How to Get Tar Out of Your Carpet Without Losing Your Mind (or Your Security Deposit)
Picture this: a serene evening. You’re fresh from a walk, daydreaming about snacks, when suddenly you glance down and realize you’ve brought the street home with you. Not the good parts like coffee shops or cool street art—no, it’s tar. Sticky, evil tar, and it’s nestled right into your beloved carpet.
Before you consider turning the living room into an avant-garde "tar gallery," there’s hope. You can tackle this mess with everyday household items—or, of course, you can leave it to the experts at Consider It Clean. They’ll have your carpet looking like it’s never seen a shoe, let alone a sticky nightmare.
But hey, if you’re feeling adventurous, here are 10 DIY methods to get that tar out of your carpet. Before diving in, always test any cleaning solution on a hidden spot first. Trust us, there’s nothing worse than turning a little tar spot into a Jackson Pollock painting you didn’t ask for.
Now before diving into any of these methods, always test the solution on an inconspicuous spot of your carpet first. Some carpets have sensitive personalities, and you don’t want to turn a tar stain into a bigger disaster. You’ve been warned—Consider It Clean takes no responsibility if your stain catastrophe becomes an abstract art experiment.
The Great Scrape Escape
Method: Use a butter knife to gently scrape off excess tar.
Tar isn’t shy; it likes to stick around. Gently grab a butter knife (save the steak knives for your next dramatic dinner party) and scrape away as much tar as you can. Slow and steady wins the race—don’t gouge your carpet like it owes you money. Dispose of the scraped-off tar carefully unless you’re running a DIY art supply side hustle.
What NOT to do: Don’t apply pressure like you’re sawing logs. A light touch is your best friend.
Rub-a-Dub Tar
Method: Apply rubbing alcohol to loosen the tar.
Rubbing alcohol isn’t just for cleaning wounds and making you feel like a mad scientist. Dab a small amount onto a clean cloth and blot—never rub—the tar-stained area. Watch as the tar starts to lose its grip on your carpet fibers. This is what freedom looks like, folks.
What NOT to do: Don’t dump rubbing alcohol directly on the carpet unless you want a stain plus a weird smell.
WD-40 Wizardry
Method: Try a dab of WD-40 to break down the tar.
WD-40 isn’t just for squeaky doors and pretending you’re a handyman. Apply a tiny amount to a clean cloth and blot the tar gently. The magical spray will break it down faster than your patience at IKEA.
What NOT to do: Don’t spray WD-40 directly onto the carpet. Trust us, it’s not a carpet cologne.
Soap Suds Salvation
Method: Use a mixture of warm water and dish soap.
Dish soap isn’t just for last night’s casserole dish. Mix it with warm water, dampen a clean cloth, and gently blot the stain. The suds will coax the tar out without turning your carpet into a bubble bath gone wrong.
What NOT to do: Don’t use boiling water unless you want to start a carpet-cooking YouTube channel.
Eucalyptus Oil Magic
Method: Dab with a small amount of eucalyptus oil.
If your carpet could talk, it would thank you for this spa treatment. Apply a small amount of eucalyptus oil to a cloth and blot the tar gently. Not only will the tar retreat, but your living room will smell like an upscale wellness retreat.
What NOT to do: Don’t overdo the oil, or your carpet might smell like an overenthusiastic aromatherapist.
The Ice Is Right
Method: Use an ice cube to harden the tar and chip it away.
Channel your inner Elsa—because for tar stains, the cold never bothered them anyway. Press an ice cube onto the tar to harden it, then chip away the pieces. It’s oddly satisfying, like peeling sunburned skin without the regret.
What NOT to do: Don’t chip so aggressively that you dig into your carpet. You’re removing tar, not hunting for buried treasure.
Vinegar and Soda, Not for Drinking
Method: Blot with a mixture of vinegar and baking soda.
Mix these two household superheroes, blot gently, and watch the tar dissolve. It’s science! And your carpet will thank you for the fizzy rescue mission.
What NOT to do: Don’t let the mixture sit too long. The goal is to clean, not create a homemade volcano experiment.
Goo Gone, Tar Too
Method: Try Goo Gone to dissolve the tar.
Goo Gone works wonders on sticky messes. Apply it to the stained area, let it sit for a minute, and blot away. It’s like a tiny miracle in a bottle.
What NOT to do: Don’t soak the carpet in Goo Gone, or you’ll trade tar for goo. Not ideal.
Bright Idea Peroxide
Method: Use hydrogen peroxide for stubborn stains (on light carpets only).
Hydrogen peroxide can be your best friend—but only on light carpets. Apply a small amount and blot until the stain is gone. It’s like a magic eraser for your carpet.
What NOT to do: Don’t use this on dark carpets unless you want a polka-dotted floor.
Dry Cleaning Heroics
Method: Apply a dry cleaning solvent to the stain.
For a more professional approach, dab the area with a dry cleaning solvent. Follow the instructions on the bottle, and soon your carpet will look like it’s never even met tar.
What NOT to do: Don’t pour the entire bottle on your carpet—it’s a solvent, not a swimming pool.
The Quick and Dirty Recap
So there you have it—10 ways to make tar wish it never came home with you. But let’s be real: DIY can be messy, time-consuming, and involve more elbow grease than you bargained for. That’s where Consider It Clean swoops in, cape and all. Let us handle the mess while you focus on more important things—like which snack pairs best with your Netflix binge.