It’s not unusual for homeowners to complain about tar weeping from their railway sleepers used in the construction of decking, steps or used for some other landscaping project in the garden. If this is happening to you, is there anything which can be done about it? It’s understandable that you won’t want to bring sticky tar into the house on your shoes or on the children’s clothes!
Before using sleepers for garden projects make sure you clean them of all dirt, dust and grime with soapy water and detergent. Try wire brushing the stubborn areas or you could even try washing away the dirt with a power jet washer. Diesel oil spots will need cleaning with a cleaner that is effective against oil spots. However, if your sleepers are seeping tar and sticky residue from within, perhaps because they have previously been treated with creosote, for instance, then you have a bigger problem, as nothing is likely to clean away this mess. If you are planning to use sleepers for construction projects where people will be walking or sitting or where children will be playing, then avoid buying sleepers which have been treated with creosote and opt for untreated sleepers instead.