The sandal you wore to the beach is the same sandal you have worn to the beach for the last five summers, the one with the perfect footprint molded into the cork, and now it has a black streak of tar across the leather strap. The cheap pair would have been replaceable. This one is not.

Or maybe it is the canvas Vans you have had since college. Or the leather sneakers you bought just for the trip. Whatever you walked in with is now in the same situation.

Leather sandals are the worst-case material for beach tar, but shoes are right behind them. The leather absorbs the oil. Canvas grabs onto it. Cork swells when you over-saturate it. The wrong cleaner will stain or stiffen the upper permanently. Here is how to handle it without ruining the pair.

Identify your footwear first

The right approach depends on what material you are dealing with.

Smooth leather (Reef sandals, leather Rainbows, leather sneakers, dress shoes): Easiest to clean. The tar sits on the surface and lifts cleanly with the right product.

Suede (suede Birkenstocks, suede Vans, Hey Dudes, suede Pumas): Hardest to clean. Suede is essentially raised fibers, and tar grabs onto the fibers and refuses to let go. You need patience.

Oiled or distressed leather (most Birkenstocks, oiled Rainbows): Already has natural oils worked into it, so any cleaner you use can disturb the finish. Test in a hidden spot first.

Canvas (Vans, Converse, Toms): Canvas absorbs tar into the weave fast. Recoverable with the right approach, but you have to act fast. Machine washable as a backstop for stubborn cases.

Mesh or knit (running shoes, knit trainers): Similar problem to suede in that the fibers grab the tar. The advantage is most mesh shoes can be machine washed afterward.

Synthetic uppers (rubber Reefs, EVA sandals, rubber sneaker soles): Essentially indestructible. Almost any tar remover works.

What not to use on shoes or sandals

• Gasoline, paint thinner, mineral spirits. Will strip the finish, dry out the leather, and probably stain it permanently.
• Baby oil. Will lift the tar but leaves an oily darkened patch on most leathers. Cork footbeds will absorb the oil and stay slick for weeks. (Here is the full breakdown of baby oil versus Oil Slick for tar removal.)
• Acetone or nail polish remover. Will eat the finish off treated leather and may discolor suede.
• Hot water and soap. Tar laughs at this. You will just spread it around and soak the leather.

The right method (for smooth leather: sandals or shoes)

1. Wipe off any loose tar first. Use a dry paper towel or microfiber cloth. Get whatever you can without smearing.
2. Apply a small amount of Oil Slick Beach Tar Remover. Spray once onto a clean cloth (not directly onto the sandal) so you control the volume.
3. Work it across the tar in small circles. Be gentle. You are dissolving, not scrubbing.
4. Wipe clean with a dry cloth. The tar should come off onto the cloth, not stay on the sandal.
5. Buff the spot dry. Leather does not love sitting wet. Dab any residue with a dry towel and let the sandal air-dry away from direct sun.
6. Condition if needed. If the spot looks slightly dull after, a small dab of leather conditioner restores the finish.

The right method (for suede)

Suede is genuinely a pain. Oil Slick Beach Tar Remover still works, but you need to manage your expectations: you may need to repeat the process two or three times.

1. Treat the tar while it is still fresh. Do not let it dry. Once tar sets into the suede fibers, it is much harder to lift cleanly. Address it as soon as you can.
2. Apply a tiny amount of Oil Slick Beach Tar Remover to a corner of a cloth. Dab, do not rub. Suede crushes when wet, so always work the cloth, not the suede.
3. Press and lift, do not scrub. Let the cloth sit against the tar for a few seconds so the formula can do the work, then lift straight up.
4. Repeat with a clean section of cloth as needed. Patience matters more than pressure here.
5. Once dry, brush the suede with a suede brush to restore the nap.

If the suede still has a darkened patch after two or three attempts, a professional shoe cleaner can usually finish the job. Do not attempt to bleach it or use household detergent.

The right method (for canvas: Vans, Converse, Toms)

Canvas absorbs tar fast. Time matters more than technique. The good news is canvas tolerates more pressure than suede, and you have a machine wash as a backstop.

1. Address it while it is fresh. Once tar dries into the canvas weave, you are likely heading straight to a machine wash. While it is still soft, you have a real shot at lifting it clean.
2. Apply Oil Slick Beach Tar Remover directly to the affected area. Canvas takes more product than leather. Spray or dab on enough to saturate the tar spot.
3. Work it in with a soft brush or a clean cloth. Unlike suede, canvas can handle some pressure. Use small circles to break up the tar.
4. Blot, do not drag the tar across clean fabric. Press a clean cloth onto the area to pull the lifted tar out of the weave.
5. Repeat as needed. Canvas usually takes two or three passes.
6. For stubborn residue, machine wash. Most canvas shoes (Vans, Converse) handle cold water on a gentle cycle. Pull the insoles, unlace, and wash inside a pillowcase or laundry bag. Air dry only. Never put canvas shoes in the dryer.

A note on Birkenstocks

Birkenstock cork beds are porous and absorb almost anything. Keep liquid off the cork. Apply tar remover only to the leather upper, not the footbed. If tar got onto the cork itself, gently scrape it off with a butter knife once it is dry, then very lightly dab the area with a damp cloth. Do not soak it.

How to avoid it next time

The black sticky patches in the sand are not all visible. You will not always see the tar before you step in it. But you can:

• Check the bottoms of your sandals or shoes before walking to the car. Tar on the underside transfers to whatever you set them on next.
• Keep a small pack of Oil Slick Beach Tar Remover Wipes in your beach bag for the spot you can see and the spot you cannot.
• Wear a cheaper pair to the beach. Save the Birks (and the white canvas Vans) for the boardwalk.

A pair of sandals or shoes you love is worth the four-minute cleanup. Oil Slick Beach Tar Remover and a clean cloth will save them. A bottle of baby oil will not.

Shop the 4oz Oil Slick Beach Tar Remover Spray →

Or grab the Oil Slick Beach Tar Remover Wipes for your beach bag →