Download ArticleDownload ArticleThis article was co-authored by Chad Zani. Chad Zani is an Auto Detailing Expert based in Los Angeles, California. He is the Director of Franchising at Detail Garage, an automotive detailing company with locations around the U.S. and Sweden. He and his team are auto detailing experts that offer detailing and car care services.
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The moment you discover that your vehicle is covered in tree sap your heart usually sinks, not just because your shiny car is now dirty, but because of the work it will take to remove the sap. Cleaning sap off of your car can be a tedious process, can potentially scratch your car paint, and going through a carwash might not do the trick. However, there are several ways to remove sap from your car that will make the task much easier. Follow one of these methods to restore the clean, shiny surface of your car.
Steps
Wash your car as soon as possible. The longer tree sap or any substances like sap (and bird droppings or insect remains for that matter) are left on the surface of the vehicle, the more difficult they are to remove. Acting fast will require the least amount of effort and the most success at getting a sparkling car exterior.
Spray off your car with clean water. Giving your car this initial rinse will get all the large debris off but it will also help you to see where you need to focus further cleaning.- Take the time to wash your whole car, even if it's not all covered in sap. You will be more satisfied when you get the sap off if your whole car is nice and clean. Besides, you already have all the supplies out and ready to go.
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Rub the surface with a microfiber rag covered in hot, soapy water. Use the hottest water you can, as the sap will be weakened most effectively by really hot water.- Before using other methods of sap removal, try cleaning your car with really hot water. If the sap gets removed, then great, you are done. If the sap remains, at least you have a clean surface on which to try other methods.
- Be sure that your rag is clean and that you rinse it often to get any debris and sap out. Using a dirty rag will only spread this across the surface of your car.
Rinse the surface repeatedly. Rinsing the area you are cleaning will allow you to see if your job is done or if you need to use more elbow grease to get the sap removed.
Dry and wax the surface of your car once the sap is removed. All the cleaning you have done has effectively removed the sap but it has probably also removed any wax that was protecting the surface. Use your usual method of waxing your car or, if you have never waxed your car before, consult How to Wax You Car for directions.
Wash your car with soap and hot water. Make sure to get all the dirt and grime off the surface around the sap. If attempting to get the sap off with the hot water and soap doesn't work, continue with these steps.- Even if the wash doesn't get the sap off, the warmth of the water will begin to soften it, making it easier to remove. This is also helpful if the sap has been on the car for a while.
Buy commercial tree sap remover and review the instructions on the container. This should be available at any auto-parts store. Using this type of product is a highly recommended way to remove sap from your car because it is formulated to dissolve sap effectively without hurting your car's exterior.
Place some of the remover on a clean rag. Then hold the rag on the sap while gently applying pressure for a minute or so. The remover should soak into the sap, breaking down the connection between the sap and your car's surface.
Rub in a circular motion over the sap to lift it from the surface. Be relatively gentle while doing this, as you don't want to spread any of the sap across the surface of your car.
Finish by washing and waxing your car.[1] Rewashing you car will help remove any residue left over from the sap or the cleaner used to remove it. A new coating of wax is recommended to renew the protective coating on the vehicle, making sure your car has a beautiful, shiny surface.
Wash your car with soap and hot water. Make sure to get all the dirt and grime off the surface around the sap. If attempting to get the sap off with the hot water and soap doesn't work, continue with these steps.- Even if the wash doesn't get the sap off, the warmth of the water will begin to soften it, making it easier to remove. This is also helpful if the sap has been on the car for a while.
Use a household product to remove the sap.There are a variety of products that you may have in your home already that can remove tree sap effectively.[2] Be sure to use them sparingly and test them on a hidden area of your paint job before applying to any sap, as none of them are made specifically for the surface of a car.- Try mineral spirits or alcohol wipes. Mineral spirits applied lightly with a soft cloth will break down the sap and remove it but it has the potential of damaging your car's surface. Do not rub too vigorously or for too long so that the paint job is not damaged.
- Mineral spirits and alcohol wipes should be tried separately. Use the previous directions and try with mineral spirits. If that fails, use readily available 91% isopropyl alcohol instead of mineral spirits. Alcohol evaporates quickly and although your cloth will seem wet, it is the water that is left after the alcohol evaporates. Keep your cloth wet with fresh alcohol and move quickly with light pressure. This will easily remove hard dried as well as fresh pine tree sap.
- Spray WD-40 on the tree sap.[3] The sap will begin to absorb the solvent. Let it sit for a few minutes. You can use your rag to lift the loosened sap from the car.
- Rub hand sanitizer on the tree sap. Place a small amount of hand sanitizer on the sap and let it set for a few minutes. Rub with a clean cloth and the sap dissolves right off.[4]
Finish with a regular car wash and wax. The car wash will help remove any residue left over from the sap or the cleaner used to remove it. Any solution that would deteriorate paint will be washed away. A new coating of wax is recommended to renew the protective coating on the vehicle.
Expert Q&A
- QuestionHow do you get dried sap off a car?
Chad ZaniChad Zani is an Auto Detailing Expert based in Los Angeles, California. He is the Director of Franchising at Detail Garage, an automotive detailing company with locations around the U.S. and Sweden. He and his team are auto detailing experts that offer detailing and car care services.
Auto Detailing ExpertSome of the worst damage I've seen in my time working on vehicles was the result of someone attempting to remove crystallized tree sap from their car. The crystals scratch the surface just like glass. Softening the tree sap before trying to remove it is very important for getting the job done correctly. - QuestionWhich wax would give me the best shine?
Alex BozeCommunity AnswerMeguiar's wax seem to work best for me, although I have also heard very positive feedback about Turtle Wax brand as well. - QuestionHow can I get hardened salt out of carpeting?
Community AnswerWash it with special spot treatment, or rub in a circular motion with laundry detergent.
Tips
- Goo-gone is another household product that can remove sap from your car. As with other household products, use caution when using a product not specifically designed to be used on a painted surface. Be sure to try a test area on your car's paint job that is not visible before using on the sap you wish to remove.Thanks
- The most important thing to remember is to use the least amount of scrubbing and pressure necessary to get the job done. The goal is to take the tree sap off your car while leaving the paint on it.Thanks
- Scrape new and old sap with a Popsicle stick. The rounded edge of this wooden stick is soft enough not to damage the paint like plastic or metal will. This can be used as the only method or with other methods.Thanks
Things You'll Need
- Water
- Soap
- Soft cloth
- Tree sap remover
- Mineral spirits
- WD-40
- Hand Sanitizer
- Car wax
- Popsicle sticks
References
About This Article
Getting sap off of your car without scratching the paint can be tricky, but don’t worry, there are several effective ways to tackle this sticky problem. The sap will be easier to get off if you wash it immediately, so get to work right away. To start, hose your whole car down with clean water to rinse away any loose sap and debris. This will also make it easier to spot any sappy stains you didn’t see before. Dip a clean microfiber rag in soapy water that’s as warm as possible without being too hot to touch. The heat will help soften the sap. Scrub the stains with the cloth and rinse as you go to immediately wash away any loose sap. While this technique shouldn’t damage the paint on your car, it might strip away some of the protective wax coating. Once you’re satisfied that all the sap is gone, wipe your car dry with a clean, soft towel and buff on a new layer of wax. If you still see some stubborn sap stains after cleaning your car, don’t wax it just yet. Follow up your soap-and-water wash with a commercial tree sap remover. You can buy this type of cleaner at most auto-parts stores, or in the automotive section of a department store. Follow the instructions on the package carefully to make sure you’re using the product correctly. Typically, all you have to do is pour a bit of the sap remover directly onto a clean rag, then hold the rag over the stain using even pressure for about 1 minute to break down the sap. Then, buff the sap away with the rag using small, circular motions. If you can’t find a store-bought sap remover, try dissolving the stain with a household product such as mineral spirits, alcohol wipes, or WD-40. When using any of these products, use a soft cloth and apply light pressure to avoid damaging your paint. After you’re done, re-wash the car with soap and water and apply a new coat of wax. For more tips on removing sap from your car, keep reading!
Reader Success Stories
"We first put the car in the sun to warm it up, then used hot water and soap suds. This only removed the rough top layer. A few days later, I used 70% isopropyl alcohol and it worked like magic. I had to use several rags to get the job done!"..." more
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