Wow. I was able to get rid of a boatload of tree sap that's been on the car more than a year in just 20 minutes. This is the real deal. Thanks for posting!!!!!
I had tree sap specs TOTALLY covering the hood & upward facing areas on my truck from the tree over my driveway. It was unbelievable how easy acetone got them off. THANKS!
AWESOME! if i might add a detail: its not rubbing that gets the sap off, but the solvent effect of the acetone. I just used this to take off there + month old sap from pine trees. Took half an hour, the car was COVERED. But half an hour for a Kia Soul covered in pine sap, dried on? VERY nice, thank you!
Thanks for the video I just got a new lexus darker grey and had sap on it baked by sun cleaned when i returned home but it left a shadow of the mark. what do you think will remove that shadow?
Thank You. I had that large ugly mark on top of my Odyssey for few years. Tried all kind of “SAFE” methods without any success. I kind of learned to live with it, but it was always bothering me when washing the vehicle. Having chemical background I always thought about trying acetone, but was afraid of damaging the paint. Today after reading this post and a beer, tried with magical success. Acetone works like a charm and evaporates instantly. To be on safe site wiped the area with wet rug and whole thing took just seconds.
Thank you so much just bought my 3rd car first car I’m proud of and I have to park under 2 enormous trees and I just went out to wash it and found tree sap all over the place
I parked under a tree and got literally HUNDREDS of those on my bonnet and roof. Washed them off but they all remain visible as if they are some kind of dull water spots now. I've tried various sap removers and IPA with no success and at this point it worries me if it actually damaged the clear coat. Do you think using acetone all over the car would be safe for paint? It's a black, metallic paint.
Oh my god I tried everything EXCEPT this. Somebody even recommended table top oil. And that even sort of kinda worked actually. Only on some really dried out sap. Okay, thank you sir you are a lifesaver ! My FJ will appretiate xD
I had tree sap stuck on my BMW for 3 years. I tried washing with car shampoo. The tree sap was stuck on the paint really hard. One day, I thought, "I wash pots in my kitchen all the time by pre-soaking the pots with dish soap. Why not try dish soap on the tree sap on my BMW's driver side door." So I took a cereal bowl, put a few drops of Dawn dish soap, and added a few drops of water, in the cereal bowl, then I got a couple of toilet paper and soaked the toilet paper in the dish soap and water mixture. Then I took the dish soap soaked toilet paper and slapped it on the side door of my BMW. I then left the dish soap soaked tissue paper there for 2 days on my BMW which was parked in my garage. Two days later, I took the tissue paper off and did the Dame thing with another two pieces of tissue paper soaked with Dawn dish soap with a little water. After another two days, I really removed the tissue paper, and gently use a wet toilet paper to rub against the tree sap spot on my car. The tree sap had turned soft drop the dish soap solution and I could wipe the tree sap off the car door. The dish soap and water soaking method using tissue paper worked! The BMW dealership washes my car each time when I bring the car for servicing had told me they tried to wash off the tree sap but wasn't successful and suggested I take my car to a car detailing shop. But my simple method worked. The dish soap and tissue paper method is a gentle method and shouldn't hurt the clear coat of the car paint job.
Great video. Thank you. I have 2 questions about the acetone use for sap removal. What is the “proper use” you stated near the end of the video? Also, will i need to do anything after treating, like re wax or rinse/wash the vehicle? Thank you
I say “if used properly” because people sometimes take my advice and do the opposite. It is wise to apply a wax after the process since the acetone removes oils and waxes
isopropyl alcohol. walgreens or any drug store, grocery store, big box store. you can literally buy it anywhere. I have mine diluted to 20% IPA to use as prep for ceramic coatings but it works good for bugs. Straight IPA can be hard on paint. just buy some and mix it with distilled water in a spray bottle and keep on hand for sap and bugs. Cheap and works great.@@midwestguy3361
The proper product to use on rust stains would be an iron remover/decon spray. May be hard to find locally. You can also try an acidic wheel cleaner. But if you have some rubbing compound, you can remove it from paint by hand with a little work
Wow! Thanks. yup it worked and easy. I've tried over the counter stuff and nothing works especially if hardened on after a few months. Never would have thought thinking it will harm surface. Caveat: Only use on metal and glass of car as it could eat through other materials. As always, try on small inconspicuous place if possible, but it did not discolor or mark black clearcoat so seems safe. side note: Love Vee-hea-kel .. guy is cross between michael chiklis and rick from pawn stars.
Ok I'll have to try this. I've been using hand sanitizer since it has 100% alcohol. Comes off rite away but the problem is it leaves a dry stain from it eating the clear coat I assume. So I would go over it with spray wax. The acetone I will try
the wind blew so hard yesterday with all the rain wind and tornadoes i found my car with leaves and tree sap. thanks. i am looking to get that sap removed. asap.
I don’t do boats, but I’ve read it is safe on gel coat. I’ve used it on unpainted fiberglass RV’s with no issues. Never a problem with long term issues. 90% of the cars I detail, have sap or a scuff somewhere (I have a couple videos on how to remove scuffs and paint transfer). Ive used acetone daily for the last 20 years
Just so everyone is aware. Acetone is paint remover. It will mess with the clear coat. Just an fwi better off heating it up with a lighter for a couple seconds and wiping it.
I tried this and it didn’t work unfortunately. I think I’m working with tree sap but it seems like it’s been there for a long time. It’s almost flat to the paint surface. Any other fixes? Or am I dealing with something entirely different
Probably had been there awhile and now etched into the clear. My process would be start with a cleaner wax. If that doesn’t get it, get my polisher out and try a polish or compound. If all else fails, a careful, light wet sand with some 1500 grit and polish
It may work like a charm. but according to info on the internet/google.. Acetone contains chemicals that that can harm your car paint. look it up. I'll try a safer method.
@maxj3828 if only you knew how many times I’ve used acetone on car paint. It’s one of the most common products used in detailing, paint and bodyshops. I’ve done this for 20 years. How long do you think I’d be in business if all I do is ruin paint on a daily basis. But trust google and not what you saw on video. I get paid pretty good by people that have used a “safer method“
The young folk of today ! All Google does is amplify the signal, it does not change the signale to noise ratio AT ALL ! I'd trust an expert ANY DAY over Google - thankyou for bringing your experience to the topic
Took my corolla to a "reputable" detailing service for tree sap like this and went to pick it up and they had razor scrapped my hood and used Ether. The ether then bubbled my paint and ruined my whole hood. Absolute nightmare.
Hi I watched your video and used your technique on my brand car several days ago….it has left a residual residue and swirl pattern that looks like scratches even after multiples rains……I am not happy 😢
Meguiars ultimate compound and ultimate polish. You can start with the polish. If that doesn’t work, try compound then polish. You can use a dab on a microfiber towel and your finger. Meguiars is available at any auto parts store and Walmart
Wouldn’t that ruin the paint on your car??? I am familiar with acetone and isopropyl alcohol due to working in aerospace manufacturing, and I know that acetone is almost like a thinner. It cuts through oils much more than isopropyl alcohol.
