Removing Tree Sap from a Car

Removing Tree Sap From a Car

What is the best way to remove tree sap from a car without hurting the finish or the paint?

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RE: Removing Tree Sap From a Car

Try Lestoil. It removes tar, so sap should be a non-issue. It will not ruin the finish. We've used it on our cars and my husband uses it on his Harley and we've NEVER had a problem with it. (06/13/2005)

By chima0692

RE: Removing Tree Sap From a Car

Whatever you do, DO NOT USE NAIL POLISH REMOVER! A message board suggested this and I tried it and it left smears all over my paint. (05/03/2006)

By Nicole

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Pine Tree Sap on Car

What works to remove pine sap that won't hurt the paint on your car?

magnoliatn

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Clay Bar

The best way to get rid of tree sap is to use a "clay bar." This should be available at Murray's or PepBoys, possibly even Wal-Mart or Kmart. The only two manufacturers I know of that make clay bars are Meguires and Mothers. If you can't find it in the store, try the web sites for the manufacturers. It's about $10-15, but it lasts for a while. I've had mine about 2 years. The instructions are very simple, although initially it may seem like a bother. (12/01/2000)

By Christina

Clay Bar 2

After reading some of the other suggestions for removing tree sap, I feel I must point out that the clay bar will NOT strip the wax from the car's paint job. If you're going to wax the car, wax the whole car to keep the paint the same color and condition; don't just wax one tiny spot. I would definitely stay away from any method that would strip the wax. The clay bar is specifically designed to remove sap and tar and bugs, etc. while NOT stripping the wax. (12/01/2000)

By Christina

Baking Soda

Warm rag with a little bit of baking soda. Let it sit on sap then rub off! (08/04/2005)

By ty

Butter

The best method I've found for pine sap removal is crisco or butter. I've never tried it on a car, but can personally say that rubbing crisco on the sap in my hair removed it immediately. I've also used butter on the kids feet to remove sap while camping. It's fast, but most important it won't remove skin or paint. (08/27/2005)

By Carrie

Sap on Your Car

It always best to remove sap from your car quickly, while it is still soft. The harder the sap gets the tougher it is to remove and the more likely it is to scratch your car's finish. Make a paste with a mild abrasive like baking soda and apply to the sap, then rub it with a rag until the sap is removed. You can also try rubbing the sap with mayonnaise on a rag. I have also heard that WD-40 works well for softening sap so that it can be removed. Clean the area once the sap has been removed. (09/17/2005)

By ThriftyFun

Turtle Wax Bug and Tar Remover

Turtle Wax Bug and Tar remover does not work (even though it says right on the label that it does). (10/01/2005)

By John

My Experience

I purchased TurtleWax Pine and Bug remover which worked very well on metal, painted surfaces (automotive) and does not harm your paint. I tried to use this same product, however, to remove white pine gum from the plastic of a pick-up box liner and it left a white stain/residue and, moreover, it did a poor job removing the gum. Noticing this white stain I then decided to experiment with butter and ice on other pine gum stains on the box liner as well as on the rubber material at the base (and around the perimeter) of automotive windows. Ice did not work for me (I used several different techniques - applying for a longer duration of time, scrubbing with cube, etc), yet butter worked wonderfully and did no harm (i.e, did not leave white stain) to the plastic, or the rubber. (05/04/2006)

By Matt

Rubbing Alcohol

I have been super busy and haven't had a chance to wash my car for the last four months. I live in an area that has a bunch of pine trees so once I finished washing my car i noticed A LOT of tree sap. I took Nancy's advice and used rubbing alcohol, it worked on every single spot. The only problem was that in some cases it left a residue. The solution is to wipe on some butter then wipe it off. My car looks like i just drove it off the lot. Don't waste your money on all that other stuff all you need is alcohol and butter. Good Luck! (06/29/2006)

By Big T

Sanitizing Hand Towels

My Beemer just got painted and was looking showroom new. It didn't take any time at all and my Beemer got attacked by a few serious shots of pine tree sap. I tried everything from Goop-gone to all kinds of so called tree sap remover with no luck at all. So I got to thinking. I wasn't to hot on the idea of pure alcohol on my paint so I looked behind my desk seen some "Sanitizing Hand Towels" with aloe and a few Vitamins. I took one to the Sap Attack and whoooosh! In seconds the hardened tree sap was gone rinsed it with some warm water and touched it up with a bit of wax and looks like new again. (07/01/2006)

By Rick

Rubbing Alcohol

I had a ton of pine sap on my new car. I read through the Internet to see what I should do. I kept reading about using rubbing alcohol. I finally decided to try it. It worked! I applied the alcohol to a cotton ball and gently worked the spots. I could only clean 2-3 spots per cotton ball before getting a residue, which I wiped away with a wet cloth. It took awhile, but I got my car back. I suggest using rubbing alcohol and a wet cloth. (07/11/2006)

By Chris

Peanut Butter

Ever-popular peanut butter! It worked like a champ, and then I had a sandwich! (07/30/2006)

By Diane

Rubbing Alcohol

It's my neighbors tree and it's at the end of my driveway, the first time it got on my wife's new black Impala it cost me $200 to get it cleaned off. that was 4 years ago, now it happened again but this time it got both cars, mine is now the new one. Read through your page of tips, tried them all and found rubbing alcohol worked the best. Your page saved me some money. Thanks. (08/09/2006)

By Bob

WD-40

Try WD-40. It removes bugs, tar and sap and will not hurt the finish on your car. (09/13/2006)

By Tamara

Alcohol

The guy at the GM dealer who details the cars said use alcohol. Then re-wax because the wax has also been removed and the sap will stick more NEXT time.

By Jenny

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Removing Tree Sap From a Car

My son came home from school with his car covered with tree sap. It has dried on to a lacquer finish. I have tried lots of sap removers and car polishes but it still will not come off. I would appreciate some suggestion.

Lou from Spring, Texas

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RE: Removing Tree Sap From a Car

Try Avon skin so soft bath oil. It removed gummy residue from tape, it also removes tar and doesnt harm paint finishes (07/25/2006)

By

RE: Removing Tree Sap From a Car

Try rubbing alcohol, WD-40, or Skin-So-Soft bath oil. Wash the car afterwards to remove any residue. (07/26/2006)

By mef1957

RE: Removing Tree Sap From a Car

Have you tried Witchhazel? You can find it in the pharmacy around rubbing alcohol. I've heard to use this on skin, but I don't know how it will work on a car. (07/27/2006)

By Dawn Salisbury

RE: Removing Tree Sap From a Car

Heard about using peanut butter from a housewife, and can't wait for a mild day to try it Fortunately , the 'sap source' was cut down. The rationale behind using peanut butter is not that 'it sticks too the roof of your car', but,that the oil doesn't evaporate as fast as most solvents. I'll opt for the 'all natural' spread , as it should remove the spots in a JIFFY. (02/27/2007)

By Edouardo

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Removing Tree Sap From a Car

What is the best way to remove tree sap from an automobile?

Mary from Washington, MO

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RE: Removing Tree Sap From a Car

Try vegetable oil. I worked in a flower shop for a few years and at Christmas time we used it to get the sap off of our hands. (07/17/2007)

By lauri_cote

RE: Removing Tree Sap From a Car

I have used Goo Gone and Goof Off (same sort of thing) on my cars before. I had some vinyl lettering that I removed and it left a sticky residue. I used the Goo Gone and it was gone. It didn't hurt the paint at all.

This is not a very "green" solution, because the stuff stinks. It smells very toxic. I used double rubber gloves and wished that I had a mask. Be sure to do this outside or in a well ventilated area. Jess (07/19/2007)

By jess

RE: Removing Tree Sap From a Car

After working in the auto industry for 20 years, I can tell you what should work. After washing the car (to remove any other dirt), try using Bug and Tar Remover. You can find it in the automotive section of any store (like Walmart or Pep Boys). Use it sparingly, because it will strip any wax you may have on the car, but it won't damage the finish.

It's a time consuming process, but I've had much success with this. After, wax the area. As I mentioned, the remover also strips off any wax. Also, a good coat of wax on the car will make it much easier to remove the sap should this ever happen again. Good Luck. Jenny (07/19/2007)

By youngster8

RE: Removing Tree Sap From a Car

Use a Mr. Clean Magic Eraser, it works well for me, not much scrubbing. (08/09/2007)

By Megan

RE: Removing Tree Sap From a Car

What didn't work: I applied Varsol to dried sap on my car window, and it didn't work. (09/04/2007)

RE: Removing Tree Sap From a Car

I work at a car wash. A clay bar is the best way. You can use that all over your car, that is better. You can buy a kit for about $20.00. You get the sprayer and the clay bar (like Playdoh), spray what is in the bottle and take the clay bar out of the package and use in small circles. Make sure that you keep the area wet at all times. Everyone should do this if your run your hands over your car and it fells rough. After you clay bar the whole car then wax. The wax will last three times longer. (12/25/2007)

By Lance

RE: Removing Tree Sap From a Car

Use rubbing alcohol, it comes off pretty easy. After the sap is gone clean the area with Windex. It's that easy. (07/04/2008)

By Mike

RE: Removing Tree Sap From a Car

I had sap on my car and used lemon extract. It worked great, I didn't have to scrub or anything. Paint still looks good. (07/06/2008)

By jared0949

RE: Removing Tree Sap From a Car

I used the Magic eraser and it didn't work well, a little bit but not well. (08/20/2008)

By Joy from Canada

RE: Removing Tree Sap From a Car

Use a dampened fabric softener sheet, wring out water. You can use it to take off bugs and sap. A used fabric softener sheet will also work. (09/02/2008)

By Cathy from MA

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Removing Tree Sap From a Car

How do I safely remove tree sap from my car?

By argene1946 from Blenheim, ON

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RE: Removing Tree Sap From a Car

I use Goo Gone. (05/20/2009)

By Glenn'sMom

RE: Removing Tree Sap From a Car

Try Scott's Liquid Gold. (05/26/2009)

By dakota1275

RE: Removing Tree Sap From a Car

Regular Coca Cola will take it right off the windshield. I have heard Coke can mess up your paint, but I have not ever seen it do that. Good luck. (05/27/2009)

By kshanahan

RE: Removing Tree Sap From a Car

Before you try anything, use hand sanitizer that works great. And it's so easy, just wipe on and wipe off. (07/25/2009)

By MGraY

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Removing Tree Sap From a Car

Can tree sap eat through car paint? We have a tree that I cannot identify, a deciduous tree with pods.

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Pine Tree Sap on Car

How do I clean dried pine sap off my car, without damaging the paint?

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Tree Sap on a Car

How do I clean dried pine sap off my car, without damaging the paint?

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Tree Sap on a Car

How does one clean sap off a car?

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Removing Tree Sap From a Car

I've tried everything to remove sap from my auto. What I found to work really well is Goo. It's a liquid that is used to remove almost anything that is sticky.