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Old 08-21-2016, 02:20 PM   #1
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Smile Tree Sap

I'm looking for some help.....We were camping near Victoria BC under some beautiful trees enjoying the warm weather. I didn't think............... it didn't even cross my mind that there may be sap from the trees dripping on my 2015 Escape 21. We arrived home after two weeks and I realized that I had at least 100 drops of tree sap all over the top of the roof.

So.....I was out polishing and waxing this morning trying to remove this sticky stuff. I found car wax and lots of elbow grease seemed to remove most of it however not all of it.

Has anyone run into this issue before and how does one get rid of the sap without damaging the fiberglass roof. As I said car wax works but I can still see the small spot after I am finished.

Solutions anyone?? Thanks in advance. I appreciate the help.
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Old 08-21-2016, 02:44 PM   #2
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Been there and will be again am sure. When the sap has dried using a rag soaked in hot water will soften up the resin. Then the best product I've found is Goof Off in their Pro Strength formula. It specifies on the back as suitable for use on fiberglass. Works great with little effort.
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Old 08-21-2016, 02:55 PM   #3
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I wet a used dryer sheet with Isopropyl Alcohol, comes right off.

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Old 08-21-2016, 02:56 PM   #4
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I always wonder if "professional" means it's more effective or that it just costs more. What I do know is that Goo Gone is ineffective.
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Old 08-21-2016, 02:58 PM   #5
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I've heard reports both pro and con about solvents like Goof Off. Haven't ever tried it on tree sap. For Pine sap, I've always had good results with Turpentine. Of course, you'll have to then wash the trailer and re-wax.
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Old 08-21-2016, 03:02 PM   #6
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Where do you get Isopropyl Alcohol? I looked it up at Rona and Home Depot with no luck.
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Old 08-21-2016, 03:06 PM   #7
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Glen, isopropyl alcohol the stuff you get in there first aid section to use on cuts and scrapes.


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Old 08-21-2016, 03:06 PM   #8
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Where do you get Isopropyl Alcohol? I looked it up at Rona and Home Depot with no luck.
Any drug store.
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Old 08-21-2016, 03:07 PM   #9
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Where do you get Isopropyl Alcohol? I looked it up at Rona and Home Depot with no luck.
Probably called Denatured Alcohol.
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Old 08-21-2016, 03:14 PM   #10
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Where do you get Isopropyl Alcohol? I looked it up at Rona and Home Depot with no luck.
The wife's side of the bathroom vanity.
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Old 08-21-2016, 03:25 PM   #11
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Probably called Denatured Alcohol.
The only thing to watch about that is that denatured just means made so you won't drink it, and may be applied to other alcohols (of which there are several)... usually ethanol.

If you're looking specifically for isopropyl alcohol - also called isopropanol - in a drug store, it will likely be described as "rubbing alcohol", but hand sanitizer is typical alcohol (likely isopropanol) gelled with a lot of water. In an automotive store, gas line antifreeze can be isopropanol (and/or methanol, and/or ethanol...).

It makes to buy it in straight form, but if you already have something like hand sanitizer around, it might make sense to try that on one spot and see if the alcohol is promising.
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Old 08-21-2016, 04:45 PM   #12
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Got a 500 ml bottle of hand sanitizer years ago and it's still full, so I'm in luck, I think.
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Old 08-21-2016, 04:58 PM   #13
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Given that my "handle" is ReagentGrade, I feel compelled to point out that denatured alcohol is ethyl alcohol (drinking alcohol) with added methanol (wood alcohol) and/or other ingredients to make it undrinkable/toxic. In other words, it has been"denatured" or rendered unnatural and therefore undrinkable.

More than you ever wanted to know!


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Old 08-21-2016, 05:11 PM   #14
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Probably called Denatured Alcohol.
No. Different stuff. Much more aggressive. Drug store for isopropyl.
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Old 08-21-2016, 05:35 PM   #15
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I also had a problem with tree sap and "rubbing alcohol" was amazing and it doesn't hurt the finish.
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Old 08-21-2016, 05:39 PM   #16
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Ah hah the dreads pine pitch drips....turtle wax bug and tar remover is what we used on our class c. Effortless and it works
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Old 08-21-2016, 06:03 PM   #17
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Turtle Bug'n'Tar doesn't have any effect on cedar sap that has hardened. Works well on insects and road tar.
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Old 08-21-2016, 08:07 PM   #18
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Turtle Bug'n'Tar doesn't have any effect on cedar sap that has hardened. Works well on insects and road tar.
Not sure on the "hardened" part of cedar sap but it removed the dried and fresh pine pitch on my vehicle just the other day.
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Old 08-21-2016, 08:14 PM   #19
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Peanut butter or butter works well to remove sap from hands though I've never tried it on a painted surface before. It won't strip the wax like all the other solvents will, its bio-degradable, and will make you best buds with the local wildlife.
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Old 08-21-2016, 08:42 PM   #20
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Got a 500 ml bottle of hand sanitizer years ago and it's still full, so I'm in luck, I think.
It might be too diluted, but it's certainly worth trying! If it works, but just not well enough, then full-strength isopropanol would be the logical next step. If it has no effect, then maybe alcohol of any kind won't do it.
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