How to get roofing tar off skin

The worst part of any project is always cleaning up, and roofing is no exception. Roofing tar can be a beast to clean up when it gets in places you didn’t want it, but it can be cleaned up without a trace behind! Once you know how, you can roof more confidently, knowing the accidental messes will be easy to clean up.

Roofing tar can be removed from a most surfaces (like hands and tools) using WD-40. You can also purchase a number of different products specifically made for tar removal from a variety of websites and stores.

Can WD-40 be used on clothes? What shouldn’t you use it on? Where exactly can you buy roofing tar removal products, and are there any differences between them? We’ve got all the answers you need to make sure you find what you’re looking for!

Roofing Tar Removal

Regardless of the type of product you end up using to remove the roofing tar, knowing where to get it is always the best first step! If you’re looking for a store near you to make your purchase in order to avoid waiting for your product to ship, you can try hardware stores, or places like Walmart to find what you’re looking for. Most places that don’t just sell groceries will carry WD-40, and hardware stores are most likely to have specialized tar removal products.

But accidents happen, and you may need to use something immediately, and you won’t have time to run to the store. That’s alright! There are actually a few common household items that can be used, albeit less effectively, to remove roofing tar if you get yourself into a pinch.

Homemade Tar Removers

There are quite a few different products that you probably already have in your home that can remove tar, but they aren’t a “one size fits all” option. For example, kerosene and diesel fuel can remove tar. However, you wouldn’t want to use these when it comes to roofing tar spills on your roof, since many tiles are made of asphalt. It’s also not a great idea in general to rub fuel into the structure of your home.

These would be great options for cleaning off your tools, drips on your car, things like that that wouldn’t soak in the kerosine. If you do end up using kerosine on your clothes to remove roofing tar, the gas itself might leave a stain, and you shouldn’t put the item of clothing you treated it with into the washer or the dryer until the smell of the product is completely gone. This will help prevent spreading the gas residue onto your other items of clothing.

Other home remedies for tar removal include mayonnaise, linseed oil, eucalyptus oil, peanut butter, and even certain laundry stain removers, While these things may not be as effective as a store-bought solvent, you’re more likely to already have them in your home, making them a more convenient alternative to try out before you run to the store, or make an order over the internet. However, if products made specifically for tar removal are more up your alley, we’ve got several for you all ready to go!

WD-40

If you’re looking for something easy to find with a high rate of success on most materials, WD-40 is probably going to be your best bet. It is a fairly common household product, which means the chances of you already owning a container or two of it is high. Originally used for water displacement, it has turned into a household favorite for helping to quiet squeaking hinges and remove rust and corrosion. Luckily for us, rust isn’t the only substance it cleans up effectively! All you will need is a spare rag, some elbow grease, and you’ll be good to go!

However, make sure you don’t use WD-40 on plastic surfaces, as the chemicals in the solution can melt it. If you use WD-40 on clothes to remove roofing tar, it may leave a stain, but that stain can usually be removed with your typical laundry stain remover, so go ahead and give it a try if you get any roofing tar on your clothing!
You can purchase this product from Amazon by clicking here.

Black Jack Asphalt and Tar Remover

Black Jack Asphalt and Tar remover is a prime example of a product that was made specifically to remove tar. Boasting a biodegradable, skin-safe, and pet-safe chemical composition, you can use it on your skin or animals without worrying about giving chemical burns to yourself, or exposing your pet to something harmful.

Safe to use on your clothing, skin, tools, concrete, and of course, your roof, it comes in a bottle easy to use, and safe to store. It is also advertised to remove driveway sealer, caulking, adhesives, wet paint, and silicone based products. You can even use it on wood surfaces without worrying about doing damage to it, making it a valuable cleaner in your arsenal.
Click here to purchase this product from Amazon.

De-Solv-It Contractors Solvent

Advertized to work within seconds, this De-Solv-it Contractor’s Solvent boasts to be one of the best available for removing roofing tar. Promising to work 100% of the time, this solvent is guaranteed to be a solvent that will work on all contracting-level jobs, making it a perfect item to take on all your roofing. It’s eco-friendly, and safe to use on skin, or even on your hair! You can use it on your carpet as well, if you happen to track roofing tar into your house.

It won’t harm dry paint, but it will remove wet paint, adhesives, putty, various types of wet seals, caulk, sap, expanding spray foam, and of course, roofing tar from a wide variety of surfaces, and can even remove stains from concrete. Completely biodegradable within 8 days, you don’t have to worry about residue harming your pets. Click here to purchase this product from Amazon.

Stoner Car Care Tar and Sap Remover

Stoner Car Care Tar and Sap Removal is formulated specifically for cars, which means it will work well on most metal surfaces, like your tools. Unlike the last two options, this product is not biodegradable or non-toxic. It is also an aerosol product, so it should be stored with care, and not kept in areas that experience higher amounts of constant heat.

This can make it a less than desirable option for use when it comes to roofing, which is mostly done during the summer. While it is an effective product, it isn’t as versatile as the other mentioned options, making it less of an ideal option in comparison. It’s easily the best option if you happen to get roofing tar stuck to your car, but for anything else, you would probably do better with one of the other products. Click here to purchase this product from Amazon.