Despite being relatively easy to produce, tree sap can be a nuisance for anyone who gets it on their clothes. Whether you have been out hiking, camping or even just cutting the lawn, the sap is a remarkably effective substance for attaching itself to the fabric. Unfortunately, it cannot simply be erased like muddy dirt or a grass stain. But don’t worry! Read on to learn How to Get Tree Sap Out of Clothes using items you probably have at home and easy steps.
In this blog post, we will look at how to clean sap out of clothes, avoid such incidents in the future, and several other useful tips on successful staining removal. Let’s dive in!
Why Tree Sap is Difficult to Remove
And now let’s dive into the solutions section, and before that, let’s have a brief about why tree sap is so difficult to remove. Tree sap is called the sap when it is protected in the tree trunk and as soon as it is exposed to the air it becomes sticky. Once, gets on the fabric, it crystallizes and this makes it nearly impossible to remove from the fabric.
This is because sap is resin in nature and hence does not respond well to traditional rinsing with water. For that, you will require materials that cannot only interact chemically with the sticky resin but also be capable of freeing it up off the fabrics.
The Top Methods for Removing Tree Sap from Clothes
1. Rubbing Alcohol or Hand Sanitizer
Rubbing alcohol or hand sanitizer can successfully remove tree sap from clothes. Both products have alcohol in their composition, which facilitates a solvent to dissolve the resin.
Instructions:
- Put then the affected area on a flat area and begin cleaning gently.
- Apply a small amount of rubbing alcohol or hand sanitizer to the stain.
- Take a clean cloth, moisten it with alcohol, and wipe the sap onto the fiber to loosen it.
- After a few minutes, rinse the area with cold water.
- Launder as usual.
Why It Works: Alcohol breaks down the sap, making it easy to lift away from the fabric without damaging your clothes.
2. Peanut Butter
Can you believe, for instance, that peanut butter can help you remove sap from your clothes – and it’s not a joke! But, people continue to say that any type of oil from the peanut butter you eat can loosen the sap because WD-40 contains it.
Instructions:
- Pour a very little peanut butter on the sap-stain part of the clothes.
- . Using fingers or a piece of cloth spread the peanut butter into the sap.
- Allow it to stand for some time then wipe off with a damp cloth.
- You’ve got to wash the garment to eliminate the stains that come with peanut butter.
Why It Works: Peanut butter contains natural oils that break down the sticky resin, making it easier to remove.
3. Freeze the Sap
Another approach on How to Get Tree Sap Out of Clothes is to freeze the sap. In this way, the sap freezes and can be easily scraped off when the time comes.
Instructions:
- Put on your garment a plastic bag and freeze the garment for an hour or until the sap becomes solid.
- After this, the sap is frozen and can be removed with a blunt knife or a spoon
- After scraping off the sap and removing the hardened sap, use rubbing alcohol to clean the remainder of the sap. Sap hardens.
- Wash the garment normally.
Why It Works: Freezing hardens the sap, making it brittle and easy to break off without spreading it further into the fabric.
4. Use a Commercial Stain Remover
For those of you who are unable to remove a specific sap stain, you may have to use a commercial stain remover. These products have been specifically formulated to remove tough nutrients like sap from trees.
Instructions:
- Apply the stain remover directly to the sap.
- Allow it to stand for about 15- 20 minutes to help the product do its job.
- Soft scrub with soft bristles brush.
- Wash off and wash again in normal soapy water.
Why It Works: They make use of strong agents that get into the fabric and dissolve the components of the sap.
5. WD-40
WD-40 is not just the product they use to lubricate doors that are making noises—it can also be used to take sap off trees. The oils present in WD-40 enable them to break the sticky resin on fabrics.
Instructions:
- Dip a rag into a small quantity of WD- 40, and rub the affected area.
- Allow it to stand for say five minutes so that you have a better chance of breaking it down.
- Apply a cloth or sponge to remove the liquid as it will lift the sap from the material it is made from.
- Rinse the garment with water as you usually rinse your clothes
Why It Works: WD-40’s lubricant base dissolves the sap, allowing it to be lifted easily from the fibers.
How to Prevent Sap from Staining Clothes
Even so, it can be just as constructive to learn How to Get Tree Sap Out of Clothes in the first place. Here are a few tips to help you avoid sap stains:
- Wear protective clothing: If trees are around while working, the person should wear old clothes or protective clothing that they do not mind getting stained.
- Be cautious in high-sap areas: Do not rest your back against trees that are capable of leaking sap such as pines or eucalyptus.
- Treat stains quickly: When it comes to sap stains, the longer it stays on the fabric, the harder it is to get rid of.
Interesting Fact: Did You Know?
Here’s an interesting fact about tree sap:
| Tree Type | Amount of Sap Produced (in liters per year) |
| Maple | 40–50 liters |
| Pine | 10–15 liters |
| Birch | 25–30 liters |
Everyone knows about maple sap for making maple syrup, but did you know that people can also tap birch sap for use in making drinks? However, unlike its edible counterparts, sap on your clothes is a nuisance!
Final Tips for How to Get Tree Sap Out of Clothes
- Test Before You Treat: When using any cleaning solution it is wise to use it on a small part of the fabric to test its effect on the color and texture of the material.
- Don’t Rub Too Hard: When washing clothes with sap, you should handle them more gently, as they are delicate. If forceful stroking applies, it can either spread contamination or force it further into the fabric fiber.
- Heat Is Your Enemy: Do not use hot water or a dryer until you have confirmed complete removal of the sap. This makes it hard to wash out and heat can solidify the sap making it a lot worse and harder to clean out.
Conclusion
It might look quite a dicey proposition to try and remove tree sap on clothes, however, it is doable with diligence and effort. Even if you try to remove the spot with rubbing alcohol, peanut butter, or with WD-40 there are many ways to resolve the issue. Please remember because the sap begins to set into the fabric fast one needs to act fast in removing the sap. Now that you know how to get tree sap out of clothes, you can be happy with outdoor activities without any stain stress.
If you consider this guide useful, share it with those people who may need any kind of information about sap removal. However, it is always welcome to drop your comment here below in case you have tested any of these or have other suggestions for how to get tree sap out of clothes.
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