Tree sap, is there an easy way to remove it?

[rosalan]

As I have begun my annual cleaning, oh Woe! At some past point in time I must have parked close to a tree shedding sap. My van and windows have acquired thousands of tiny spots of what I assume is tree sap. I can ping most of them off with a thumb nail which still leaves greasy remnants and anyway there are rather more than time or my thumb nail can cope with.
Is there an answer?
I have most products for tarting a van up with but none so far seem effective.

 

[Dazzlin]

Angle grinder or a light touch with a chain-saw....

No matter how carefully I park, a sycamore or similar will creep up on the van at least a couple of times a year.

Wax before the event helps, and then apply elbow grease after ..... not found anything easy yet!!!

 

[Speve]

@Charlie will know he’s the expert at that sort of thing.

 

[sylvester1954]

Simply use shampoo and warm water - always works

 

[Spriddler]

My first port of call for sticky residues is WD40 which has always done the trick and won't harm bodywork.

 

[Charlie123]

Depends on what the surface is. If it’s painted then a clay bar with lube will shift is instantly with little effort. Same with glass windows but plastic / composite windows no.
Warm water will help on delicate surfaces.

It really depends on the surface so take care.

 

[trophychap]

Unless it's from lime trees in which case warm or hot water sets it rigid and the only way to remove it is cold water and elbow grease, before you set it.

 

[Jim Schush]

When we had our caravan we used brasso, if that didnt work we had some tar and glue remover. Always managed to remove any stubborn marks.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[two]

I think Sycamore trees are the worst.
Washing-up liquid and hot water gets that off.

 

[DBK]

As I have begun my annual cleaning, oh Woe! At some past point in time I must have parked close to a tree shedding sap. My van and windows have acquired thousands of tiny spots of what I assume is tree sap. I can ping most of them off with a thumb nail which still leaves greasy remnants and anyway there are rather more than time or my thumb nail can cope with.
Is there an answer?
I have most products for tarting a van up with but none so far seem effective.

When I saw the title my first reaction was to say "wear some clothes" when working under trees today.

But we had a narrow escape earlier this week. In southern Spain we pulled up to a junction beside one of the many greenhouses. There were two blokes on the roof with a hosepipe spraying white shading - and the strong wind was blowing it everywhere.

We waited until they had finished - as our van isn't white.

 

[pappajohn]

I use brake & clutch clean on a cloth but it only works if the sap is soft, then a bit of wax as the cleaner takes it off.
If it's dried hard it needs a few minutes with a hairdrier to soften it first.

 

[Bill and Tracey]

Simples. Just remove a 1 inch collar about 12 inches from the ground and paint the exposed wood with round up weed killer. Next year will see your van sap free. And the garden will be sapling free which keep her indoors happy. Obviously all this was overheard in the pub. Wouldn't catch me doing this.....

 

[CazPaul]

I wouldn't use Brasso anywhere near my van in any circumstances

 

[TinaLes]

As @Charlie has said, be very careful on plastic windows, no solvent based stuff, or anything abrasive as you will damage the surface. Keep going with warm soapy water and a soft microfiber cloth. You can buy plastic window cleaner stuff from caravan supply places, comes pre -mixed in a trigger bottle which is the proper stuff to use, if the warm soapy water does not shift it, try that.
Good luck, you should be OK with some patience and elbow grease.
Les

 

[rosalan]

My first port of call for sticky residues is WD40 which has always done the trick and won't harm bodywork.

I will try this, although at some cost, for I have become allergic to WD40 so will try it wearing gloves

 

[two]

When I saw the title my first reaction was to say "wear some clothes" when working under trees today.

But we had a narrow escape earlier this week. In southern Spain we pulled up to a junction beside one of the many greenhouses. There were two blokes on the roof with a hosepipe spraying white shading - and the strong wind was blowing it everywhere.

We waited until they had finished - as our van isn't white.

Staying at CC Crystal Palace site (in the days before motorhomes) the car and van became covered in white spots. It transpired that the television mast was being painted at the time and someone had dropped a pot of paint. The paint was swiftly removed by some of the workers.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[tuscancouple]

Suffered big time one year, solution was alcohol . Used alcohol wipes and the alcohol hand cleanser, worked a treat. Polished after as the alcohol will remove the polish.

Mick

 

[two]

Suffered big time one year, solution was alcohol . Used alcohol wipes and the alcohol hand cleanser, worked a treat. Polished after as the alcohol will remove the polish.

Mick

I prefer to drink it.
But, if you must, Red or White?

 

[pappajohn]

Just remove a 1 inch collar about 12 inches from the ground and paint the exposed wood with round up weed killer.

So that's why that crap doesn't work on my weeds.....I'm not "ringing" them first.

 

[Charlie123]

I use brake & clutch clean on a cloth but it only works if the sap is soft, then a bit of wax as the cleaner takes it off.
If it's dried hard it needs a few minutes with a hairdrier to soften it first.

Please don’t put that stuff on the surfaces of you vehicles...

Another option is good old G101. This is one hell of a product. It’s cheap cheerful and hugely effective.

Tesco do an APC called Daisy which is nearly as good.

It goes without saying waxed areas will need re waxing.