How to Professionally Remove Tar and Asphalt Driveway Sealer from Carpet

Especially on hot days and especially when fresh, tar, asphalt driveway sealer and roofing tar may be walked onto the carpet (and even onto vinyl tile) from driveways and parking lots and turn the carpet yellow. Since this is being tracked in from the outside, it is most noticeable near the entry areas. This is most common after repaving or sealing the asphalt, especially in the summer with elevated temperatures. This problem is most commonly a problem on blue and light gray carpet. Yellowing from tar track-in is virtually impossible to remove. Asphalt coating and sealers are coal tar based materials, which are yellow when highly diluted in solvent. Unfortunately, the solvents required to totally remove these materials are also strong enough to delaminate the carpet. Whenever a customer asks for your advice on replacing carpet and has a parking lot, advise him or her to avoid blue and light gray colors. If not removed when fresh, yellow stain from asphalt and tar from parking lots and driveways is nearly impossible to completely remove without delaminating the carpet. For small areas, apply a bead of the Pro-Solve Gel to the area to be treated, agitate, apply a bead of Power Gel, agitate and extract. For large areas, prespray with TLS® 2000 mixed with Pro's Choice Energy, agitate, and extract at high temperature preferably with PCA™ Formula 4 or Super LCA® followed with a Brown Out® rinse through the base unit - be sure to neutralize the tank with cleaning solution afterward. If this fails, pre-spray with Citrus APS™ Spotter and clean. Advise the customer to use adequate walk off mats which are exchanged or cleaned at least weekly. For dried road tar, be sure to cut up the tar into small pieces first using Duckbill Napping Shears. Related Tar Removal and Carpet Yellowing Information: Carpet Yellowing Free Bane-Clene Information Package Free packet of information about Bane-Clene can be obtained by calling toll-free 1-800-428-9512 (U.S. ONLY!). Your information packet will include a full color catalog and price addendum. Packets will arrive in approximately 2 weeks through standard United States Mail. You can also order the packet at the Catalog Request Form. “A to Z” Alphabetical Index to the Bane-Clene Web Site Bane-Clene Home Page