Car is plastered with Tree Sap - How to remove tree sap safely (2023)

Introduction

This week we discuss how to remove tree sap from your car safely...

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Content

Welcome back to the forensics detailing channel in this video I'm, going to show you how to remove tree sap from your car and the golf behind me.

I'll bring the camera in a second is absolutely plastered.

Welcome back to the channel guys so Teresa we're gonna! Do this one on the fly? What moving the camera around so forgive me on this, but have a look at this car here.

If you can see this in the background, it's absolutely plastered in SAP, we went away for a couple of weeks and left the car in a long stay car park under a tree, and it's got covered in this sticky layer of tree excrement.

Whatever is if I bring the camera down here a little bit and bring it in it's hard to pick this up on the camera, but you can see here if you're in the garage with me, it looks a hundred times worse in real life than it does on the camera.

It is covered in SAP and because it's been left for a long time, all the dust builds into this SAP and sticks to it.

Then you get more SAP on top of it, so it's like a SAP sandwich and there is tons of it on this car.

So the important thing: how do we get this off in your car? Now a lot of people suggesting when you get tree sap on your car.

You should use tar and goon removers.

So here I have three Gooden's that I like and use am Tom I built, Hamburg, cleanser fluids.

You know mineral spirit basic and it can remove that star and glue and the tardis.

You know very powerful one I've even got some pure IPA here, I'm just gonna swing the camera back around and get you on a spot where some of this some of this muck is so bare with me.

Now, there's a lip spot where you can see some of this stuff: okay, alright, let's just take the autofocus off so up.

First I am tar.

Now, let's find it, it was spot there.

So I'm just gonna spray a little bit this on.

As you can see, that is hit the SAP and it is doing absolutely nothing to it.

Okay, so that's I am tar.

Next, one built member cleanser fluid another spot over here, buy a good amount on there.

Okay, it's doing absolutely nothing to these to this product, I'm kind of scraping it off.

There would be finger, but it's not dissolving the SAP and if I just come over for another little fresh spot will say there there's some fresh stuff here, TARDIS the most potent out of all of them.

So where are we here yeah, let's spray that on there and again absolutely nothing right now, I need to find another one.

Let's come over here next thing: we're gonna, try puresole propanol alcohol, so no, no water in here just pure IPA.

So this is a bit cowboy.

Should really do this I just got bit me finger.

You see that where is it so the IPA on there he's doing it's doing? Nothing has no effect on the tree sap.

So what chemicals should you use to remove tree sap? So from that quick shots guys all these tar and glue removers that I've used these mineral spirit base ones and pure on IPA have no effect on dissolving the tree.

Sap that's on my car.

So what chemicals should we use that is effective at dissolving them, and the answer to that is quite simply: cheapest chips, h2o watch this.

Let's go back in in focus.

Why can you see that yeah there we go well, it's where's me hands there, there's the hose nozzle, so we're just going to put this hose on and it's hopefully a low pressure watch this Oh some pressure would be nice, so I'm leaving I'm, obviously leaving the gun a little bit long there and there we go and that's SAP.

That's basically gone ok and it was a thick layer of SAP.

So what is that? And let me just pull this back out again: I shouldn't! Never try and do these videos like this on the fly.

This is ridiculous, so the point of this guy's is actually the substance which dissolves most tree sap got to be careful here, because there was one scenario: I've got where I couldn't clean it this way, but 9 times 99 times out of 100.

This is a best way to clean tree sap off your car, and this is about as bad as it gets as well.

Really bad being left for a long time too hard and all that sort of stuff how you should do it is primarily use water.

So what I do is I just rinse the car at low pressure with water, so I'll, just let that water sit on the car and then just rinse it off once more then after that I'll go in and cover the car inbuilt Hamburg, auto wash, which is a pretty powerful.

You know pre wash snow foam for your cars very effective, but it's always going to be carried in lots of water and then, after that, so to pre.

Washes then, after that I'll go in and do the contact phase after those two pre washes.

There will be very little sign of the SAP on the car, but there might still be some, but it's safe at that point, to go in and do the contact wash or safer.

What I don't want to do is just them go and wash the car with contact before doing this.

Because of all of the dust that is embedded into the SAP, it will be like sandpaper and it will do quite a lot of damage and I'm, not too fussed about this car.

But that would be just a stupid thing to do then.

So that is how I do it guys? Let me know in in this video and post your method for dealing with tree sap.

If you use any dedicated products like I, said those products that I've tested on their tar and glue removers and they they're sort of mineral spirit based and they don't work on tree sap.

But there are products out there that are tile glue, removers that so they do work on tree.

I haven't tested any of those out.

So if you've got a product that you know, it's been formulated for sack and its really effective, let me know, but it seems a bit extreme, because that's I've just demonstrated you can get it off with with just kind of normal, washing methods and kind of the main solvent.

That's doing the work.

There is water, so I'm interested in your thoughts on that.

But that's all I'm going to cover in this video guys quite a quick one, and that is how I saw out tree sap on my cars.

So thanks very much for watching I'll see you on the next video bye for now.

FAQs

Car is plastered with Tree Sap - How to remove tree sap safely? ›

If the sap is fresh and has not baked into the paint, warm water and soap should do the trick. But if the sap stain seems stubborn to remove, apply a dab of isopropyl alcohol to it. Let it sit for at least 30 seconds, then simply clean it off with a clean microfiber towel. Repeat until the stain is completely off.

How do you get sap off a car without damaging paint? ›

If the sap is fresh and has not baked into the paint, warm water and soap should do the trick. But if the sap stain seems stubborn to remove, apply a dab of isopropyl alcohol to it. Let it sit for at least 30 seconds, then simply clean it off with a clean microfiber towel. Repeat until the stain is completely off.

Will rubbing alcohol damage car paint tree sap? ›

Step 1: Use rubbing alcohol.

This should start to break down the sap. Rub the sap until it comes off completely. Do not leave rubbing alcohol on the vehicle for too long, as it can potentially damage the paint and clear coat.

Can tree sap damage car paint? ›

Left alone, tree sap can be unsightly at best. At worst, it can damage your car's paint job and lead to rust.

Does Dawn dish soap remove sap from cars? ›

Hot soapy water, use Dawn dish soap. You will need wax the car after. WD-40 is good too. The bug and tar remover works ok, but I find Dawn work the best.

Can I use Goo Gone to get tree sap off my car? ›

Goo Gone Automotive Spray Gel is specially formulated for removing sticky, gooey, gummy messes from cars. All without harming surfaces. The non-drip, no-mess automotive formula safely removes tree sap, dirt, tar, bugs, brake dust, bumper stickers and more.

Is Goo Gone safe on car paint? ›

Is Goo Gone Automotive safe to use on car paint? Yes! That's what it's designed for, just wash with hot, soapy water after you're done using the Goo Gone.

Is rubbing alcohol bad for car paint? ›

Using rubbing alcohol in the right ratio on your car is an effective cleaning method. A mixture of 10%-15% rubbing alcohol to 85%-90% water will not damage the paint. This can remove grease, oil, and other persistent stains on your car's body.

Is 70 isopropyl alcohol safe for car paint? ›

Rubbing alcohol will not damage your car's paint if you use enough water with it in order to remove whatever stain on your car's body or doors. The recommended ratio is 10% to 15% rubbing alcohol to 85% to 90% water for the best results. Rubbing alcohol should always be mixed with water when cleaning your car.

Can you use Goo Gone on car paint for tree sap? ›

Goo Gone Automotive Spray Gel

It also works great on crusty, hard-to-remove bird droppings, tree sap, brake dust, and asphalt. From your bumper to your dashboard, Goo Gone Automotive Spray Gel works on your interior and exterior, helping clean glass, metals, and plastics.

Are sap stains permanent? ›

These marks are permanently stained in the clear coat, and not even wet sanding or polishing would do anything to help remove them.

How long does it take for sap to ruin car paint? ›

Tree sap car paint damage usually happens over time and not right away. It might help to think of sap a bit like glue. When it's fresh, it's not too difficult to wipe it away. But, as soon as it starts to harden, it adheres to your paint, which means that removing it might also take away a layer of your paint.

What happens if you get tree sap on your car? ›

Sap will not immediately damage a car's paint, but it should not be ignored. After some time, the sap can etch through the paint's clear coat, leading to discoloring and staining.

Does Dawn damage car paint? ›

Never use dish soap to wash your car. According to Consumer Reports, dish soap isn't formulated for use on a car's paint. Even a detergent like Dawn is an abrasive cleaner and can strip away a vehicle's protective top coat.

What is the best car wash to remove tree sap? ›

We recommend a high-foaming, all-purpose car wash like Turtle Wax M.A.X. Power Detergent to safely remove tree sap and other stubborn contaminants from your finish.

Will WD 40 damage car paint? ›

In addition to preventing bugs from hitting your vehicle, WD-40 is also a great option for removing already stuck-on bugs, bird droppings, tree sap, and grime. It won't damage your paint; just remember to rinse it off with soap and water afterwards.

Does rubbing alcohol remove tree sap from cars? ›

Luckily, the most popular and available sanitizer is alcohol-based, and its main ingredient (isopropyl alcohol, or rubbing alcohol) is what helps remove sap from your car without taking the paint with it.

Is Goo Gone safe on car windshield? ›

Household products like basic window cleaner, rubbing alcohol, and ice will work without harming your car's windshield. Specialized products like WD-40 and Goo Gone are also very effective.

What can I use instead of Goo Gone? ›

If you want to make a Goo Gone substitute at home, mix 1/4 cup baking soda, 1/8 cup vegetable oil, and 3 drops of citrus essential oils of your choice. The abrasive nature of the powdered particles gives you scrubbing power, and the vegetable oil helps to dilute the oil-based adhesive.

How long can I leave Goo Gone on my car? ›

Hard Surfaces

Apply Goo Gone (for extra gooey messes, let sit 5–10 minutes). Wipe. Wash with hot soapy water.

Will Goo Gone damage car interior? ›

Goo Gone is safe on your car exterior, using instructions for hard surfaces. It's safe on your upholstery and carpeting, using the instructions for carpeting. It's safe on the vinyl and glass, but may remove the tint from the tinted side of windows.

What are the risks of Goo Gone? ›

Being aware of hazards. Goo Gone can cause permanent lung damage if swallowed, can irritate skin and eyes, and can exacerbate asthma. In addition to the typical precautions, such as keeping it out of reach of children or pets, familiarize yourself with the cautions listed on Goo Gone's Material Safety Data Sheet.

Does vinegar hurt car paint? ›

Vinegar is not a strong enough or corrosive enough substance to damage paint and you can minimise the risk by using a cloth or sponge wet with vinegar on the glass and not spraying the whole car or leaving it in the surface for an extended period.

Does hydrogen peroxide damage car paint? ›

While most common household disinfectants are effective, some are not ideal for use on a vehicle including bleach, hydrogen peroxide, benzene, thinners or other harsh and abrasive cleaners. These chemical products can damage your vehicle's upholstery and/or interior surfaces.

Will Windex damage car paint? ›

Car experts say that you should never use Windex on car paint. Why? Because you run the risk of stripping the finish from your car.

Can I use acetone to remove tree sap from car? ›

Acetone is commonly used to dissolve nail polish but is also effective at removing tree sap. Take a cotton ball and pour some of the nail polish remover on it. Next, wipe the spots covered in sap with the soaked cotton ball. The sap will then wipe away easily.

How do you remove hardened tree sap from a car windshield? ›

For the best results, use rubbing alcohol, aka isopropyl alcohol, to clean tree sap from your vehicle. Nothing fancy or ridiculously strong, just common alcohol, and you only need a dilute solution for it to work. Put a bit on a paper towel and dab it on. Then, gently wipe the sap off.

What is hardened tree sap called? ›

Amber is formed from resin exuded from tree bark (figure 9), although it is also produced in the heartwood. Resin protects trees by blocking gaps in the bark. Once resin covers a gash or break caused by chewing insects, it hardens and forms a seal.

Is it safe to put isopropyl alcohol in your car? ›

It is safe and easy to use isopropyl alcohol that is 70% or higher to wipe down hard surfaces in your vehicle. That includes steering wheel, dash, armrests, console, seat adjusters, shifter, cup-holders, doors, handles, and more. Alcohol is also suitable for cleaning the imitation leather used in some vehicles.

Should I use 70% or 91% isopropyl alcohol? ›

Even though you may think the higher concentration is more effective, experts say 70% is actually better for disinfecting. It has more water, which helps it to dissolve more slowly, penetrate cells, and kill bacteria. The disinfecting power of rubbing alcohol drops at concentrations higher than 80%-85%.

Is 70 isopropyl alcohol the same as 91 isopropyl alcohol? ›

A lower percent alcohol means there's more water diluting the mix in the bottle. But according to microbiology, 70 percent alcohol is probably more effective than 91 percent for disinfecting—depending on what kind of germs you're trying to kill.

Is Goo Gone safe on clear coat? ›

I've used goo gone on multiple bikes and wheels with glossy clear coat and never had an issue. You don't need to use much. One drop on a microfiber cloth and some rubbing and it's off in seconds. The stuff works wonders.

Does rubbing alcohol ruin car paint? ›

Rubbing alcohol will not damage your car's paint if you use enough water with it in order to remove whatever stain on your car's body or doors. The recommended ratio is 10% to 15% rubbing alcohol to 85% to 90% water for the best results. Rubbing alcohol should always be mixed with water when cleaning your car.

Is 70% isopropyl alcohol safe for car paint? ›

Using rubbing alcohol in the right ratio on your car is an effective cleaning method. A mixture of 10%-15% rubbing alcohol to 85%-90% water will not damage the paint. This can remove grease, oil, and other persistent stains on your car's body. Therefore, one can clean their car using alcohol diluted with water.

Is vinegar safe on car paint? ›

Vinegar is not a strong enough or corrosive enough substance to damage paint and you can minimise the risk by using a cloth or sponge wet with vinegar on the glass and not spraying the whole car or leaving it in the surface for an extended period.

Is WD-40 safe on car paint? ›

In addition to preventing bugs from hitting your vehicle, WD-40 is also a great option for removing already stuck-on bugs, bird droppings, tree sap, and grime. It won't damage your paint; just remember to rinse it off with soap and water afterwards.

Is Rainx safe on paint? ›

If you get Rain‑X ® Original Glass Treatment on your paint, will it ruin the paint? No, but you should rinse the product off with soap and water.

Will olive oil remove tree sap from car? ›

Olive Oil Another

Apply a small amount of olive oil to a soft cloth. Gently rub the tree sap, making sure to avoid scrubbing too hard. Continue to rub until the sap is fully removed. Rinse the area with water and dry it with a clean towel.

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