in the garage, check your kitchen. Creamy peanut butter is packed with natural oils that break down tar just like commercial solvents. Slather a 1/4 inch thick layer over the stain and let it sit for 20 minutes. Scrape it off with your plastic putty knife. This isn't the fastest option, but it's completely non-toxic and safe for kids' patio furniture. Just make sure you use creamy, not crunchy, or you'll be picking peanut pieces out of your wicker for weeks.

Method 2: Mineral Spirits (For Metal and Teak Only)

For heavy-duty tar buildup on powder-coated aluminum frames or raw teak wood, mineral spirits are incredibly effective. Dampen a rag with Odorless Mineral Spirits and rub the stain. I'll be honest, this smells terrible and requires gloves. Never use this on plastic, poly-lumber, or synthetic wicker. It will permanently cloud the finish and weaken the structural integrity of the polymers.

Method 3: Automotive Clay Bar

If your glass patio table or glossy resin chairs have tiny, stubborn tar specks that won't budge, use an automotive clay bar. Spray the surface with soapy water and glide the clay bar over the spots. It physically pulls the contaminants out of the microscopic pores without scratching the surface. It takes a bit of patience, but the glass will look brand new afterward.

Prevention Tips

If your neighbor is re-roofing their house, cover your furniture with heavy-duty 6-mil polyethylene tarps. Lightweight dust covers won't stop hot, dripping asphalt. When your landlord inspects the patio next week, you'll be glad you protected your security deposit. Also, pay attention to the wind direction if you are sealing your own driveway. I always seal the driveway on a calm, overcast morning to prevent the sealer from drying too fast and blowing onto my Polywood chairs.

Sometimes what looks like tar is actually tree sap mixed with dust. If your furniture is parked under a pine or oak tree, inspect the spots closely. Tree sap requires rubbing alcohol, not WD-40. Knowing the difference saves you from using the wrong chemical and wasting an hour of your Saturday. Finally, apply a UV-protective spray sealant to your furniture every spring. A sealed surface is much smoother, making it incredibly difficult for tar to establish a strong bond.

FAQ

Will WD-40 damage plastic resin chairs?

No, WD-40 is generally safe for high-density polyethylene and plastic resin chairs when used for short periods. I've used it on my own chairs for years without any clouding. Just make sure you wash it off with dish soap within 15 minutes to prevent long-term oil absorption.

Can I use a pressure washer to blast off tar?

A pressure washer will not remove tar and will likely damage your furniture. Tar is highly adhesive and flexible, meaning water pressure just flows right over it. You will end up stripping the paint off your metal chairs or fraying your wicker weave before the tar even moves.

What if the tar has baked in the sun for months?

Baked tar requires a two-step approach involving heat and solvents. Use a hairdryer on the highest heat setting to soften the tar for 60 seconds, then immediately apply Goo Gone Automotive and scrub. You may need to repeat this process three or four times to fully lift the oxidized stain.

Does tar stain outdoor fabric cushions permanently?

Tar can permanently stain fabric if it penetrates deep into the fibers and reaches the inner foam. If you catch it early and use a solvent dabbing technique, you can save Sunbrella and polyester covers. If the tar has soaked through to the cushion insert, you will likely need to replace the foam core.