How to Remove Cypress Tree Sap

Sap will drip out of the tree if the bark becomes damaged.

Sap is an essential part of a tree's life. Every tree's sap --- including cypress trees --- contains water, hormones and nutrients. When a tree's bark is damaged or the tree is under attack by pests, the tree sap will ooze out of the wound. This sap will drip onto surfaces, creating a sticky mess that you can track throughout your home. Trying to remove the tree sap with simple soap and water will smear the sap, making removal even more difficult. Fortunately, there are a few ways that you can successfully remove the cypress tree sap from a variety of surfaces.

Things You'll Need

• Acetone nail polish remover
• Small dish
• Cotton balls
• Cloths
• Mineral spirits
• Bug and tar remover
• Prewash stain remover
• Laundry detergent
• Rubbing alcohol
• Butter knife
• Dry-cleaning solvent
• Towel

Instructions

Hard Surfaces

1. Add 1/4 cup of acetone nail polish remover in a small dish. Saturate a cotton ball in the nail polish remover and rub the sap. Saturate a clean cotton ball in the polish remover when the first cotton ball becomes soiled. Continue scrubbing until you have removed the tree sap. Wipe the nail polish remover from the surface with a damp cloth.

2. Dampen a clean cloth with mineral spirits. Rub the tree sap gently in a circular motion with the cloth until the sap is no longer present. Rinse the mineral spirits off the surface with a damp cloth.

3. Apply bug and tar remover to a cloth. Use enough bug and tar remover to dampen the cloth. Rub the tree sap with the damp cloth until you have removed all the sap. Wipe the bug and tar remover off the item with a clean cloth dampened with cool water.

Clothing

1. Lay the clothing on a flat surface with the tree sap facing upward. Rub a prewash stain remover directly on the sap. Allow the stain remover to soak into the fabric for 15 minutes.

2. Set the washer machine to the warmest setting allowed for the specific fabric. Let the washing machine drum begin to fill with water. Add 1/4 cup of laundry detergent into the water. Submerge the clothing into the washing machine and allow the washer to complete a full cycle.

3. Remove the clothing immediately from the washer and examine the stain. Blot the area with rubbing alcohol and launder once again if the tree sap stain is still visible.

Upholstery and Carpets

1. Scrape as much of the excess tree sap off the surface with the back of a butter knife.

2. Dampen a clean, white cloth with dry-cleaning solvent. Blot the tree sap stain with the cloth. Start at the outer edge of the sap and blot while moving inward toward the center.

3. Continue blotting until no more dry-cleaning solvent is absorbed. Repeat the process until you have removed all traces of the tree sap.

4. Rinse the surface by blotting with a clean cloth dampened with cool water. Pat the area dry with a towel.

References

• US Auto Parts: How to Remove Tree Sap
• Detail City: How to Remove Bugs, Road Tar and Tree Sap
• Good Housekeeping: Stain Buster --- Sap