How to Remove Tree Sap From Your Car

Trees produce great protection from the hot and damaging rays of the sun until you get their sap on your car and then they are somewhat of a nuisance. I know it is easy to forget about the sap that has so nicely been deposited on your hood or roof, but you should remove it as soon as possible. The longer it stays stuck on your car the harder it will be to remove. Also over time it can damage your clear coat that protects your paint. Tree sap is not hard to remove; however it does require some simple preparation and tools.

Start with the proper tools. While you will find several how to's that will tell you it is OK to use nail polish, paint thinner or various other household chemicals to remove tree sap from your car, don't! These chemicals will remove the sap; however, they can also damage your vehicle. We recommend you use either a citrus-based degreaser or paint safe solvent. Citrus-based degreasers are easier to find however they will take a little more elbow grease to get the sap off. There are several paint safe solvents that you can find in the detailing section of your local store which require a little less work to use. Which ever you choose follow the directions on the package.

Once you have decided on a cleaning agent it is time to prep and remove the sap from your vehicle. Be sure to pre-rinse the area being treated to avoid scratching your surface with surrounding debris or dirt. It is a great idea to wash your entire car, remove the sap and then wax your car as you normally would. Always use a clean applicator that is free of dirt. Paper towel, cloth towel, or microfiber will work. Apply the solvent to the applicator and rub the sap in a circular motion. If the sap has been there for a long time and is very hard it may take a little time for solvent to rehydrate and dissolve the sap. Take care when you are rubbing the sap that you don't over apply pressure to the paint and leave scratches on your surface. It may take a couple of applications but the sap will wipe right off.

Even though you may take extra precaution to keep from damaging the clear coat of your vehicle, sometimes it is inevitable. This could be because of the type of sap, length of exposure, and area of the country. If the areas that were treated for sap have signs of marring then please follow instructions for how to properly compound and polish your car.

Now that you have removed the sap from your car you should finish by waxing. At the very least you should wax the areas that were treated with the solvent but now is a great time to wash and wax your entire car. If you are unsure of how to wax your car, read over our previous article how to hand wax your car.

Read more about this at on our detailing blog at Gainesville Detailing for this and other helpful tips on how to take care of your vehicle.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/7451775

5 Tips to Help Maintain the Condition (and Value!) of Your Vehicle

1. Stay on top of it - inside and out.

The title of this article should cover this point, next time you get into your car have a look around. "How did it get to this?" you might ask. Well it probably started with an empty water bottle you left on the back seat, then your friends left their rubbish from that trip to McDonald's, then the family got their hands on it, or maybe you have kids (in which case I do not envy the challenge you face regarding this point!).
Most of the rubbish we find in cars could be prevented with a little due diligence, make it habit when you leave your car to have a look around and take any rubbish with you. Write a post-it note and put it on your dash-board and you will be amazed how quickly you see the difference!

• Remove all cantonments asap, this includes bird droppings, tree sap, tar. Get all off these off before they get a chance to bond with the paint, over time they only become harder to remove and will actually cause lasting damage.
• Remove your rubbish!



Turn this into a habit and you will be amazed how quickly your car will improve. No need to get the detailers in yet!


2. Research your car cleaning products.

There is a wealth of information on the internet, and also an abundance of overrated products and advice. This is not to scare you, just to suggest that it is good habit to do further research rather than take one internet forum user's opinion as gospel.

Here is one point of view from Barry Meguiar ( Owner of ' Meguiars ' one of the world's largest car care brands) on the most common pieces of internet advice,

• Do NOT use household dish soap on your car! - "Dishwashing detergent is meant to remove everything from the surface. That includes stripping the polymers off the paint surface... The effect is similar to what dishwashing soap does to your hands. Too much will dry the skin. On the surface of a car, the same thing occurs; dishwashing soap actually accelerates the oxidation process when used regularly."

You generally just need a good soap, window cleaner, bug & tar remover, wax and carpet/upholstery cleaner. Once you have these, you should be all set to keep your car clean to a good standard. Don't be afraid to try new products and you'll soon develop your very own car detailing armoury!

3. Use clean cloths.

Throw that old mangy cloth away right now!
As important as your products are when cleaning your car, your equipment plays just as important (if not more important) a role. You MUST be vigilant with your equipment, if you drop a microfiber towel or cloth on the floor do NOT use it, it will have picked up all sorts of tiny stones etc which will scratch your paint should you use it. You wouldn't take a rock and rub it along your paint would you? So don't use a dirty cloth. If you choose to use a car detailing company, make sure they use fresh microfibers.

With cloths being so cheap nowadays (Target has 6 microfibers for $3.50), there is no excuse for not retiring those dirty ones.

• Use clean, 100% cotton terry towels to apply the majority of your products.
• Use clean microfiber towels for polishing and buffing.
• Use separate cloths for the dirtiest areas of your car (e.g. rim, mudflaps etc).


Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/7390715