WOODCLIFF LAKE, NJ — A writer for cars.com put together a step-by-step process for removing tree sap from a vehicle’s paint and windows.
The Nov. 20 blog stated that sap will not immediately damage a car’s paint, but it should not be ignored. The sap can etch through the clear coat causing discoloring and staining.
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“The concentration of sap generally varies, so it is difficult to say what the short-term effects would be, but it will certainly cause paint damage if left untreated for a longer period of time,” Leonard Raykinsteen, a paint material engineer at Nissan, said in the story. “If sap is detected on a vehicle's paint finish, it should be removed in a timely manner. How soon? I don't think anyone can truly define it because it depends on the concentration of the sap as well as the weather conditions. Generally, when it is hot, the effects of tree sap are accelerated.”
The writer’s six steps included: Washing and drying the vehicle, pouring sap remover or rubbing alcohol onto a washcloth, setting the cloth on the sap and letting it sit for at least 30 seconds, rubbing the area until the sap is gone, using a fingernail to remove stubborn sap and spraying quick wax on the area.
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A sharp box cutter blade can also be used to remove sap from glass, according to the blog.
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