How do remove SAP from fiberglass

[JimHol58]

I'm looking for suggestions on how and what to use to remove sap from my trailer?

 

[sunrisetrucker]

I'm looking for suggestions on how and what to use to remove sap from my trailer?

Rubbing alcohol also called isopropyl alcohol works wonders.

 

[J Mac]

Try Coca Cola.

 

[escape artist]

I'm looking for suggestions on how and what to use to remove sap from my trailer?

Hi: JimHol58... I had good luck removing white pine gum with hand sanitizer from my Frontier!!! Alf
escape artist N.S. of Lake Erie

 

[rjbny]

Rubbing alcohol also called isopropyl alcohol works wonders.

We're facing a similar sap cleanup after 7 weeks in the ADK's. I asked ETI about rubbing alcohol on gel coat and the solar panel. Here is their answer:

"The solar panel is glass, so rubbing alcohol will not hurt it or the gelcoat."

 

[davescape]

Butter or Peanut Butter

 

[Fox hunt]

we use peanut butter or cooking oil to get sap off horses.

 

[Donna D.]

Pretty much anything greasy will remove sap. Mayonnaise, bacon grease, butter, peanut butter, cooking oil, etc. Might want to avoid it in bear country though ;D

 

[padlin]

I have good luck with rubbing alcohol.

 

[rjbny]

I have good luck with rubbing alcohol.

When we cleaned the sap off the Highlander, I was using rubbing alcohol and my son started with butter. We both ended up using the rubbing alcohol. I asked ETI about it because I didn't want to damage the gel coat.

 

[AKCamper]

As a retired mechanic and car buff I can say the best solution is alcohol. Tree sap is an alcohol base (i.e. wood alcohol). Anyway I have always had excellent results with good old gas line antifreeze (alcohol). Just pour some on a paper towel and the stuff just melts away. If your worried about the finish just rinse it off. I have never had it hurt an automotive finish, even though I think it warned against getting it on paint. It is cheap and readily available (at least here in Alaska). Hmmm it may not be available in an Arizona parts house.

 

[Ruthe]

Cleaning hardened on something on the top of our 19

We have neglected cleaning our trailer for longer than I care to admit. So this morning we started and I was expecting dirt on top, but nothing like what we found. My husband thought maybe it was sap, so I found this link and I tried alcohol and some olive oil and they did nothing. Putting a wet towel saturated with some detergent helped some but it's really hard to remove -- whatever it is. Any advice?

 

[sunrisetrucker]

We have neglected cleaning our trailer for longer than I care to admit. So this morning we started and I was expecting dirt on top, but nothing like what we found. My husband thought maybe it was sap, so I found this link and I tried alcohol and some olive oil and they did nothing. Putting a wet towel saturated with some detergent helped some but it's really hard to remove -- whatever it is. Any advice?

That's not any kind of sap I have ever seen.

 

[Ron in BC]

Whatever it is it looks like it's just sitting on the gelcoat and not very firmly bonded.

It looks like some of the blobs have just popped off, maybe with some help from you.

I use 3 different things for unwanted debris on the gelcoat.

1. Tar and sap remover used in conjunction with a plastic scraper (or my fingernail )

2. Varsol which works very well for things like tar.

3. Acetone which is a pretty good solvent and would probably make the problem go away. Contrary to many comments wiping with acetone will not harm the gelcoat. But it's good to rewax any area that you've wiped with acetone.

Good luck

Ron

 

[Iowa Dave]

Have you tried hot water with a good car was soap like Meguiars Gold? Scrub with a car wash mitt.
Iowa Dave

 

[occer]

Pretty much anything greasy will remove sap. Mayonnaise, bacon grease, butter, peanut butter, cooking oil, etc. Might want to avoid it in bear country though ;D

 

[Donna D.]

I've had good luck removing sap using mayonnaise and creamy peanut butter. Two different times, obviously. BUT, you have to leave it to 'work' and it must stay damp. Leave it for an hour or more and then using a non-serrated plastic knife or spoon and scrape at it.

 

[occer]

Probably a lot of elbow grease.

I always start with the least caustic none flammable safe for your skin stuff.
I would try Old fashion Johnson’s baby oil. Soak a rag with the baby oil and let sit on the area. Baby oil will not go rancid if you don’t get it completely washed off like vegetable oil would.


It looks like mold that I’ve seen on some vehicle that have sat for years without cleaning

 

[Iowa Dave]

Maybe slather strawberry jam on the sap and go away for a couple days. Come back to a clean trailer?
Yes I know the strength of bears. It’s considerable less than a 25-06.
Iowa Dave

 

[Ruthe]

Whatever it is it looks like it's just sitting on the gelcoat and not very firmly bonded.

It looks like some of the blobs have just popped off, maybe with some help from you.

Thanks Ron. It seems pretty bonded to me. I worked on one small area -- maybe less than two feet square -- for about half an hour and got some up but I needed a lot of elbow grease