
If you recently wore or acquired a pair of shoes that have become marred with tar upon them, finding a way to remove it properly is sure to be a concern. Tar is hard to miss as it is a dark color, is tacky when it first adheres and hardens after time. Read on to learn how to get tar off shoes without ruining them in the process.
Scrape Away as Much as Possible to Get Tar Off Shoes
The first step in removing tar from shoes is to scrape as much as you possibly can from the material or sole. This is easily done with a plastic utensil such as a disposable knife or a paint scraper. Be sure to use caution when applying pressure so you do not rip your shoe during the removal process. It may be beneficial to place your shoe in your freezer for an hour or two before you attempt to remove that tar. This will help to harden it, making it easier to scrape away large portions
Use A Gentle Soap To Help With Tar Removal
Dish detergent works well for tar removal. It will not cause the fabric or rubber of a shoe to become discolored as it does not contain harsh chemicals. Place a bit of liquid dish detergent on the affected area of your shoe and allow it to sit for several minutes. This will cause it to loosen any remaining tar from your shoe so it is easier to remove. Use your finger to apply the soap and rub it gently over the tarred portion. Place your shoe upon a piece of newspaper to protect your furnishings as you wait for the soap to work its magic.
Scrub The Area Where Soap Was Applied
After the soap has settled into the tarred area on your shoe, use a toothbrush to soften the affected area. Rub the toothbrush in a circular motion and use a clean piece of cloth to remove any loosened tar. You may need to repeat this process several times. You will notice that the color on your shoe will become lighter and lighter as the tar disappears.
How to Get Tar Off Shoes – You Need to Rinse The Affected Area Between Scrubbing
The toothbrush you use will likely become discolored as you repeat the scrubbing process. Place some dish detergent and water in a bowl to use for the cleaning of the toothbrush between scrubbing processes. Dry the toothbrush bristles with your piece of clean cloth to further remove all remnants of tar. Continue the scrubbing procedure as needed. To help you determine whether the tar is being removed effectively, rinse away the soap, water, and tar from the affected area of your shoe by placing it directly under a running faucet for a few seconds. Use warm water to help loosen the tar even more.
Dry Your Shoe In Its Entirety
When you no longer see discoloration upon your shoe, rinse away all soap and water and place the shoe in an area where it can dry naturally. If you see any remnants of tar after your shoe has completely dried, you can repeat the entire process from the beginning step to lighten the tar even more. This procedure will eventually work completely. It does sometimes take several sessions for the tar to effectively disappear from some materials. This is dependant on the amount of tar that you had acquired upon your shoe as well as the duration of time it remained upon the material. Tar that was not removed promptly may be more difficult to remove. This procedure, however, is completely safe for all materials shoes are comprised of.