How to Remove Tree Sap from Your Vehicle

Summer is just about here, and with it comes a lot more time spent outside. It’s the time of year when visits to local, state and national parks surge to peak levels, and what better time of year to get out for a drive through the countryside?

There are a lot of extra cleaning and maintenance tasks for your vehicle that you’ll need to stay on top of during the summer months, and if you’re spending more time visiting outdoor destinations, one thing you’ll need to be careful of is tree sap. If you park your vehicle under a large tree, you may return only to find sticky sap spots all over its exterior. This stickiness can be rather difficult to remove, especially if you let it sit for long periods of time and harden.

You’ll generally find tree sap does not respond well to soap-and-water solutions, like many other contaminants and dirt spots do. With this in mind, what are some of the other methods you can employ for removing sap from a car in Athens County, OH? Here are a few tips:

• Mineral spirit: Mineral spirit (also known as turpentine) is frequently used for removing polyurethane or wood finish in a shop setting, but it also is a great way to remove tree sap in small quantities. Dampen a cloth with a little bit of mineral spirit and rub it directly on the sap, and it should come off. Just don’t rub too much—otherwise, you may begin affecting the finish on the vehicle. After you’ve removed the sap, rinse with water and wipe with a different rag to prevent any residue from staying behind.
• Nail polish remover: Another product you’re likely to have sitting around at home that should be sufficient for removing tree sap is nail polish remover. Put just a bit on a cotton ball and wipe on the sap. It should come off pretty easily. Once you remove the sap, use a baking soda and water paste to wash away the residue and to prevent the car paint from being damaged, then wash the area with soap and water.
• Commercial cleaners: You should be able to find some commercial car cleaning products on the market that will be specially designed for removing these particularly stubborn spots caused by sap, bird droppings and other hard-to-remove debris. Make sure to follow the instructions on the label during usage.
• Tar remover: Bug and tar removers should be pretty effective for removing tree sap as well as bugs and tar. Again, make sure you follow the instructions as listed on the label.
• Other products: There is a wide variety of other products that should work, including lighter fluid, WD-40, rubbing alcohol and even bacon grease. Let these substances sit on the sap for a little bit, and they should dissolve the sap. Make sure you wash off the vehicle properly after using them.

For more information about how to remove sap from a car in Athens County, OH, contact Dana’s Tire Center today.

Categorised in: Car Care Tips

This post was written by Writer