Dealing with tar and sap stains on your clothes can be annoying and frustrating. However, with some handy tips and recommended products, you can lift those stubborn stains to restore your garments. This guide will provide step-by-step instructions to get rid of tar and sap using common household items.
What You’ll Need
Before going into the nitty-gritty stain removal methods, let’s first cover what items work best for tackling tar and sap stains:
For tar stains:
- Paper towels or rags
- Prewash stain remover or dish soap
- Baby oil or margarine
- Laundry detergent
- Washing machine
For sap stains:
- Paper towels or rags
- Rubbing alcohol
- Laundry detergent
- Washing machine
- Butter knife or dull table knife
Having these supplies ready will make the process much smoother. Now let’s get into the stain removal techniques.
Removing Tar Stains
Tar stains are no joke – they can set into fabric quickly. But here are the steps to lift them:
Step 1: Work Quickly
Act fast as soon as you notice tar on clothing. The quicker you can get to work on it, the better chance you have of removing it.
Step 2: Blot Stain
Gently blot the tar stain using a paper towel or clean rag. Do not scrub or you may grind the tar deeper into the fabric. Blotting lifts some of the stain off the surface.
*Step 3: Apply Prewash Spray or Dish Soap
If you have a specialty prewash stain remover spray, apply it directly to the tar stain as per the product instructions. Or, apply a small amount of dish soap. Let it sit for a minute.
*Step 4: Blot Stain Again
Blot the stain again with clean paper towels or a rag. Repeat steps 3 and 4 as needed until stain is removed. The soap helps dissolve the tar.
*Step 5: Treat with Baby Oil or Margarine
For any leftover stain, apply a small amount of baby oil or margarine directly on the spot and let sit for 30 minutes. This helps break down the components of the tar residue.
*Step 6: Launder as Usual
Wash the clothing in the washing machine as usual with your regular laundry detergent. The combination of pretreating, blotting, and laundering should eliminate the tar stain.
Removing Sap Stains
Sap is also tricky to get out of clothing. Follow these methods to attack sap stains:
*Step 1: Act Quickly
Just like tar stains, immediately deal with sap drips on clothing when they happen. Getting to work fast increases your chances of sap stain removal.
*Step 2: Freeze the Stain
If possible, put the sap-stained garment in a freezer bag and into the freezer for 1-2 hours. This hardens the sap, allowing you to better scrape it off.
*Step 3: Scrape Off Sap Crystals
Take the garment out of the freezer and use a dull butter knife or table knife to gently scrape off the hardened sap crystals from the fabric. Be careful not to damage threads or snag the material.
*Step 4: Apply Rubbing Alcohol
Pour a small amount of rubbing alcohol directly onto any leftover sap stain. Gently blot the stain with paper towels or a rag. The alcohol dissolves sap residue.
*Step 5: Rinse & Repeat as Needed
Continue applying rubbing alcohol and blotting until sap is completely removed. Repeat scrape-alcohol process as necessary for stubborn stains.
*Step 6: Wash as Usual
Once stain is removed, launder the garment as normal to eliminate any remaining sap traces. Detergent and washing should take care of the last bit.
Avoid Drying Stained Clothes
An important tip when dealing with tar or sap on clothing is to avoid drying the items until stains are fully removed. Putting stained garments immediately into the dryer can permanently set the stains into fabric. Follow stain removal steps first before drying.
Act Fast for Best Results
As emphasized in the beginning steps of both processes, acting quickly is key. The sooner you can start working on tar and sap drips, the more likely the substances will lift and not become permanent stains. So attack stains ASAP for best outcomes.
Alternative Cleaning Options
If you are still finding tar or sap stains difficult to remove using the previous approaches, try taking affected items to a professional dry cleaner. They have heavy-duty solvents available that can lift stubborn oil-based stains without damaging fabric. This will cost more than do-it-yourself methods but may be necessary for valuable garments.
In Summary…
To recap, here are the fastest and most effective stain removal methods:
For tar: Blot, prewash spray/soap, baby oil, wash
For sap: Freeze, scrape, alcohol, wash
Arm yourself with the recommended supplies and follow the outlined steps as soon as spill happens. Repeat procedures as needed until stains vanish. Then launder as usual once clear. Take garments for professional cleaning if you have no luck removing really stubborn residue.
So don’t despair over tar and sap stains! Armed with these cleaning tips, you can kick those pesky spots to the curb. Your favorite clothes will look fresh and revived in no time.
References
American Cleaning Institute. “How to Remove Tar and Asphalt Stains.” Clean Living. https://www.cleaninginstitute.org/cleaning-tips/clothes/how-remove-tar-and-asphalt-stains
Persil. “How to Remove Tree Sap Stains.” https://www.persil.com/uk/dirt-and-stains/special-stains/tree-sap-stains.html
The Maids. “How to Remove Tar and Sap Stains from Clothes and Upholstery.” https://www.maids.com/cleaning-tips/how-to-remove-tar-and-sap/
Tide. “How to Get Sap Out of Clothes.” https://tide.com/en-us/how-to-wash-clothes/how-to-get-sap-out-of-clothes
Laura has had an enthusiasm for laundry ever since she was a teenager experimenting with wash cycles. She went on study textile science in college before working in product testing.
Soon, Laura found friends and family constantly asking her laundry advice, realizing she had become an unofficial laundry guru. The questions kept coming in, so Laura decided to start sharing laundry tips online to help more people. The enthusiastic response led her start the blog “Laundry How”.
Now in her late thirties, Laura uses Laundry How to tackle all kinds of laundry topics – stains, fabric care, detergents, and more. She provides advice from both her studies and experience testing techniques out firsthand. Laura continues to grow an engaged community of laundry learners, feeling fulfilled empowering people to make laundry an easy, confidence-building ritual rather than a dreaded chore.