Tested: How to Get Tar Out of Polyester Clothes Fast

By David Park · December 28, 2025

Immediate Action (First 5 Minutes)

Tar is a nightmare. It sticks to everything. When you get it on synthetic fabrics like polyester, the petroleum base bonds directly to the plastic fibers. If you have kids who track mud and driveway sealant everywhere, you already know this pain. I ruined a $60 Under Armour hoodie once by rubbing it immediately. Don't make my mistake.

Your first five minutes dictate whether the shirt survives or goes in the trash. Stop walking. Find a safe spot to assess the damage. Do not rub the stain. Rubbing pushes the hot, sticky tar deeper into the synthetic weave. Instead, grab a dull edge like a credit card or a butter knife. Gently lift off any excess, gooey blobs without smearing them. If the tar is still hot and liquid, let it cool and harden for a few minutes. Hard tar is infinitely easier to remove than liquid tar.

Once the bulk is lifted, keep the garment away from heat. Heat melts the remaining residue back into the fabric. I always keep a few ice cubes in a ziplock bag in my car for exactly this reason. Apply the ice directly to the spot to freeze the remaining tar solid. This buys you time to get home and grab the proper solvents.

What You'll Need

Gathering the right supplies before you start saves a lot of frustration. I'll be honest, this takes elbow grease. You can't just throw polyester in the wash and hope for the best. Here is my exact toolkit for tackling petroleum stains on synthetic activewear and jackets.

Blunt Scraper: A plastic putty knife or an old credit card. Metal knives can snag polyester threads.
Ice Pack: Or a ziplock bag filled with ice cubes to freeze the stain solid.
Citrus Solvent: Goo Gone Automotive or a similar citrus-based degreaser. This costs around $8-12 and breaks down petroleum safely.
Heavy-Duty Dish Soap: Dawn Platinum Powerwash is my absolute favorite. It cuts through the oily residue left by the solvent.
Microfiber Cloths: You need at least three clean white cloths to blot the stain without transferring dyes.
Soft Bristle Brush: An old toothbrush works perfectly for working soap into the fibers.

Below is a quick comparison of the solvents I've tested over the years. This isn't the cheapest option list, but it highlights what actually works without melting your clothes.

Solvent Type	Brand Example	Effectiveness on Tar	Safety for Polyester
Citrus Degreaser	Goo Gone Automotive	Excellent	Very High
Penetrating Oil	WD-40 Specialist	Very Good	High (Requires heavy washing)
Isopropyl Alcohol	Swan 91% Rubbing Alcohol	Fair	High
Acetone	Onyx Professional Remover	Excellent	Zero (Melts fabric)

Step-by-Step Removal

Follow these steps exactly. I've tested this on my own running gear and my husband's work jackets. Polyester is durable, but it holds onto oils tightly. Patience is your best tool here.

Step 1: Freeze and Scrape

Place the stained garment on a flat surface. Put your ice pack directly on the tar for 12 to 15 minutes. You want the tar to become brittle and hard. Once frozen, take your plastic scraper and gently chip away the hardened mass. Work from the outside edges toward the center. This prevents the tar from spreading. You should be able to remove about 70% of the physical bulk during this step. Throw the scraped tar pieces in the trash immediately so they don't melt and stick to something else.

Step 2: Apply the Citrus Solvent

Now you need to break down the remaining stain that soaked into the fibers. Lay the garment flat and place a clean paper towel underneath the stain. This catches the dissolved tar. Apply a generous amount of Goo Gone directly to the spot. Let it sit for 10 minutes. The citrus oils will penetrate the polyester weave and loosen the petroleum bonds. Don't rush this step. If the stain is thick, you might need to apply a second layer after five minutes.

Step 3: Blot and Lift

Take a clean white microfiber cloth and press it firmly onto the treated area. Do not wipe. Wiping smears the dissolved tar. Press down hard to absorb the liquid. You will see the brown or black tar transferring to your cloth. Switch to a clean section of the cloth frequently. Keep blotting until no more color transfers. If the stain is still visible, apply a little more solvent and repeat the blotting process. I usually go through three or four cloths on a bad stain.

Step 4: Pre-treat with Heavy-Duty Soap

The solvent removes the tar, but it leaves behind a greasy residue. Spray Dawn Platinum Powerwash directly onto the spot. Use your soft-bristle toothbrush to gently massage the soap into the fabric. Work in small circular motions for about two minutes. Let the soap sit for another 10 minutes. The enzymes and surfactants in the Dawn will lift the remaining citrus oils and microscopic tar particles.

Step 5: Wash and Air Dry

Wash the garment in your washing machine using cold water. Set the temperature to 86°F (30°C) or lower. Hot water will set any microscopic remaining oils into the polyester permanently. Use your regular heavy-duty laundry detergent. After the cycle finishes, do not put the item in the dryer. Hang it up to air dry. The heat from a dryer will bake any invisible residue into a permanent yellow stain. Once it is completely dry, inspect it under bright light. If the stain is gone, you can wash and dry it normally next time.

Alternative Methods

Sometimes you don't have Goo Gone on hand. If you are dealing with a stubborn stain or just want to try a different approach, these backup methods work well in my experience.

The WD-40 Specialist Method

WD-40 is famous for fixing squeaky hinges, but it is also a fantastic solvent. I recommend the WD-40 Specialist Degreaser rather than the standard multi-use can. It leaves less oily residue behind. Spray it onto the frozen and scraped tar. Let it sit for 5 to 8 minutes. Blot it up with paper towels. You will need to wash the garment twice with Dawn dish soap to get the WD-40 smell and grease out of the polyester. This isn't the cheapest option, but it works in a pinch.

The Peanut Butter Trick

This sounds crazy, but the natural oils in peanut butter break down tar. It works best on small spots. Smear a thick layer of creamy peanut butter over the stain. Let it sit for 20 minutes. The oils penetrate the tar and soften it. Scrape off the peanut butter and the tar together. Wash the spot immediately with dish soap to remove the peanut oil. I've used this on my kids' clothes when we were out of commercial solvents. It smells weird for a day, but it saves the shirt.

91% Isopropyl Alcohol

Rubbing alcohol is a milder solvent. It won't melt your polyester, but it takes longer to work on thick tar. Soak a cotton ball in 91% isopropyl alcohol and press it against the stain. Hold it there for a few minutes to let the alcohol dissolve the edges. Wipe gently with a cloth. This method requires a lot of repetition. It is best suited for tiny splatters rather than large smears.

Prevention Tips

Avoiding tar is much easier than removing it. If you live in an area with frequent road construction or driveway sealing, keep these tips in mind.

Watch the weather: Tar and driveway sealant get incredibly sticky on hot, sunny days. Avoid walking near freshly paved areas when the temperature is above 80°F.
Wear a sacrificial layer: If you know you are doing yard work near the street, wear an old cotton t-shirt over your nice polyester activewear. Cotton is easier to clean or throw away.
Check your car: Tar often splashes up onto your car's wheel wells. When you reach in to grab something from the wheel well, you transfer it to your sleeves. Wipe down your car's lower panels with a degreaser after driving through construction zones.
Keep a stain pen handy: While stain pens won't fix tar, carrying a small bottle of hand sanitizer (which contains alcohol) can help stop a tiny splatter from setting while you drive home.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use acetone or nail polish remover on polyester?

No, you should never use acetone or nail polish remover on polyester. Acetone is a powerful solvent that will literally melt the plastic fibers of your clothing. I ruined a favorite running shirt this way, leaving a stiff, melted hole right through the chest.

Will tar wash out in a regular laundry cycle?

A standard wash cycle will not remove tar because the petroleum base repels water. The heat from a warm or hot wash will actually bake the stain deeper into the synthetic fibers. You must break down the tar with a solvent before it ever touches your washing machine.

What if the tar stain is old and completely dried?

Dried tar requires rehydration before you can lift it from the fabric. Apply a generous layer of Goo Gone or mineral oil and let it sit for at least 30 minutes to soften the hardened mass. Once it turns gummy again, proceed with the standard scraping and blotting steps.

Can I just take the garment to the dry cleaner?

Yes, professional dry cleaners have industrial-grade solvents that handle petroleum stains easily. However, you must explicitly point out the tar stain and tell them the fabric is polyester. If they use the wrong chemical process, they could damage the synthetic weave.