If you live in an area with a lot of trees, you’ve probably dealt with tree sap on your car. Tree sap is quite acidic and can do permanent damage to your paint, so you need to deal with it quickly. It’s an issue we see frequently in our detailing business so we have a few tips that may help you. Here are a few things you should, and shouldn’t, do to remove tree sap from your car.
5 Tips to Effectively Remove Tree Sap
1. Do Use a Microfiber Towel
If you need to remove tree sap from your car, use something that isn’t abrasive such as a microfiber towel. Simply dampen the cloth with warm water and let it sit on the spot to soften the dried sap, then wipe it off. Keep in mind that a more abrasive cloth, such as a terry cloth towel, can end up doing more harm than good.
2. Don’t Try to Scrape It Off
Trying to scrape tree sap off of your car is a bad idea and may permanently scuff your car’s paint. Plus, there’s no way you’re getting it all off by just scraping it. Even if it seems like you managed to get it all, some of it will likely remain and it will sit and do damage to your car until you clean it off properly.
3. Do Use a Gentle Product Like Wax and Grease Remover
We often use a wax and grease remover to remove tree sap from our customers’ vehicles. This is an affordable, effective, and gentle way to remove sap from your car that you can easily do at home. Isopropyl alcohol can also be effective at removing tree sap.
4. Don’t Use Harsh Chemicals
Don’t be tempted to try a “home remedy” using common household cleaning products like dish detergent. If a product is not designed and tested for automotive use you simply don’t know how your paint will react or what kind of damage it might do.
5. Do Be Proactive
The best way to protect your car from tree sap is to make sure the sap never touches your paint in the first place. One way to do this is by applying a ceramic coating to your car. Ceramic coatings form a long-lasting bond with your car and prevent contaminants like tree sap from doing permanent damage.
In addition to tree sap, there are a few other things you should avoid if you want to keep your car looking great, including bird droppings and bug splatter.
At Details Matter, we provide auto enthusiasts in Melbourne, Florida and the surrounding area with professional detailing and automotive protection services, including ceramic coatings. Please contact us today to learn more about the benefits of a ceramic coating and how it can keep your car protected from contaminants such as tree sap.