Cleaning Black Tree Pitch Spots?

[Northern.Escape]

We had to have our Escape parked under a birch tree for a while, and it's now covered with a bunch of black pitch or tar spots from the tree. Any tips on the best cleaning product to use to get these off? If I scrub too hard, it seems like some of the white paint is coming off as well.

Thanks!

[Doug & Betty]

I've had good luck using rubbing alcohol on a soft cloth to remove tree pitch. You might have to have the rag fairly wet. It will also remove any wax you've put on so you will need to wax the areas you treat again.

Acetone works too but you DO NOT want to use it on the trailer gel coat!

Good luck, Doug

[escape artist]

Originally Posted by Northern.Escape

We had to have our Escape parked under a birch tree for a while, and it's now covered with a bunch of black pitch or tar spots from the tree. Any tips on the best cleaning product to use to get these off? If I scrub too hard, it seems like some of the white paint is coming off as well.

Thanks!

Hi: Northern.Escape... I've used "Hand sanitizer" on pine sap. We had some that I didn't like the smell of so used it up on the pine drips. Alf
escape artist N.S. of Lake Erie

[Centex]

I've used this with a cheap microfiber towel for years on painted vehicles and my Casita; good results for both tree sap and the occasional road-tar: Turtle Wax Bug & Tar Remover

[HABBERDABBER]

I use naptha for sticky label removal, light solvent use. It is also know as "lighter fluid" . Available at the hardware store. The "big guns" are acetone, as noted. It's so fast evaporating that I'd be surprised it would do any harm to gel coat, but it is a strong solvent. Mineral spirits would likely work too. All will remove waxes.

[AKCamper]

Originally Posted by Northern.Escape

We had to have our Escape parked under a birch tree for a while, and it's now covered with a bunch of black pitch or tar spots from the tree. Any tips on the best cleaning product to use to get these off? If I scrub too hard, it seems like some of the white paint is coming off as well.

Thanks!

I always keep a bottle of gas line antifreeze aka ban-ice, thermo-aide. It is just alcohol. If you keep the pitch wet for a few seconds it rubs right off. I actually never put in my gas.