Trees are a useful part of our environment, but their sap can do a number on our car’s finish. Find out how you can safely remove this sticky substance by reading this article!

People have been tapping Maple trees in the late winter or early spring for generations. The “tapping” of a tree involves drilling a small hole into the trunk of the tree, and then inserting a spout, which is also called a “spile”, into the hole. A bucket is then hooked onto the spout in order to catch the sap. From the spout, from inside the Maple tree, comes a thick, clear liquid that is called “tree sap.” Once it is boiled down, the sap from maple trees makes delicious, sticky, amber – colored syrup that you can use on pancakes, ice cream, and more. Interesting enough, it takes about thirty to forty gallons of sap to make just one gallon of maple syrup.

Though they don’t make as tasty of syrup as the Maple tree does, there are other trees, such as Pine and Birch that release sap naturally through their leaves and branches too. And, if you park your car underneath one of these trees, you are bound to find a sticky surprise on the paint when you return.

Sticky tree sap can be removed off the paint on your car in many different ways. There are several different products on the market today. There are also several different home remedies that you can use that are just as efficient. Make sure that whatever means you use, that you remove the tree sap without damaging the paint on your car.

Keep in mind that you should remove the tree sap off your car as soon as possible. The longer it stays, the harder it gets, and the more difficult it will be to remove.

One of the easiest home remedies to use is fingernail polish remover and a cotton ball. Simply soak the cotton with the fingernail polish remover. Then, lay it on the sticky tree sap for a moment to loosen it. Finally, you will need to rub it gently back and forth until it is lifted up. Be careful – you don’t want to rub the cotton ball too hard or the pieces of tree sap can and will scratch your car’s surface. Then, after all of the tree sap is removed, use a paste made up of tap water and baking soda, along with a soft, clean rag, to clean the fingernail polish remover off of the paint.

Another remedy is to use mineral spirits on a soft, clean rag in the same manner. However, when using the mineral spirits, you may want to use rubber gloves in order to protect your skin. Also, be sure to heed any warnings on the product containers. Or, you can use rubbing alcohol, a paint brush cleaner or lighter fluid instead.

The painted finish on your car will probably look dull in the areas that you have removed tree sap from. In order to shine them back up, and make them blend in with the rest of the paint, you will need to wax the entire car.

If you want to try a less toxic sap remover, you can use mayonnaise, lard, solid vegetable oil, baby oil, or butter. Any of these oily substances should soften the sticky tree sap so it can then be easily removed without damaging the paint on your car.

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