First few minutes
Just happened? Do this first
- Scrape off as much sap as you can with a spoon or dull knife.
- Work from the edges toward the center and blot rather than rub.
- Keep ice or cold water on hand to firm up the sap before you lift it.
Tree sap and pine tar are sticky resins, and water alone won't dissolve them, so a regular wash often leaves the spot grimier than before. The stain also grabs more dirt the longer it sits, which is why fresh spots are much easier to handle than old ones. Hardened sap has to be softened before it lifts, and anything that has already been through a wash needs the pretreatment repeated before it goes in the dryer.
Pine tar on a baseball bat or sap on a wood floor needs a light hand, so test a hidden spot before you commit. Painted walls and skylights call for a gentler approach than automotive paint. If the sap has dried into a hard shell, stop and call a pro before you try anything harsh.
6 items
What you'll need
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- Dull knife or spoonLifts hardened sap without cutting or tearing the fabric.
- Ice or a cold packFirms up the sap so it cracks off instead of smearing.
- Dry-cleaning solventBreaks down the sticky resin that water won't touch. (opens Amazon)
- Clean paper towelsAbsorb the loosened sap and solvent; replace them often. (opens Amazon)
- Liquid laundry detergentMakes the soak and washes away the greasy film left behind. (opens Amazon)
- Household ammoniaA few drops in the detergent soak help break up the resin. (opens Amazon)
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6 steps
Step by step
Step 1 of 6
Harden the sap with ice
Hold ice or a cold pack on the sap until it turns brittle, or pour cold water over it. Then crack or scrape off the excess with a dull knife, working gently so the fabric doesn't tear.
Tip. Scrape toward the outer edge of the spot, not across the fabric.
Step 2 of 6
Blot the sap with solvent
Lay the item stain side down on a stack of clean paper towels. Sponge the spot from the back with dry-cleaning solvent, blot with a fresh towel, and let it air-dry. The solvent breaks down the sticky part so the soak can finish the job.
Tip. Dampen the sponge rather than soaking the fabric.
Careful. Dry-cleaning solvent is flammable, so use it in a ventilated room away from flames and pilot lights.
Step 3 of 6
Soak in detergent and ammonia
Mix 1 cup liquid laundry detergent with a few drops of ammonia in enough water to cover the item, then soak it for at least 30 minutes. Work the mix into the spot with your fingers before it sits so it reaches the resin.
Tip. Keep the spot submerged so the mix stays in contact with the sap.
Careful. Never add chlorine bleach to this soak; the mix gives off hazardous fumes.
Step 4 of 6
Rinse out the soak
Rinse the item thoroughly under running water, starting from the back of the spot so the loosened sap washes out and not deeper into the fabric. Keep rinsing until no soap feels slippery in the fabric.
Step 5 of 6
Launder in the hottest safe water
Wash the item with liquid laundry detergent in the hottest water the care label allows. Hot water helps with tar and tree sap, so use the hottest setting the label permits.
Tip. Wash it alone the first time so loosened sap doesn't land on other clothes.
Step 6 of 6
Check before the dryer
Look at the spot in good light after the wash, and feel for any tackiness. If sap or a dark ring is still there, repeat the solvent blot and the soak before anything goes in the dryer.
Careful. Keep the item out of the dryer until the sap is completely gone.
If you'd rather buy than mix
Best products for tree sap
A prewash stain remover can stand in for the dry-cleaning solvent in the second step, and a liquid laundry detergent does the soak.
Goo Gone Goo & Adhesive Remover Spray Gel
Goo Gone Original Adhesive Remover
How we picked these: each product is made for this type of stain, its maker doesn't warn against using it on these surfaces, and its directions fit the steps above.
Finished the steps? How does it look?
Nice work. Let it dry completely and check it again in good light. Here is what done looks like:
How to tell it's really gone →A faint mark usually needs one more round, not a stronger product.
See what to do for what you're seeing →If the stain was already dried or set, the method changes.
Old, dried or set-in stains →When to call a professional →Pick what it is on
Tree Sap on every material
No match. Try the main search for anything else.
How to tell it's working
The spot should look flat and feel smooth, not tacky, when you touch it after the wash. If it still shines or grabs at your fingertip, the sap is still there, so repeat the solvent blot and soak before drying.
What changes for yours
Adjust for where the stain is
Pine pitch and pine tar
Pine pitch is thicker than fresh sap, so give it more time. Let the solvent air-dry fully before the ammonia soak, so the mix reaches the resin itself.
Pine tar is partly oily, so work the detergent into the spot with your fingers and scrub it with hot water before the wash. If a dark ring remains after the wash, repeat the solvent blot on that spot before you dry the item.
Wood and hardwood floors
Ice and scraping work on a floor the same as on fabric, so start there. Test dry-cleaning solvent on a hidden spot of the finish, then dab a little on a cloth and rub only the sap spot.
Blot with a dry cloth as you go, and keep liquid off the seams and edges, because it can seep into them. If the finish looks dull or soft after it dries, stop and have a flooring professional look at it.
Skylights and painted walls
Harden the sap with ice and scrape it with a dull knife, taking care not to scratch the glass or the paint. Test dry-cleaning solvent on a hidden spot first, then blot the sap instead of rubbing, since rubbing can dull the paint.
Don't use baking soda on a flat or matte painted wall, because hard scrubbing will mark it. Keep oxygen bleach away from painted surfaces, and keep solvent off the skylight seals.
Automotive paint
Harden the sap with ice and lift it with a dull knife, working lightly on the finish. Test dry-cleaning solvent on an inconspicuous panel first, and blot the spot rather than rubbing it.
Skip any dish soap step, since dish soap can damage car paint. Once the sap is gone, rinse the panel with clean water and dry it with a soft cloth. For more on finishes, the Car Paint & Exterior guide goes deeper.
Leather car seats and interiors
Leather can't take rubbing alcohol, so skip that option entirely. Harden the sap with ice and scrape it with a dull knife, going slowly so you don't mark the grain.
Test dry-cleaning solvent on a hidden seam first, and blot the spot only if the test shows no change in color or finish. If it does change, stop and see a professional. Wipe the area with a clean, barely damp cloth afterward and let it dry fully.
Wool clothing
Wool can't take the hot wash or the ammonia soak, so skip both. Oxygen bleach stays off too. Harden the sap with ice, scrape it, then blot it with dry-cleaning solvent on paper towels, changing towels often.
Rinse in cool water and let the item dry flat, away from heat. If the sap is still there after one pass, take the wool to a dry cleaner rather than trying a stronger treatment at home.
Old, dried or set-in stains
Old sap that has hardened for weeks needs more than the basic soak. Dampen a cloth with rubbing alcohol, vegetable shortening or petroleum jelly, rub the spot, wipe it off, then wash the greasy film away with soap and water. Test the alcohol on a hidden spot first, and keep it off leather.
If the stain still shows after the soak, apply dry-cleaning solvent under a pad, then dab in the spotting mix, tamping every 5 minutes. Change the pad as it takes up sap so the stain doesn't spread back onto the fabric.
A baseball bat's pine tar grip is the same stain, so the rubbing alcohol step works on the handle, and a hidden spot of the barrel tests the alcohol first. On vinyl, aluminum and painted metal, keep the scrubbing light and skip baking soda.
Sap that was heat-set in a dryer may only lighten, so repeat the spotting and the soak before you accept a faint mark. For car glass, the Car Windows & Windshield guide covers glass in more detail.
Vinegar, baking soda, peroxide and more
Do home remedies work on tree sap?
Most kitchen remedies fail on sap because water alone doesn't dissolve it. A solvent and an ammonia detergent soak are the options that actually break sap down.
Helps1Skip5
Chemical safety
Never mix these
Some products in this guide react dangerously with each other. Use them one at a time and rinse with water in between.
Ammonia + Rubbing alcohol
The ammonia maker's safety sheet says not to mix ammonia with other household chemicals.
If they mix by accident: Don't use the mixture; ventilate the room and avoid breathing fumes or touching it; call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222 for disposal advice or if anyone feels unwell.
What makes it worse
Mistakes to avoid
Don't use gasoline or lighter fluid
They seem like they'd cut sap faster, but both are flammable and their fumes are hazardous indoors. Stick with dry-cleaning solvent and the soak, which lift the stain without the fire risk.
Don't skip the test on finishes
Paint, leather, sealed wood and dyed fabric can all change under solvent or alcohol. A hidden-spot test takes a minute and tells you whether the finish can take the treatment.
Don't check a damp spot by drying it
Drying the item to see if the sap is gone sets whatever is left. Check by sight and touch while it's still wet, then decide whether to repeat the steps.
Troubleshooting
If the stain is still there
Pick what you're seeing:
The sap keeps spreading
You are rubbing or using too much solvent. Switch to a fresh paper towel, use less, and blot from the outside in.
A greasy mark remains after softening
That is leftover shortening or petroleum jelly. Wash it away with soap and water before drying.
The spot looks dark gray
Sap has bound dirt to the fabric. Repeat the solvent step, then pretreat with liquid detergent before washing.
When to call a professional
If the item is leather, a delicate wool, or too large to soak, a dry cleaner is the safer choice. Tell them it's tree sap or pine tar before they start, so they treat it before any heat is applied.
Questions
Does pine tar come out of clothes?
Yes, most pine tar comes out of washable clothes with the steps above. Harden it, blot it with dry-cleaning solvent, then soak and wash in the hottest water the fabric allows. A stain that went through the dryer may need a second round.
Can I use a hair dryer to soften sap?
No, heat sets sap into the fabric and makes it harder to lift. Harden it with ice or cold water instead, then crack or scrape off the excess.
How do I get old tree sap out of a car?
Old sap is harder to lift, but it's still worth trying. Harden it with ice, then use the set-in treatment after the first soak, and expect a faint mark on some finishes.
Can I get pine tar off a baseball bat?
Yes, the pine tar grip can be lifted with the rubbing alcohol treatment. Test the alcohol on a hidden spot first, and go gently on the finish.
Will tree sap come out of car paint?
It can, if you act soon and keep the work gentle. Harden the sap with ice, test dry-cleaning solvent on a hidden panel spot, then blot without rubbing.
Is solvent safe on leather car seats?
Only after a test on a hidden seam. Leather can't take rubbing alcohol, so skip that option and harden the sap with ice before scraping it. If the test shows any change in color or finish, stop and see a professional.
Does wool need different steps?
Yes. Skip the ammonia soak and the hot wash, and rinse in cool water after the solvent blot. If sap is still there, a dry cleaner is the safer choice than a stronger treatment at home.
Related
How we know this
Every method, amount and warning here comes from university extension services, industry bodies and product makers. We read them, check every step for unsafe combinations and changed amounts, and write it up so you can follow it.