Spring and late summer are the prime seasons for sticky, gooey, tree sap. The stuff seems to ooze onto everything with ease. Getting it off, however, can be a whole different matter. Here are some sure fire methods for removing tree sap from just about anything.
To avoid damaging the surface covered in sap, AWAYS test removal agents on an inconspicuous area first. Only when that area has been treated successfully should you proceed to a larger area. Always wear gloves and use precautions when using any type of chemical.
Note: When removing sap from a vehicle, the goal is to use the least amount of pressure possible to reduce the risk of scratching the paint. After the sap is removed, treated areas should always be buffed with a high quality polish or re-waxed in order to clean up any marks created during removal. As always, test the method in an inconspicuous place before applying to a broader area.
To remove the tree sap from your vehicle's surface, use finger nail polish remover on a cotton ball. After removing the sap, make a paste from water and baking soda to wash the affected area, then polish or apply wax.
Another method to remove sap from your vehicle is to use mineral spirits or denatured alcohol (also removes tar). Use a soft towel or wash cloth dampened with mineral spirits. After removal, wash the car and apply polish/wax to the affected area.
WD-40. Spray some on the sap, let it sit for a while and wipe off with a soft cloth. Repeat if necessary then wash, polish/wax as usual.
Buff the affected area with lard or bacon grease and wipe clean with a soft cloth diaper or terrycloth towel. Wash and polish/wax and usual.
Make a paste out of baking soda and water and cover the affected area. Wipe clean with a soft, damp cloth.
Applying mayonnaise to the area is also said to remove tree sap.
Another technique is to use citrus-based solvents and children's molding clay. Apply a small amount of the solvent and rub with the clay. It is abrasive enough to scrub off the sap (which has been broken down by the solvent) without damaging the paint.
Apply to the skin with a soft damp cloth, then rinse with warm, soapy water.
Hair is one of the hardest things to remove tree sap from, but the task can be made somewhat easier if the sap is still soft. Short of getting yourself a new haircut, try the following:
Creamy peanut better (the oilier the better). Apply it liberally to the hair and soften it using a hair dryer on the lowest setting (careful to avoid burning the skin). Let the softened peanut butter sit for a few minutes before combing it through the hair with a large-toothed comb. Shampoo and rinse with warm water. If you can't stand peanut butter, substitute mayonnaise.
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My sister says for pine sap removal from her car, and other items in her yard she uses hand sanitizing gel. It works wonderfully.
Ask a QuestionHere are the questions asked by community members. Read on to see the answers provided by the ThriftyFun community or ask a new question.
How do you remove pine tree sap from glass?
Helen Tobey from Michigan
Try acetone. Acetone is a universal solvent. In college chemistry lab we used it to clean glassware that had all kinds of funky stuff in it and it would dissolve everything and leave the glass sparkling clean. It was also used to clean equipment between experiments.
The best thing to use would be pine sap's natural solvent: turpentine (which is derived from the pine tree.)
Reference: Popular Mechanics
Goo Gone Automotive Spray Gel is the best thing for any surface and or clothing that has tree sap.
I tried all the suggestions for tree sap, WD40 to alcohol. Rubbing alcohol was decent, rest, not really. Then I tried well everything else under the sink. Here's 2 cleaners not mentioned that work really well. Fantastic dissolves it, only light rubbing required.
Dab a bit of butter or soft margarine on the sap. Wait a minute or two, then rub it off with a paper towel. This tip was given to me from a auto body repair shop. So simple...and it works. I've tried it on car and boat glass, car and boat paint and even my fingers!
How do you remove evergreen tree sap stains from a granite grave stone? My parents' stone is under a pine tree, and the sap has turned part of the stone black.
By Charles Koelsch from Greenville, SC
Granite is a porous stone. I would contact a monument company and have them clean it and see if there's something they can seal it with.
Try GooGone. I don't know what it will do to the granite, but it will remove the sap.
How do I remove pine tree sap from a satellite dish?
Goo-gone is a great product for this job.
Believe it or not fingernail polish remover is excellent for removing tree sap. You can apply this to the tree sap on the satellite dish and use a cotton ball to rub it off.
You can also use a hand sanitizer to get the sap off.
How can I remove a large amount of sap from my RV awning? It is approximately 8' X 8".
By Steve
At the end of April I went hiking and got what I thought were splinters from some trees that I had grabbed onto with my arm bent. So it's right in the crease of my arm, opposite my elbow. Now it's July and what I now realize is that it is tree sap not splinters oozing out slowly. It burns. What do I do? Is there a way to soak out the sap?
By Sarah W.
How can I remove the baked on pine gum from the stone floor near my stove? It comes off easily if it is fresh with Pam or another oil spray. The pine gum I didn't notice has baked on, but I am not sure how harsh a remover I can use on my stone tile. I have tried most everything.
How can I clean pine sap from my polycarbonate deck roof please?
We have a lovely swing set in the backyard for our grandchildren. The swings and the chains that you hold to swing are covered with either tree sap or drippings from the trees above.
It's black and sticky. How would you suggest we clean this?How do I remove pine tree sap on the overhead screens on my lanai? The pine tree always drips sap and I can't remove the pine tree.
I have tree sap (from the yellow sticky buds off trees) that fall onto my outdoor vinyl I have on my deck. I cannot remove the yellow stickiness. I tried Goof Off, but that also took the colour out of my vinyl too. Please if anyone has a solution I would very much appreciate your response.
By Brenda B.
I have multiple areas with sap on a few window screens, will nail polish remover work?
By Lady Lucy from NY
To remove sap with nail polish remover effectively you'd want to use a nail polish remover with acetone because the non-acetone won't even cut through price tag adhesive in my experience. You should test a very small area of the screen to see if the nail polish remover will remove the sap without melting the synthetic material the mesh is woven from-acetone can 'melt' plastics.
I think you'd have safer and better results using one of the automotive sap removing products. The car care products for removing sap from car finishes, windscreens, and headlamps (all car parts or finishes being made with synthetic polymers nowadays) will remove the sap easily without 'melting' your screen mesh.
How do I get sap off a pair of hiking pants made of 100% nylon material? There is alot, as I sat in it!
Pattie
I would *try* rubbing alcohol .. it should break down the sap and is safe to use on nylon!
Good Luck!
Rebekah
I have found that if I wash my sappy clothes in really hot water with laundry detergent, they come out clean.
