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DetailingDude
Guest
One day a Black BMW 740il came into my detail shop covered in tree sap and I decided to try an old wives trick: Margarine!!
When I was little and I came home with my hands covered in tree sap from climbing trees my mom would run to the 'fridge and grab the margarine and put some in my hands. I had to rub it on the tree sap and let it sit for a few seconds and then it would free up the tree sap.
So rather than try something harsh and risk scratching the black paint I put some margarine on it, and went and did some work on a few other cars and in about 45 mins I went back and the tree sap came off quite easily and there was no damage to the paint at all! THANKS MOM!!
Tree sap is a resin and can do a deep bonding with your paint so I don't suggest you use any force to remove it because the grit in it can deeply scour your paint. Also, use a microfiber towel when you are removing the margarine/tree sap!
Why it works
Margarine is a non-polar substance. So, it doesn't dissolve in water (which is polar). The same goes for sap. You can dissolve any oily substances (ones that are non-polar) in any other non-polar substance. In this case, opposites do not attract, they repel. That's the basis behind waxing your car and why the salad dressing never stays mixed for very long.
When I was little and I came home with my hands covered in tree sap from climbing trees my mom would run to the 'fridge and grab the margarine and put some in my hands. I had to rub it on the tree sap and let it sit for a few seconds and then it would free up the tree sap.
So rather than try something harsh and risk scratching the black paint I put some margarine on it, and went and did some work on a few other cars and in about 45 mins I went back and the tree sap came off quite easily and there was no damage to the paint at all! THANKS MOM!!
Tree sap is a resin and can do a deep bonding with your paint so I don't suggest you use any force to remove it because the grit in it can deeply scour your paint. Also, use a microfiber towel when you are removing the margarine/tree sap!
Why it works
Margarine is a non-polar substance. So, it doesn't dissolve in water (which is polar). The same goes for sap. You can dissolve any oily substances (ones that are non-polar) in any other non-polar substance. In this case, opposites do not attract, they repel. That's the basis behind waxing your car and why the salad dressing never stays mixed for very long.
