Tree sap on a car is a common problem, especially in the spring and summer when the sap is flowing. The sticky tree sap can make it hard for you to park near trees and can be difficult to remove from paint. Here’s how to safely remove tree sap from your car’s finish.
Luckily, there are a few simple ways to remove tree sap that don’t involve using chemicals or damaging your paint. Here are our top tips:
Does Tree Sap Ruin Car Paint?
The answer is yes, tree sap can ruin the paint on your vehicle if you don’t get it cleaned up quickly enough. This is because tree sap contains an acid that will eat away at your car’s paint if left alone long enough. If you want to know if the tree sap has damaged your car’s finish.
Take a clean rag and wipe down the area where the tree sap landed on your car. If it comes off easily, then it hasn’t damaged your paint.
What Removes Sap from Car Home Remedies?
Sap from trees can cause irritation and even chemical burns if it gets in your eyes, mouth, or nose. The tree sap can also stain the surface of your car and make things sticky. If you find yourself with a tree branch stuck to your car, here are some home remedies for removing sap from your vehicle:
- Hot water
- Isopropyl Alcohol
- Nail polish remover
- Baking soda
- Vinegar
- Hand sanitizer
How to Remove Tree Sap from Car Without Damaging Paint
Luckily, there are several safe ways to remove tree sap from car paint or dulling shine. The first thing you need is patience because it will take some time for you to get rid of this mess.
Use Isopropyl Alcohol
Isopropyl alcohol is safe for use in cars and can break down tree sap fast.
- Simply pour some alcohol into a spray bottle and then spray it onto the sap.
- Let it sit for about 30 seconds before wiping off with a rag or paper towel, being careful not to scratch the paint while doing so.
- If there’s still some residue left after that, try using some more alcohol followed by another wipe down with a rag or paper towel until all of the remaining sticky substance has been removed.
Nail Polish Remover Can Do
If you have nail polish remover at home, this will serve as an effective method of removing tree sap from your car’s paint job without damaging any part of it permanently (as long as you’re careful).
Just apply a small amount of nail polish remover onto a soft cloth or cotton ball and rub it into the stain until most of it has been removed.
Try Baking Soda
Mix baking soda with water until you have a paste-like consistency then apply it directly to the area where there is tree sap present on your vehicle and let sit for about 10 minutes before rinsing.
Hand Sanitizer
Hand sanitizer works well on tree sap because it contains alcohol, which attracts and dissolves the sticky substance.
Spray the hand sanitizer on the area of your car where the tree sap is located and let it sit for five minutes before wiping it off with a clean towel or cloth.
Goo Gone for Tree Sap on Car
If hand sanitizer didn’t work, then try Goo Gone for Tree Sap on Car. Goo Gone is specifically designed for cleaning up messes like tree sap, so it should be able to get rid of all traces of sap from your vehicle without damaging it in any way.
You may need more than one application if there’s a lot of sap on your car, but once all traces are gone, then you can wash off any remaining residue with soap and water or window cleaner.
Hot Water Can Also Do
One method is to use hot water. Boil some water in a kettle or your kitchen sink, then pour it over the affected area. The hot water will soften the sap, making it easier to remove. Then use a soft cloth or sponge to wipe away any residue left behind.
Commercial Tree Sap Remover
There are products available at local auto parts stores that are specifically designed for removing tree sap from cars. These products contain chemicals that dissolve the sap but do not harm your car’s finish.
You can use these as an alternative to using hot water or vinegar, which may not be effective on older deposits of tree sap.
Use Vinegar
Vinegar is inexpensive, and safe to use around children and pets because it’s non-toxic. It’s also an effective cleaner for hardwood floors, countertops, and other household surfaces, so you won’t have any trouble finding uses for it after you remove tree sap from your car.
- To remove tree sap from your car’s paint job with vinegar, start by applying a generous amount directly onto the spot where the sap has dried onto your vehicle’s finish.
- Let it sit for about 15 minutes before washing it off with warm water and a soft cloth or sponge.
How to Remove Hardened Tree Sap from Car
Use WD-40 to remove tree sap from car
WD-40 works well to remove tree sap from a car because it contains silicone oil, which lubricates the surface of the paint and helps break up the sap. It also contains solvents that help dissolve the dried sap.
To use WD-40 to remove tree sap from your car, spray some WD-40 onto a clean cloth or paper towel and rub it over the affected area of your vehicle’s paintwork.
If there’s still some residue left behind after you’ve wiped down the area, spray WD-40 directly onto that spot and wipe again with a clean cloth or paper towel until all traces of sap are gone.
How to Remove Hardened Tree Sap from Car Windshield
Tree sap is a sticky mess that can be difficult to remove from your car’s windshield.
Use Rubbing Alcohol to Remove Tree Sap on a Windshield
Rubbing alcohol removes tree sap from the windshield. If you don’t have to rub alcohol on your hand, you can use nail polish remover instead.
- Put on rubber gloves and safety glasses if you want to protect yourself from splashes of the rubbing alcohol or nail polish remover.
- Apply the rubbing alcohol directly onto the tree sap with a cotton swab, then let it sit for 10 minutes.
- Scrub at the hardened tree sap with another cotton swab dipped in rubbing alcohol until most of it has been removed, then wipe away any residue left behind with a clean rag dipped in water.
Tree Sap Frequently Asked Questions
Will Vinegar Remove Tree Sap from Car?
Yes, Vinegar is an inexpensive product that can help remove tree sap from your car’s finish. You’ll need a spray bottle filled with vinegar, paper towels or rags, and some patience.
Vinegar works best when applied to warm or hot surfaces, so you may have to wait until your vehicle warms up before attempting to remove the sap.
Will Rubbing Alcohol Damage Car Paint?
Yes, rubbing alcohol can damage your car’s paint if you use it improperly. Rubbing alcohol can strip away waxes and polishes that protect your paint from UV damage, making your car more susceptible to fading and sunspots.
If you need to remove sap from your vehicle, try using a solvent like acetone or xylene instead of rubbing alcohol.
Will a Car Wash Remove Tree Sap?
No, car washes cannot remove tree sap from your vehicle’s surface effectively because they don’t have the right tools or chemicals needed to do so safely. You could end up scratching or damaging your paint if you try using them on tree sap stains.
Will Goo Gone Remove Sap from Car
Goo Gone removes sap from cars. Goo Gone is a citrus-based solvent that is effective for removing sticky substances from cars. Goo Gone is available in the automotive section of most stores and online.
Will WD40 Remove Sap From Car
WD40 works as well as Goo Gone but takes more time to soak into the sap and loosen it. It also costs more than Goo Gone, so you’re better off using the citrus-based product unless you have no other option.
You can use WD40 on other types of sticky messes, such as gum or candy wrappers stuck on the interior or exterior of your car if you don’t want to use Goo Gone on them.
Does Dawn Dish Soap Remove Sap from Cars?
Dawn dish soap can remove sap from cars, but it’s not as effective as Goo Gone or WD40 because it doesn’t contain any solvent that dissolves oils and other materials found in tree sap.
Dawn dish soap is more likely to leave behind residue after use than either of these products, so it’s best used only if nothing else works for you.
