Asphalt stains aren't difficult to remove and in most cases can be taken care of with products found around the home.
The first thing you should do upon staining your carpet or furniture is act immediately. Don't wait because that will just cause the stain to set in deeper, which will make it much harder to remove. It's also a good rule of thumb to check the care label on your furniture or rug to see if there are any solutions or chemicals that will cause a reaction that might discolor or weaken the fibers. You may even want to test soap or chemical solutions on a hidden area first to make sure you won't be incurring further damage.
First scrape away any asphalt from the surface. Try not to scrape so hard you're pulling up fibers. This will only weaken your carpet and can even lead to bare spots. You can try using a butter knife or your fingers. When no more asphalt comes off, take a paper towel and gently blot until no more of the stain can be lifted. Whatever you do, don't rub at the stain. Not only will rubbing cause the stain to smear and spread making matters worse, but it will also weaken the fibers causing earlier wear and tear. A wire brush can be used for some gentle scrubbing but try not to spread the stain around too much.
If the upholstery can be removed from the furniture and placed in the freezer, this can also aid in the stain removal process. After about 30 minutes or so in cold storage, you may be able to use your finger or a butter knife to lift excess asphalt from the material. Once the excess is lifted away, try blotting with detergent and water. If you must put the upholstery in the dryer, make sure all traces of the stain are removed. Using a hot clothes dryer will set the stain deeper into the fabric. In fact, heat should never be applied to any kind of stain for this very reason.
Something else you can try is rubbing or denatured alcohol. Pour alcohol onto a sponge or towel and gently blot until the stain is lifted. Blot again with cool water to rinse. Dry with a thick towel.
If you happen to have some dry cleaning solvent lying around the house, it will do nicely as well. As with the alcohol, pour onto a sponge or cloth and blot. Keep blotting until the stain is lifted and then blot with cool water until all traces of the chemical is removed. Dry with a thick towel.
If the stain persists, wet the area and blot with a solution of detergent and water. Keep blotting until the stain is lifted. Repeat this process until the stain is gone. Rinse by blotting with cool water and dry with an absorbent towel.
You can also try a solution of half vinegar and half water. As with all the other methods, blot with this solution until no more of the stain can be lifted and then blot with cool water to rinse. You may have the smell of vinegar in the fabric for a day or two, but that should disappear shortly.
For a very stubborn stain, try blotting with a little turpentine. Again, you may want to test a hidden corner of carpet or furniture before applying harsh chemicals. Don't apply the paint remover directly to the carpet. Instead pour on a cloth and blot. Make sure you wash all traces of the turpentine out of the carpet or furniture once the stain is removed.
If you've tried these methods and the stain is still present, it may be time to call in a professional. That's rarely necessary, however, as most home remedies work just fine. As you can see, removing asphalt from your furniture or rugs isn't a daunting task. All it requires is a bit of elbow grease and some items found in your kitchen or garage.
