How to remove tar stains
Updated · By the Luniva team
Quick answer
Use Luniva Pro Formula (the blue one). Spray it directly onto the stain, leave it for 1–3 minutes, then wash as normal following the garment care label.
Let tar cool, then scrape off the thick layer with a blunt edge before spraying. Wash tar-stained clothes on their own.
Step by step
- 1
Lift the surface tar
If the tar is thick, gently scrape excess off with a blunt edge once it has cooled. Don't rub it into the weave.
- 2
Spray Pro Formula and wait 1–3 min
Saturate the entire mark and a border around it. The tar will visibly soften and the colour will lift.
- 3
Wash separately as normal
Wash the garment on its own. Inspect before tumble-drying; repeat treatment once for stubborn residue.
Safe handling for Pro Formula
- Use in a well-ventilated area. Open a window or run an extractor fan.
- Keep away from open flames, sparks and hot surfaces while spraying.
- Avoid spraying towards the face or eyes. Wear household gloves for prolonged use.
- Keep out of reach of children. Wash hands after handling.
Tar, bitumen and road asphalt are some of the toughest marks workwear ever sees – sticky, dark and laughably resistant to a normal wash. Luniva Pro Formula is the heavy-duty solvent-action degreaser engineered for this exact stain family. Spray, wait 1–3 minutes for the solvent action to soften the bitumen, then wash as normal, following the garment care label. Bleach-free, colour-safe on most workwear.
Why tar bonds permanently to fabric
Tar and bitumen are heavy-petroleum residues designed to bond to almost anything they touch. Once they cool on the fibre they form a flexible film that detergent cannot penetrate. A solvent-action degreaser like Pro Formula softens the film and releases it from the weave in one pass.
Fabric guide
Recommended
Cotton, polyester, polycotton, denim, canvas, heavy workwear and most colour-fast everyday garments, towels and bedding.
Avoid
Silk, wool, leather, suede, rayon/viscose, acetate, delicate synthetics, waterproof membranes (e.g. Gore-Tex), flame-retardant finishes, and anything whose care label warns against solvents.
Patch-test first
Spray a hidden area such as an inside seam, leave 1–3 minutes, rinse and let it dry. If you see colour loss, stiffness or surface change, don't use it on that garment.
Use it on its own
Ready to use: never add water. Never mix with bleach, ammonia, acidic cleaners or other detergents. Don't let it dry on the fabric.
Tar & bitumen: questions
Yes. Both are heavy-petroleum residues in the same family. Spray, wait 1–3 minutes for the solvent action to soften the film, then wash separately as normal, following the garment care label.
Yes. Pro Formula is bleach-free and colour-safe on standard workwear and denim. Wash inside-out as normal, following the garment care label to protect dye.
Yes – it just takes longer. Spray Pro Formula, leave 1–3 minutes, then wash as normal, following the garment care label. Repeat the treatment up to twice for fully cured bitumen.
No. The pink Enzyme bottle is built for protein and food stains. Tar is a heavy hydrocarbon – Pro Formula's solvent-action chemistry is what you need.
Yes. Always wash tar- and bitumen-treated garments on their own to protect everyday laundry from any trace residue.
Based on controlled laboratory testing. Performance may vary by stain type, fabric, age of the stain and wash conditions. Always follow the garment care label and test an inconspicuous area first.