When you decide to take your car out for a spin on a beautiful day, a shady tree may seem like the perfect place to park your beloved vehicle. If left parked in this cool, breezy spot for a while, you may notice a sticky substance appears on your otherwise pristine paint job. You got sapped.
Sap drips from a tree and adheres to any object placed underneath, including your beautiful car. Tree sap can be very tough to remove because simple soapy solutions will not do the trick. If you ever find yourself in this kind of sticky situation, there are some tips to get rid of the sap quickly.
1. Get to Work Immediately
Before discussing specific methods and mixtures needed to fix the problem, it is important to mention that action needs to be taken right away. When tree sap is left untouched, it will become black and a lot more challenging to remove. The strength of the bond between the sap and the car intensifies over time. It is important to act as soon as possible to remove it from the painted surface.
2. Nail Polish Remover
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. Since nail polish is made to dissolve paint, it is a good idea to clean off any leftover remover with a baking soda and water paste. Lastly, give the car a thorough wash to restore it to its original shine.
3. Lighter Fluid
It isn’t just for fueling fires. Lighter fluid is a great way to remove sap. The properties of the lighter fluid help break down the bond between the tree sap and your vehicle’s paint. Put fluid on the spots that have tree sap and wait. After a little while, you will start to notice the sap dissolving. When this happens, rub off any remaining sap from the car. Finish off with a full car wash.
4. Bacon Grease
Bacon is more than a tasty snack. The grease created from baking or frying bacon can be used to eat away at what holds sap to the paint of a vehicle. Place some bacon grease on the affected areas and wait for the fat to go to work. In a few minutes, check it out and see if it is dissolving. If it is, rub off the grease along with the sap.
After these treatments, your paint job may end up looking a little dull. Wash your car thoroughly and apply wax on the affected areas. This will restore the shine and vibrant color again.
Don’t let tree sap turn your car’s exterior from shiny and vibrant to lackluster and dull. Use these simple methods to remove tree sap quickly and safely.
Image via Pixabay by BastardAsh
Connect with us
Recent Blog Entries
Categories
