Have you ever had tar stuck to the bottom of your shoes? It’s a sticky mess.

It’s a substance found in nature originating from roots and woods, and is primarily used for sealing roofing shingles. You’ll also find it on the wooden hulls of ships to prevent them from rotting. In diluted form, you can also find it used as a spice for meat, candy flavoring, as an anti-dandruff agent, and even as a component in some cosmetics.

And while it may be an important substance for some jobs, if you get it on your hardwood floors, you’ll discover how tough it is to remove.

When cleaning it off hardwood floors, it is important to carefully remove it so as not to damage the wood, especially if removing from exotic or reclaimed wood.

Tip #1 Use a Dull Scraper

The best tool for the job is a dull scraper to carefully remove the remnants. Select something like a popsicle stick or a plastic spatula. Never use something sharp as that can risk damaging the hardwood floor in the removal process.

Tip #2 Use Ice

You can also use ice cubes to freeze the tar before you remove it. Place a few ice cubes in a plastic bag and lay it on top of the tar. Wait for it to freeze and become brittle. Then it will be easy to remove the pieces in chunks.

Tip #3 Use A Scouring Pad

For stubborn tar stains, you can use a scouring pad to penetrate through the sticky substance. Select a scouring pad that has a fine grade to decrease your chances of impacting the hardwood in the process. Use small, circular motions and don’t apply a lot of pressure as you scrub on the mess.

Tip #4 Use Acetone

You can also use acetone to remove tar from laminated wood flooring. Dab a small amount of acetone on a clean cloth and wipe up starting at the edges of the stain and moving towards the center to avoid spreading the mess.

When in doubt, talk to the professionals to avoid doing permanent damage to your flooring.