how can I clean tar spots off my flipflops?

Question

Yes, it's that time of year again, they just decided to fix cracks in a dunkin donuts parking lot with tar,,,in the summer,,,yeah. To make a long story short I walked it it, and now I have tar spots all over my flipflops. I don't think I can wash these in the washing machine. Any ideas on how to remove the tar? And prefferably any house hold items that I probbably already have?

Answer 1

Any hydrocarbon will work - gasoline, lighter fluid, etc. But you might want to test a little spot first. Hydrocarbons can dissolve some types of plastics and rubber products.



Wet a paper towel with the fluid and keep dabbing it onto your flipflops.

Answer 2

Eucalyptus oil - a definite. After trying dishwashing liquid and nail polish remove (and building up a sweat for no results) I applied some eucalyptus oil, rubbed it in with my hand and the tar just melted away. Took a couple of applications for the thicker areas. Didn't damage the print on the flip flops. And they now smell nice too!

Answer 3

Spray the tar with WD-40 works great for getting tar off of anything, my husband used to do tar-roofing for a living.

Answer 4

For something like this you might want to try a delimonene (citrus) based product. They are mild solvents that are safer to use then the previous mentioned cleaners (those cleaners are great for getting tar off of car fenders and such, but might ruin flip-flop rubber...stilll...very good suggestions). Here is a link to one such product.



http://www.interstateproducts.com/tar_remover.htm

Answer 5

I would say wd-40. my husband drag races and the rubber from the track gets stuck to the bottoms of my shoes, that is what i use and it wipes right off. this rubber is almost as bad as tar. it should work for you though

Answer 6

Two good tar removers:-



Fresh Butter ..or

Johnson's Baby Oil



Also petrol, but that can get a bit dangerous.

Answer 7

I'm not entirely sure, but I think someone told me that peanut butter will clean tar off. Hate to waste that pb, though.

Answer 8

At home depot they have this stuff called tar off. Works great

Answer 9

try Lestoil. It says right on the bottle that it removes tar. I used it on my car one time and it worked, but Im not sure about flip flops!! Its a maybe!

Answer 10

they are flip flops, buy a new pair Cuz that tar on that rubber isn't going to come off... you could make some tires out of those shoes :)

Answer 11

why don,t you try tar and bug remover that comes in spray can for car ducos etc its always worked for me however if the flip flops are made of rubber I would put it on thinnly and wipe it straight off

Answer 12

Try some WD-40 or Goo Gone. Don't use gasoline under any circumstances.

Answer 13

WD-40

Answer 14

Fingernail polish remover works well. use a very old washcloth and scrub with it.

Answer 15

I personally would throw them out, and buy another pair.

Answer 16

Peanut butter!! amazing, but I hear it works.

Answer 17

You can try methylated spirits - it's wonderful stuff

Answer 18

gasoline.