Updated on: September 15, 2021
If you've ever parked under a shady tree, you probably know how hard it can be to remove sticky tree sap from your car's paint. Trees of all varieties can drop sap from the branches to the ground, particularly pine trees as the weather gets warmer. Some sap appears as a light residue, barely thicker than water. This is the good stuff; it can be rinsed away quickly and easily. Other sap hardens into a glue-like residue, impervious to soap and hot water, and firmly attaches to the vehicle's paint. Regardless of the kind of sap on your car, however, you can follow some simple tips to get it off your car—quickly.
Wash Your Car
Start with a thorough cleaning—the right way. Surely, after you notice a big spot of sap on the hood of your car, your first instinct may be to go directly after the sap with a razor blade or box cutter. However, a good pre-wash serves two purposes: First, it will get your car nice and clean, which is important, as any grit on the surface of your car may scratch your car's finish during the sap removal. And second, it will likely reveal more sappy spots that you hadn't previously noticed.
Invest in Commercial Cleaning Products
Check the automotive cleaning section of your local auto parts store. You'll find a section with many products branded for bug and tar removal—many of these will work for sap. Read the fine print in the instructions and choose one that suits your situation and ability. Turtle Wax and Goo Gone automotive products are two options that are both well reviewed and easy to find. Don't be afraid to try more than one to see which one works best for your specific sap.
A microfiber cloth or wash mitt works best to apply your sap remover, but a cotton terry cloth towel or washcloth will also work well. Always test the product first—dab it on an inconspicuous area of your car to make sure it won't discolor the paint or trim. Once you feel comfortable that it will work properly, apply the sap-removing product and let it gently dissolve that troublesome tree goop.
The key to the sap removal process is patience. Resist the urge to scrape sap away with a hard object, as this will almost always damage your car's paint. Instead, allow the sap remover time to soak in and soften the hardened sap spot, then rub gently in a circular motion. Warm weather will help soften the sap and make it easier to remove, but on cold days or on extremely stubborn sap, a hair dryer on low may do the trick.
Once you've removed the sap, you will be left with an oily residue on your car. This is from the sap remover. Give your ride another car wash and re-wax the area that you treated for sap (or the entire car—why not?). While you're at it, check out our article Using Touch-Up Paint to Fix Your Car for advice on any other auto body blemishes you may find.
Try a Home Remedy
Purpose-made DIY removal products are safer and will usually work better than a home remedy for removing tree sap, but if you are short on time and want to get the sticky stuff off quickly, there are a couple options you can try. Generally, home remedies will work the same way as the official options: They'll first soften, then dissolve the sap until it can be wiped away with a cloth.
As with official sap removers, always carefully test in an inconspicuous area so as not to damage your car's paint job. A few products that may be helpful in sap removal are lighter fluid, WD-40, isopropyl rubbing alcohol, tar remover, baking soda, mineral spirits, acetone-free nail-polish remover, and hand sanitizer. Follow similar steps outlined for official products and avoid scraping sap with a hard tool.
Keep Your Car Safe from Sap
After spending time removing sap from your car, you'll naturally want to avoid the experience in the future. The best option is to park your car under cover and away from trees. Unfortunately, this isn't always an option. If you have to park under a tree, keep your eyes out for sap that has fallen onto your car—the sooner you try to remove the sap, the easier it will be and the more likely you'll be to avoid paint damage. Wash your vehicle regularly and keep a good coating of car wax on the clean surface. A clean, waxed paint surface will be easier to clean than a dirty, unwaxed one. Waxing will also make cleaning grime, bird droppings, and other sticky substances off your car a breeze.
Sap left on your car for a long time can be detrimental to the underlying paint under the clear coat. It can cause discoloration, and some sap can even be corrosive, slowly etching the surface of your car's finish. If you remove old sap and the underlying paint is dull and doesn't return to the same sheen as the surrounding paint, a little polishing and elbow grease will most likely rejuvenate it.
The Bottom Line
Nobody likes walking outside and seeing their clean car covered in tree sap. Luckily, sap stains don't need to be a huge problem. Clean your car well and use a commercial sap cleaner or try a home remedy to keep your car's paint protected and looking good.
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