How to Get Tar Off Bricks

Tar softens in warm weather and can easily be tracked in from your shoes.

If you live in an urban environment and regularly drive a car, you most likely have come in contact with tar on the roadways. Tar is created when organic materials like wood are distilled into a resin, and the substance is often used to bind cracks in roads. Tar has also been used to seal gaps in walls. Regardless of how tar was tracked onto bricks on your property, you should be able to remove the tar with the correct materials and cleaning technique.

Things You'll Need

• Bug and tar remover
• Rubbing alcohol
• Putty knife
• Mild hand soap
• Rag

Instructions

1. Apply a bug and tar removal product to the tar-stained bricks. You can find bug and tar remover at most large hardware stores. You can also use a grease remover, such as rubbing alcohol. The purpose of the bug and tar remover or the rubbing alcohol is to help soften the tar so that it is easier to remove.

2. Wait 10 to 15 minutes for the grease removal product to soften the tar.

3. Scrape the tar away from the brick gently with a putty knife. Once the tar is soft, it should come off of the brick fairly easily with a putty knife.

4. Mix a gentle cleaning solution made up of 2 cups of cold water and 1 tbsp. of mild hand soap.

5. Dip a rag or sponge into the cleaning solution, then gently scrub the brick where the tar was stuck. Even though you may have removed the bulk of the tar, there may still be a stain present. Washing the brick with a cleaning solution should remove the remaining residue.

6. Allow the brick to air dry. If you notice that there are still pieces of tar stuck to the brick, repeat the cleaning process.

References

• The Frugal Life: Tar on Brick
• University of Minnesota Extension; Removing Sap and Honeydew From Cars; Deborah L. Brown
• "Good Housekeeping": Stain Buster -- Sap