Originally Posted by jemoryl

You don't want MEK (= methyl ethyl ketone) or brillo pads (will ruin your finish). Buy a small container of mineral spirits or similar (kerosene, perhaps lighter fluid). There is a rule of thumb in chemistry, "like dissolves like", and since tar contains a mixture of non-polar hydrocarbon molecules you will need a similarly non-polar solvent, none of which have very nice safety warning labels. As far as these things go, mineral spirits aren't too bad, and they aren't 'corrosive'; just keep the top securely closed and you can keep it next to your worms....