Tree Sap on Windshield
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From: Northern Taxifornia
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Tree Sap on Windshield
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?
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?
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Joined: Jul 2007
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From: Germantown, MD/Rehoboth Beach, DE
2024 GLS450
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.
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.
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From: Charlotte, NC
2015 BMW M235i 6MT
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.
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.
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Joined: Jul 2007
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From: Germantown, MD/Rehoboth Beach, DE
2024 GLS450
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.
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Joined: May 2006
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From: Yorba Linda, Ca
2006 C230 Sport Sedan
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.
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Joined: Apr 2013
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2003 E500
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.
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From: Northern Taxifornia
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Thanks.....
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From: 1 hours drive north of Sydney Australia
2007 W204 220CDI Classic Sedan
Tar remover is petroleum based . Why pay retail prices when basic kero petrol or turps will soften the resin. Google is you friend.
