Help get paint/tar off of skin

[pheonix]

I had thought my sav. monitor had gotten out on me again but was wrong. He had climbed into a basking root/thingy that was in his enclosure that was hollow through a knot hole in it for the reptiles to hide in. Anyways He had got stuck in it so I had to break it apart with a chisel and hammer to get to him. When I found him he was glued to the inside of the basking root. Their was some kind of black goo in it not sure if it was undried paint or some kind of lubricant from the mold when it was made( kind of reminds me of driveway sealer). I had to pull chunks of broken plaster or whatever the root was made of off his skin. Does anyone know a way to break down this goo that is safe. I was thinking varsel but that is not very safe, Some body told me to try mouthwash but was hoping to find some other ideas.


thanks

Scott