Go Navy

My Mercedes appears to have tiny tree sap spots all over the windshield. I haven't been driving behind trucks, on gravel roads, or in sandstorms.

The tree sap has kinda hardened up and Windex won't take it off; neither will the commercial car wash 'cause I tried it.

Can anyone recommend something that will clean off tree sap from the glass, and won't eat holes in my car or my hands?

Richard2011

Try a clay bar kit.

global33

Nail polish remover on a cotton ball. No worries about damaging the windshield unless you use a brillo pad or something else extreme. Just follow up with a good automotive glass cleaner.

Carsy

Petroleum products should dissolve tree sap.

MDMercedesGuy

Actually, one of the tricks I learned detailing cars at a Saturn dealer in college was the usefulness of a razor blade.

Get yourself a good window cleaner - preferably a foaming one like Zep 40 or the like and spray the windshield down. Take a new single edged razor blade and lay it at an angle to the windshield - say 45 degrees or so. With little to no pressure, move it back and forth over the sap or other stuff on the windshield and it will come right off without scratching. It's important to not put pressure into the windshield with this method though, as you can gouge the glass if you get crazy.

I blade my windshield every other wash or so - you'd be amazed at the crap that sticks to it that even a window cleaning clay bar won't touch.

Richard2011

Thanks for the tip. Will this clean the area that the wipers don't reach, too? Nothing for me seems to clean the untouched area so that water looks uniform across the whole windshield.

MDMercedesGuy

Yep - it seems to get rid of any buildup. Just go very slow, don't be afraid to use 2 or 3 blades, and use a lot of cleaner. If you drop a blade, grab another one - you don't want any nicks in the blade to scratch your window.

RDVT4ME

If you have a window cleaner with ammonia in it, try this. Soak part of a cloth with it and then sit it on the sap for about 15 minutes. Should loosen things up pretty well.

chrisff521

When I had tree sap all over my car this year I was scared to use alcohol so I tried turtle wax bug and tar remover and it immediately removes the sap and leaves the paint slick and smooth. You should try it out.

dennish

Stoner TARMINATOR Bug and Tar Remover $5.99...by the maker of Invisible Glass

Go Navy

Chrisff: did you use it on the glass? If not, what did you use on the glass?

Thanks.....

Carsy

Tar remover is petroleum based . Why pay retail prices when basic kero petrol or turps will soften the resin. Google is you friend.

chrisff521

Yes on the glass and paint. Just sprayed, let it soak and then wipe it right off