How to Get Tree Resin Off Your Clothes (and Everything Else)

Tree sap can get on your clothes, car, shoes, deck furniture, and countless other places where you might not expect it. Here’s how to clean it up.

Use a small amount of alcohol to wash the juice off the car.

Not only is juice on your car annoying, but according to Big’s Mobile Detailing , it can also be bad for your paint and windows. Most importantly, you should try to peel it off as soon as possible, as the heat can further attach the goo to your paint, which can cause even more damage when you finally remove it.

First, consider how long the juice has been in there. If it doesn’t come off easily with normal soap and water, add a drop of rubbing alcohol, leave for 30 seconds, and wipe with a clean cloth. Keep doing this until the juice is gone. The same process works for your windshield, but if the juice is resistant even to alcohol, you will need to use a razor blade to rip it off and then clean the glass as usual.

Put your shoes in the freezer to get rid of tree sap

Juice on the ground quickly becomes juice on your shoes, which is a problem not only for your shoes, but also for any carpets or rugs in your home. To get rid of it, put the shoes in the freezer. According to Backpacker , they should be there for at least two hours. (For small stains, you can also blot them with ice, but this will take a while.) Once the juice has frozen, carefully scrape it off with a butter knife or other hard tool. Then use rubbing alcohol again: apply a little on a cloth or cotton swab to get rid of the stains. You may need to repeat the wipe a few times, but you can wash your shoes as usual when you’re done.

How to clean wood resin from carpets

Blot the stain with rubbing alcohol, but be aware that you may have to rub it with your fingers if it’s deeply embedded in the fibers, according to All Kleen Carpets . Continue blotting it with a paper towel until the stain is gone and wash off with warm water and a clean cloth.

How to remove resin from garden furniture

Removing juice from outdoor furniture depends on what your furniture is made of. If it’s fabric, Lazy Susan Furniture recommends not touching it, but mixing four parts white vinegar with six parts water and soaking the stain to soften it. Do this with a clean rag and press it onto the area for two minutes. Once it is soft, wipe it with a cloth and then use a small amount of laundry soap mixed with warm water to dab it again with cold water and let it air dry.

Rubbing alcohol can be a bit harsh on plastic or rattan furniture, so try applying hand sanitizer or Goo Gone to it instead, but the rest of the process will remain the same.

How to clean Sam’s tree from clothes

You can remove the excess juice with a dull knife or similar tool, then dab the stain with rubbing alcohol or alcohol-based hand sanitizer and blot it. (You can test the fabric first by applying alcohol to the inseam and blotting it with a towel after one to two minutes. If the color starts to bleed, skip the alcohol and go straight to the next step.)

Then take a soft-bristled brush and apply some laundry detergent to the fabric. Wait about five minutes and then wash the item as usual – hot, if your clothes can withstand it. If juice remains after the cycle is complete, repeat the process one more time before putting it in the dryer.