Any tips to remove tree sap?

Superslif · 08-26-2009, 05:19 PM

Having camped a bunch of days under pine trees my last trip to PA. I have found goobs of sap on the bunk ends and awning. I don't think my regular awning cleaner will cut it. Any ideas to soften up the spots of sap. Some are quarter sized. Other's are 1" or 2" globs......yuck

Flyer · 08-26-2009, 05:57 PM

Rubbing alcohol works well.

**NLOVNIT** · 08-26-2009, 08:15 PM

HA! See, Jim, shade isn't all it's cracked up to be, is it?

I've used mineral spirits to get sap off my Mustang's convertible top. But if rubbing alcohol works, I'll try that next time, since it isn't as nasty smelling as mineral spirits.

Lori-

Wayne M · 08-26-2009, 09:25 PM

Just for the heck of it, try a Bounce dryer sheet. Wet the awning and rub with the Bounce dryer sheet. (Don't substitute the dryer sheet) Please let me know if it works on the sap. I know it works on bugs, tar, and other substances on the painted surfaces.

As always, try in an inconspicuous place first (little corner of the awning)

Rick Long · 08-26-2009, 09:35 PM

Mayonnaise works well...

AFChap · 08-26-2009, 09:40 PM

Don't use drier sheets on painted surfaces -- they really did a job on the clearcoat covered 3m film on the front of my coach. My solution would be WD-40 -- it works really great on road tar too.

Wayne M · 08-26-2009, 10:03 PM

Paul,
I've been using Bounce dryer sheets for years with no adverse affect. WD-40 on the other had can be detrimental to rubber surfaces, so be careful where you spray it.

Dona and Elvin · 08-27-2009, 07:09 AM

our driveway is all pine trees, hubby just spent 3 days using WD-40 and a soft terry white rag to get the sap off. Use sparingly. He then used the waterless cleaner /wax and the truck looks great! No wonder the indians used tree sap to hold the seams of birch bark canoes!(great stuff) We invested in a canopy cover to protect the truck from the sap. The sap didnot harm the clear coat, but was a bugger to get off..Dona

Superslif · 08-27-2009, 07:47 PM

Thanx for all the ideas. First I tried WD-40 on the awning. It took off the very top layer, but didn't penetrate very much. Next I dug thru a box of spray cleaners and came across a spray can of 3M bug and tar remover. It did the trick. I sprayed a few spots at a time, rubbed my trumbnail across it, and wiped it down with a terrycloth rag. It took about an hour to do the whole awning. I was actually surprised how well it worked. All I can say is I see why baseball players use pine tar.....

But using the bug and tar cleaner on the few spots of sap on my tow vehicle, didn't work very well. It took about 75% off but left a outer ring of hardened sap. I wanted to watch how aggessive I rubbed as to not scratch the paint.....

Skipper 05MA · 08-28-2009, 11:28 AM

Try the alcohol on the truck. It softens the sap quickly. I then use baby oil to clean the rest up then apply a coat of wax over the cleaned areas.

mfolsom · 08-28-2009, 11:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AFChap

Don't use drier sheets on painted surfaces -- they really did a job on the clearcoat covered 3m film on the front of my coach. My solution would be WD-40 -- it works really great on road tar too.

Another vote for WD-40 We took the stickey off our carpet from the plastic runners dealers like to use. There was a lot of stickey. It didn't hurt the carpet at all. Spray it on a rag and rub the spots.