How to Remove Tree Sap From Your Hands

Every holiday has its drawbacks. At Halloween, it's rotting, broken pumpkins on the streets; at Fourth of July, it's firecrackers that scare the cats. At Christmas, it's that sticky, smelly stuff that oozes out of trees. Here's how to clean up your hands when you get home from the tree lot.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Paint Thinner
• Soap And Water
• Clean Rags Or Paper Towel
• Mineral Spirits

1. Grab an old rag or a paper towel and some mineral spirits or paint thinner from the shed or garage.

2. 

   Pour a bit of your sap-dissolving solution onto the rag. Hold it against the sap for a moment, then dab and rub gently, turning the rag as you go to wipe the sap off.

3. Repeat if necessary.

4. 

   Wash your hands well with soap and warm water.

Tips & Warnings

• Scrubbing with an abrasive cleanser will remove sap most of the time - but it's not so great for your skin. If you don't have mineral spirits in the house, try baby oil.
• Store mineral spirits and paint thinner out of reach of children and pets.

on 7/3/2006 I am chemically sensitive, so could not use paint thinner. I use organic canola oil, then just warm fragrance-free dish detergent and it works for me.

on 6/30/2006 Faced with a large area of sap on my hairy arms and the prospect of shaving them (ugh), I laughed when someone said "Butter." I tried it, I didn't need much either.

It worked like magic and was easier to wash off than some of the other suggestions here.

on 3/28/2006 Rub butter on your hands and all over the sap and then wash both with soap and water.

on 2/23/2006 Massage rubbing alcohol or instant hand sanitizer on the area, then wash with regular soap and water.

on 11/22/2005 I came to this tip because my puppy had tree sap all over his fur. I rubbed peanut butter on my puppies fur and then washed it off with water. The sap was gone.