How to Remove Tree Sap From Your Car

Learn how to clean tree sap off of your car's paint and windows.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• A soft cloth (cotton for example)
• A can of any one of the following: WD-40 lubricant, Goof-Off or Automotive Bug & Tar Remover
• A little time and patience

1. Make sure the area you want to remove sap from is completely clean with no dust or dirt on it. Dust or dirt may cause your paint to be scratched as you clean the sap off.

2. Get a soft cloth, such as a cotton towel, waxing sponge/cloth or anything that will not scratch the paint or clear coat finish.

3. Get any one of the following: 1) WD-40 lubricant spray, 2) Goof-Off, or Bug & Tar remover. These all can be bought at a hardware store (except maybe the Bug & Tar Remover that you can find at an automotive store).

4. Apply a small amount of the sap-removal weapon of your choice to both the cloth and the sap on the car. Rub the sap gently with the cloth using your finger or thumb. Be patient, the first couple of sap spots may take a few minutes to clean off. Be sure to keep applying the removal liquid you chose several times as needed.

5. What you want, is for the sap to start sticking to the towel. It will look like a flat, hardened sap spot on the towel after you clean a couple of sap spots off the car. The next step is IMPORTANT if you want to get this done the fastest and easiest way.

6. DON'T use a clean area of the towel for each sap spot. Once you have the sap sticking a small area of towel, continue to apply the removal liquid to new sap spots and rub them with the same sappy spot on the towel. The sap on the towel will actually collect the sap off of the car very quickly and easily. Be sure to keep applying the removal liquid to the sap on the car before rubbing.

7. After you've cleaned all of the sap off of the car, be sure to wash it with car-wash soap. You may need to apply a coat of wax to the areas you cleaned as the removal liquid may strip off any previous wax finishes.

Tips & Warnings

• Wash your car before you begin to avoid scratches!
• Be sure to use a soft cloth that won't scratch your car.
• Rub gently and let the sap on the towel do the work for you.
• Wash your car immediately after you're done to clean of the removal liquid.
• Although these liquids are said to be safe for your car's finish, try applying them to a non-visible area as a test (like inside the trunk lid).
• Don't leave the removal liquids on your paint for prolonged periods of time (like overnight).
• Rub gently to avoid any scratches in your paint or clear coat.
• If this is your pride and joy and you are too worried about damaging your car's paint/finish...take it to a professional detail shop.

Resources

• Read how other people have done this.