How to remove tar from jeans at home: effective methods and products to help clean denim

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Author of the article

Svetlana Pavlikhina

Reading time: 6 minutes

No one is immune from the appearance of tar stains on denim clothing. They can appear after walking on an asphalt road and even while walking in the forest.

Getting rid of them is problematic, but possible. The main thing is to know how to remove tar from jeans and what products can be used.

Where to start cleaning

To wash the resin of pine or other types of wood, you must first prepare the stained item for cleaning:

Use a spoon or the blunt side of a knife to scrape off the top layer of resin.
Use a dry brush to remove dust and dirt from the fabric (this will prevent streaks from appearing).
If the garment has a lining, it should be ripped open to treat only the stain without touching the clean fabric.
Place the matter on the board.
Moisten the material around the stain and sprinkle with starch (this will prevent further spread of the stain).

How to remove resin stains with alcohol?

You can only remove a fresh stain with alcohol; if it is old, it is quite difficult.

Instructions:

Treat the area around the stain with starch, this will prevent the stain from spreading.
After this, pour a little alcohol onto the cloth so that it does not evaporate, cover with a napkin
After an hour, try to wipe the stain. Afterwards wash the fabric

How to remove resin stains with alcohol?

Temperature effect

Pine resin and viscous contamination from poplar can be removed under the influence of temperatures. Cleaning is done by freezing or heating.

Freezing resin

The viscous substance becomes brittle at low temperatures and can be easily removed. To do this you need to do the following:

Place ice cubes, packed in a bag, on the inside of the jeans.
Wrap the clothes themselves in plastic.
Place the item in the freezer for an hour and a half.
Remove jeans and print.
Remove the stain: the resin will crumble and be easily shaken off the fabric.
Remove the remaining particles of the frozen mass with a brush.

Heating with an iron

Fresh dirt can be easily removed with high heat.

You need to do the following:

Wrap the board in cloth.
Put the thing down.
Place a napkin on top.
Set the iron to medium heat.
Iron the stain.
Periodically replace the napkin with a new one.
Perform these steps until the stain disappears completely.

You can use a hairdryer: a hot stream of air is directed at the dirt, the resin is melted and cleaned off with a napkin.

Removing stains when washing

After preliminary preparation, contamination can be removed by washing. The main thing is to choose effective means that can remove it .

Vegetable oil

This affordable product is considered a gentle remedy. Mode of application:

Apply a small amount of oil to the resin.
After 15 minutes, the surface is cleaned with soapy water and a brush.
The item is washed in the usual way.

Laundry soap

The cleaning procedure is simple and boils down to the following steps:

The fabric is moistened with warm water.
The resin is rubbed with soap.
The fabric is kept in this state for a quarter of an hour.
After the specified time, the item is rinsed.
The procedure is repeated again.

Lemon acid

Under the influence of acid, the substance softens.

The cleaning procedure is carried out according to the following scheme:

Citric acid is mixed with water in equal proportions.
The resulting mass is applied to the contamination.
Ten minutes later, the clothes are washed in an automatic machine.

Dishwashing liquid

In the fight against resin, household chemicals give good results. For example, the well-known Fairy. It contains components that can dissolve organic contaminants.

Stages of using the product:

A few drops of the substance are applied to the resin.
After 15 minutes the item is rinsed.
Jeans are washed using washing powder.

Cleaning methods: 7 options

There are several ways to clean resin from clothes. The most important thing is not to despair when you see that the first option did not work, but to try all the methods in turn. One of them, or even all of them together, will definitely give a positive result.

Alcohol

Peculiarities. This is probably one of the easiest ways. You can use it both at home and outdoors (if you take a flammable substance with you, of course). By the way, instead of alcohol, turpentine is also suitable. Finding him is more problematic, but his help is significant.

Preparations:

a rag (rags, sponge, napkin, cotton wool - anything that you wouldn’t mind throwing away later, but be sure to be clean);
alcohol (or turpentine).

Process

Wet an unnecessary rag with alcohol.
Blot the resin mark.
Repeat again and again until the result appears.
Try not to wipe the resin off your clothes, but rather remove the dirt.
It is necessary for a chemical reaction to begin, after which the thing will become clean.
Take your time, try to act carefully, without fuss.
Everything can take you up to half an hour.
Don't forget to wash your clothes afterwards.

Iron

Peculiarities. You can try an innovative remedy - remove the resin with an iron. This method works well with delicate, thin fabrics.

Preparations:

towels or napkins (thick paper), you can use unnecessary rags (but clean);
iron;
ironing board or table with cloth.

Process

Heat the iron.
Place a towel on the ironing board.
Place the cloth with the stain on top.
Apply a paper towel again to the stain.
Iron the stain and periodically remove the towel until the stain disappears.

The resin melts when exposed to heat and seeps onto the towels. After the procedure, you will only need to wash your item.

Petrol

Peculiarities. You can remove pine resin from clothes with gasoline. But not the kind you fill your car with, but the cleaned kind that is sold in many construction and hardware stores. This method is not suitable for delicate fabrics.

Preparations:

petrol;
rag or clean rags, cotton wool.

Process

Wet the cloth.
Wet the stain.
Blot the stain.
Repeat until you see the desired result.

The only disadvantage of this method is the smell. You will need to thoroughly wash your clothes with the addition of conditioner and laundry balm - this is to get rid of the specific aroma.

Nail polish remover

Peculiarities. You can remove resin from clothes using regular nail polish remover. You can also use solvent or acetone.

Preparations:

acetone;
rag (cotton sponge, clean rags).

Process

Dampen a rag with nail polish remover.
Wipe the stain until it disappears.

The procedure may take longer than you planned, but nail polish remover is, of course, exactly what every representative of the fair sex has in her cosmetic bag.

Dishwashing liquid

Peculiarities. A good way if you don’t know how to remove resin from clothes made of fur or wool. This method is also used if the resin gets on the hair or fur of an animal.

Preparations:

vegetable oil;
cotton wool (sponge);
dishwashing detergent.

Process

Moisten cotton wool with oil.
Generously lubricate the area where the resin was.
Wait 10 minutes.
Dampen cotton wool with dish soap.
Wipe the stain with cotton wool until the mark disappears.

After the manipulations, it is necessary to wash the product well, wash the hair thoroughly, or bathe the animal. Repeat if necessary.

Video on the topic

Coca Cola

Peculiarities. This is a really interesting way. You will never believe how to remove tar from clothes. Your favorite sweet carbonated drinks: Coca-Cola, Pepsi-Cola, Sprite or Fanta.

Preparations:

a bottle of soda;
basin.

Process

Pour the drink into a bowl.
Dip the stained item into the liquid.
Leave for two hours (at least).
Rub the stain with a soft toothbrush.

This may sound strange, but all these drinks soften the resin very easily, so getting rid of it is not at all difficult.

Stain remover

Peculiarities. You can also get rid of tar on clothes using a stain remover or even bleach - industrial chemicals that are designed to remove various contaminants from fabrics.

Preparations:

stain remover (bleach at your discretion);
water (if the product is dry).

Process

Sprinkle a spoonful of stain remover onto the stain.
Add a little water to make porridge.
If the stain remover is liquid, pour a little onto the stain.
Rub into the stain.
Leave for a while.
Wash as you usually do.

This is the simplest method, but it is not always effective, since it only helps in one case - if the resin stain is fresh.

Often, traces of tar, a black, tarry substance that is added to asphalt or patched roofs, remain on clothing. This mainly affects jeans and trousers for men who are directly involved in these jobs. All of the above methods are also suitable for removing not only tree resin, but also tar.

Use of solvents

Not all known means can cope with severe stains. We have to resort to the use of aggressive substances - solvents.

The most effective of them:

acetone;
turpentine;
petrol.

Solvents can lighten the fabric, so before cleaning, you should test their effect on a small area of the jeans in an inconspicuous place.

Removal is carried out in several stages:

A cotton swab is soaked in the solvent and the areas with resin are treated.
After a quarter of an hour, the item is washed first by hand and then by machine.
The jeans are dried in the fresh air (this removes the sharp, unpleasant smell of the solvent).

How to scrub with special compounds?

Some household chemicals can help cope with the problem . Their use should take into account the specifics of the denim material.

Strong reagents can dissolve not only the resin, but also the coloring pigment of denim pants, and even the fabric itself, so their use is very limited. Such drugs should be used only in extreme cases, given the risk of damage to your favorite pair of trousers.

The safest solvents for jeans are white spirit and refined gasoline. You should also not forget about good stain removers that will help remove remaining traces of resin.

Stain remover

This option is suitable for removing fresh contaminants that have not been deeply absorbed into the fibers and have not hardened. Stain removers in gel form are easiest to apply and distribute more evenly.

You can leave the composition on jeans for a quarter of an hour or a little more. As soon as the resin begins to be removed, it is removed. After this, the jeans are washed.

Stain removers are represented on the household chemicals market in a wide range and price categories. For example, the price for a small package of Cinderella product is from 45 rubles.

White Spirit

White spirit solvent comes to the rescue when removing a wide variety of stains . One application is to remove tar.

To apply the effect, you will need a sponge or napkin, which must be soaked in white spirit and applied to the stain. After the resin becomes softer, it is removed. Jeans are washed.

The cost of the solvent is affordable, from 80 rubles per liter bottle.

Petrol

Refined gasoline or kerosene are often used household products . You can try to use them to remove resin. Gasoline is applied to a sponge and applied to the stained area.

Price - about 150 rubles per liter container.

Factory stain removers

Special stain removers can cope with the task. You need to choose a product suitable for processing denim.

You need to do the following:

Read the instructions and the safety precautions described therein.
Apply stain remover to the stain.
Leave for about half an hour. The duration of the procedure largely depends on the strength of the components included in the product. The exact time is indicated on the packaging. There is also information about dosage.
Jeans are machine washed with the addition of the same stain remover.

What to do if the resin stain cannot be removed?

If you have to deal with an old tar stain, it can be very difficult to do.

Removing an old stain that cannot be removed:

You may have to combine methods. Try applying turpentine for a third of an hour, and then rub the stains with a cloth soaked in alcohol.
You can apply gasoline to the stain and freeze the thing. After this, rub the stain, it should crumble into small pieces and fall off the fabric
If all methods don't work, take your clothes to the dry cleaner. Modern chemicals and adsorbents will definitely cope with the stain

What to do if the resin stain cannot be removed?
As you can see, your success in removing tar stains depends on how quickly you react. Fresh stains come out much faster.

Other resin removers

List of means that can be used to remove resin from clothes:

Sweet sparkling water. The maximum effect is observed when using Coca-Cola. Jeans need to be placed in a basin, pour soda into it and soak the item for five hours, then clean the resin with a brush. The method is considered gentle and safe. No sharp objects are used when using it. The dirt softens and can be easily removed with a regular brush.
Alcohol. Soak cotton wool or gauze in the liquid and apply the product to the stain. The item is kept for about half an hour. It's not worth a lot of alcohol. The main thing is that the contaminated area is wet. After treatment, clothes should be rinsed and washed.
White spirit. The product is absolutely safe and will not harm denim fabric. It must be applied to the resin and wait until the contamination is completely dissolved.
Milk. It is enough to soak the contaminated area of fabric in milk for an hour, and then wash the clothes in regular cool water. There will be no trace left of the stain.

Pre-cleaning

First, mechanically clean your clothes. To avoid damaging the fabric, it is better to use a wooden or plastic spatula. Use it to scrape off the sticky substance that is stuck to the fabric. It is better to avoid using sharp objects as they can damage your jeans.

Important! Clean only at home, using clean tools. Resin is a sticky substance and other things, including dust and debris, will quickly stick to it. In this situation, it will be much more difficult to remove contamination.

When the bulk of the contamination has been removed, choose the method in which you will clean the resin from the jeans.

What not to do

When cleaning denim clothes, you need to know what actions cannot be performed, otherwise the item will be damaged.

This:

Do not put clothes into the washing machine without first treating the tar stain: it will not wash off and will spread over large areas.
Do not rub the stain too hard, otherwise the viscous substance will penetrate deep into the fabric and make cleaning more difficult. If the jeans are light, then it is almost impossible to remove dirt from them after this.
Don't leave cleaning for later. Contamination should be removed as quickly as possible, otherwise the substance will penetrate deep into the tissue structure and will be more difficult to remove .

Removing unpleasant odors and stains

Almost all resin removal products have a strong and sometimes unpleasant odor. It is also possible that whitish or yellow stains may appear.

A paste of water and mustard powder will help remove stains. The surface is treated with it for twenty minutes. Next, the clothes are soaked in soapy water or washing powder for an hour and washed in a washing machine in the appropriate mode for the fabric.

Hydrogen peroxide will remove yellow stains on light-colored fabrics. To do this, you need to soak the clothes in water with half a bottle of peroxide for thirty minutes and wash them in an automatic wash.

One option is hydrogen peroxide.

The smell can be easily removed with double the amount of fabric softener; in extreme cases, the item can be soaked in it for twenty minutes. Next, be sure to dry things well, ideally outside.

It is very easy to get trouble in the form of drops of resin on your clothes; just sit on a bench under a poplar tree or on a fresh cut of a pine tree. People who work with artificial polymers also regularly have to remove traces of them from their work clothes.

But, as practice shows, it is quite possible to clean things. To do this, it is enough to select a method or product directly for the material of the soiled item.

Additional recommendations

For the procedure to be safe and effective, you must adhere to the following recommendations:

when using flammable materials, all actions are performed at a sufficiently large distance from sources of fire;
clothing is processed from the reverse side;
a substance used for the first time is tested on an inconspicuous area and only if there are no negative changes is used to remove the stain;
cleaning is carried out from the edge of the contamination to the center: due to this, it will be possible to prevent its increase in diameter;
You need to perform careful blotting movements;
You cannot use gasoline when processing stretch;
Apply the cleaning agent to small spots with a pipette or a cotton swab;
To get rid of the unpleasant smell of cleaners when washing clothes, use conditioner;
dry your jeans in the fresh air.

By following all the recommendations, strictly following the instructions and choosing the right products, you can easily remove resin from denim.

The main thing is not to rush, to maintain the specified dosage of substances, otherwise the situation will only worsen and your favorite thing will deteriorate.

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How to remove resin from a jacket?

If the jacket is made of fabric or bologna, then this is not difficult to do. Especially if the clothes are dark in color. If the fabric is light, it is more difficult to remove the resin.

Instructions:

Apply cotton wool soaked in purified gasoline to the stain
Remove the cotton wool and apply a clean disk moistened with gasoline
Use pinching movements to wipe off the resin; do not rub it
After this, wash the jacket using a stain remover.

How to remove resin from a jacket?