How to Remove Tree Sap from Your Car

By John Funk, April 20, 2021

Your car is one of your most prized possessions. You spent months, even years, saving money so you can buy it, and now it’s yours. Naturally, you’d want to take care of it so you decide to park underneath a tree to prevent overexposure to sunlight. When you come back, however, you notice a sticky liquid on your car’s body. Sometimes, it may even have hardened by the time you spot it. Alas, it’s tree sap!

Is there any way to prevent this from happening? And how do you get it off? If you want to learn how to effectively remove tree sap from your car and keep it from ruining your paint job, here’s everything you need to know.

How to Get Rid of Tree Sap on Your Car

Although tree sap may not bring immediate harm, leaving it for too long can damage your paint job. It will bind to your car’s paint and shrink over time, causing undue stress on the exterior finish, which will ultimately lead to cracks.

Unfortunately, removing tree sap from your car isn’t as easy as removing the usual dirt and mud. It only takes a few minutes for tree sap to stick to your car’s body, making it a difficult substance to remove.

The tree sap removal process will be easier if you don’t give it enough time to harden. However, if you failed to notice it before it hardens, don’t worry. You can still get sap off your car without ruining the paint. Here’s how you do it.

Prepare everything you need. You need to use the right tools when removing tree sap from your car. Otherwise, you risk damaging your car’s finish.

Hot water will soften the tree sap and make it easier to remove, but you can also use tap water for this purpose.
Car wash soap
Microfiber towels
Sap remover or alcohol-based solutions (rubbing alcohol, WD-40, hand sanitizer, etc.)
Detailing spray or car wax

Roll up your sleeves and start working. Now that you’ve prepared everything you need, it’s time to learn how to get tree sap off your car. Find a nice shady area that you can use and get started!

Wet the affected area and apply car wash soap using a microfiber cloth. This will remove any dirt, which may damage the exterior finish when you’re scrubbing off the tree sap.
Rinse thoroughly and dry the area using a clean microfiber towel.
Apply an alcohol-based solution or tree sap remover on a microfiber towel, then set it on top of the tree sap for 30 to 60 seconds.
Gently rub the affected area until you have removed all traces of tree sap.
Repeat the process if there’s still tree sap on your car.
Wash your car again to remove any residual sap and removal solution.
Apply detailing spray or car wax to preserve your car’s finish.

It is important to note that tree sap may land in other places as well, such as your windows. In that case, how do you remove it? Well, the process is more or less the same, but you need to use glass cleaner (to be applied with a microfiber cloth) instead of car wax or detailing spray.

Considering all the trouble you need to go through in removing tree sap from your car, is there a way to prevent such things from happening again? Not everyone has the time or the energy to keep on cleaning their car every time tree sap lands on it. So, how do you prevent getting tree sap on your car?

The solution is simple: avoid parking under trees. Parking your car in an indoor garage is still the best option, but since not everyone is fortunate enough to have one, go for the next best thing. Use a high-quality Seal-Fit car cover. This alternative is way more practical than having a garage constructed, but it can still sufficiently protect your car from the elements.

Getting Sap Off Your Car: Additional Tips

If the sap is not removed after using the alcohol-based solution or tree sap remover, repeat the process again, but remember to use a small amount of the product at a time. Using too much will strip off the protective layer and may even damage the car’s paint job.
Avoid using razor blades. Although it seems to be the best solution at times, it can easily scratch your paint job and do even more damage.
If you do not have access to hot water, try using a blow dryer to heat the tree sap. Use alcohol- or tree sap remover-soaked microfiber cloth to rub off the tree sap.

Which Car Cover Should You Choose?

Not all car covers are the same, so if you want to get the best protection for your car, look for the following features when buying one.

Multi-layered protection. Choose a cover that has at least three layers: a tough and weatherproof outer layer, and adequately padded middle layer, and a soft inner layer.
Snug fit. When it comes to car covers, it’s really all about the fit, so choose one that is made with the individual vehicle’s make and model in mind. Better yet, look for one with reinforced grommets on both sides and an elastic hem around the perimeter.
Exceptional breathability. Stay away from 100% waterproof car covers that don’t allow trapped moisture to evaporate. For best results, choose a more “breathable” cover to prevent mold, mildew, and corrosion.

Prevent Tree Sap from Ruining Your Car by Using a Seal Skin Car Cover!

Tree sap is bad news, so avoid it at all cost by using a high-quality Seal-Fit car cover. At Seal Skin Covers, we guarantee that all our products are 100% waterproof yet extremely breathable. Our products are backed with a full 30-day return and exchange warranty at no additional cost so you can be sure that you’ll get the best value for your money.

Do you want to ask some questions about our products, exchange, and refund policies before making a purchase? We’d love to hear from you, so please feel free to call us at 800-915-0038 during our office hours (Monday to Sunday, 9 AM to Midnight EST). We will help you find the right car cover, so give us a call today!