Help, how do I get tar out of beige carpet???

chrest

I need help please. We had brand new beige carpets laid throughout the whole house on Sunday and today I have let the cats in and one of them has walked tar on to the carpet in the lounge, hall and stairs!!!

I am so upset, I have tried to get abit of it out and it has just spread and looks 10x worse. How can I get the rest of it out without making it worse???

I am assuming it is tar, it is thick, black, gooey stuff that smells like turps so guessing at tar.

Please someone help.

craig777

A steam cleaner is the first thing that's pops into my mind. You're gonna need either heat or a solvent based product to melt it away. Not sure if you'll be left with a permanent stain as I've never had this problem myself.

richardw

Oh dear.

Found this http://www.diynot.com/pages/st/st068.php#a2

HTH

Rikki

Found this. Might help.

toofy

What about WD40? may be worth a try..hth

latecomer

Are you covered on your insurance for accidental damage caused by pets? If so then it might be worth checking if this is covered. If it is and you do get a replacement go for a darker colour

morganb

eucalyptus oil may work

Valli

Chances are you aren't going to move it all but if there's a lot and it's thick try oil - sunflower or similar and soften the tar and lift it using soft cloths working in (ie not spreading the stain)
and/or you can then use something else to lift the oil/tar - try WD40 as has been suggested, nail varnish remover WITH acetone, lighter fuel or even meths (methylated spirit) and maybe then soap eg vanish bar and a steam cleaner.
Work on one stain only (out of the way) but this might not work. Ventilate well please!
Tar is oil/petroleum based and therefore not water soluble but soap would break it down (think washing seabirds) eventually.

For tar on skin oil then soap always as solvents will dissolve the tar and take it into the skin...not good

molerat

try this http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_storeId_10001_catalogId_10151_productId_222367_langId_-1_categoryId_165651 I have used it on the same problem. Spray on the mark, leave for a minute, wipe up with damp cloth.

chrest

Thank you everyone for your help and advice. I decided to snip the top of the carpet where the dark black bit of tar were with scissors and then I used eucalyptus oil on the grey stain and.....it has worked!!! Yay!!! Fab tip morganb.

I'm sure if I look closely I can still see something but I am more than happy with the result as it has saved us forking out to replace it.