Stupid pine trees!

[kingpepsisgirl]

I purposely park away from these bad boys, and yet, somehow....I got sap on the soft top. I'm LIVID! I'm quite used to getting sap on cars, and it isn't the normal clumpy drippy type mess. We are thinking with the last few strong storms that blew through it just over sprayed from a nearby tree. They honestly just look like water spots, but after sniffing it, it's clearly sap.

I did a search on here and all the sap convos are about getting it off paint. I wish that was my issue as I can get rid of that...but how do you go about getting rid of it on the soft top? I don't want to use anything on it for fear it may stain or bleach, but am afraid that water and using a soft nail type brush won't be enough. It's bad enough the previous owner put the top down when it wasn't dry and I have whitish crease lines, but this is driving me bonkers. My poor car!

[Volkswoman]

Is your soft top vinyl or canvas? Either one is a pain in the arse for removing sap. Strong cleaners containing chemicals like or alcohol are very damaging to convertible tops. I . When faced with this sort of mess, I will usually use a citrus based cleaner like Disolvit or Goo Gone to loosen the goo or if it has hardened it will lossen it without causing damage. Go to your auto parts store and peruse the converitble top cleaners. There shoud be a few to choose one. I also scotch guard cnavas tops once they are cleaned.

[kingpepsisgirl]

It's canvas. I'm just really bummed about it. Should I try to get as much off before wetting it? When I was inspecting it, I lightly scratched it (it's dried out) and it started coming off. I'm wondering if lightly brushing it with a very soft brush first might help get most of it out before wetting it and getting it gooey, or do you think that would just make it go deeper into the canvas? I have hubby looking into the raggtopp stuff that has been recommended here. In the meantime, I'll look for something at the auto parts store. Thanks.

[Volkswoman]

Sure, you can try to get some out before wetting it. If it has hardened, try to scrape some off. obviously you will not want to scrape with something that will abrade the canvas. Once you get a bit off, then use a good product like Goo Gone or DIsolvit, like i mentioned before. They will remove the stickiness. FInally, you will want to use a good commericial convertible top cleaner. Do post your results so I can see what did or did not work. I have cleaned multiple tops with this problem and this is my usual procedure.

Good Luck!

[kingpepsisgirl]

I will most definitely let you know how I make out. Thanks again for all of your help.

[williamadamsesq]

WAIT! It's easy - use a little alcohol. Scrape the heavier stuff off with a fingernail. I used an alcohol pad I use when checking my blood sugar and it cleaned it right up. No residue. No staining.

[ghostRder1]

Originally Posted by williamadamsesq

WAIT! It's easy - use a little alcohol. Scrape the heavier stuff off with a fingernail. I used an alcohol pad I use when checking my blood sugar and it cleaned it right up. No residue. No staining.

Good tip. Thanks.


kingpepsisgirl.. Welcome to the forum.

[boogety boogety]

Ditto on the alcohol. Just plain old rubbing alcohol will do, that's how got if off my 911 top once upon a time. But do RaggTopp it afterwards...

[Volkswoman]

Excuse me folks, but alcohol will eventually lighten the color on the top. Ask any good professional detail shop if they will use alcohol on the convertible top... NO!

Do not take my word for it. Google Autopia-carcare.com. Scroll down to CLEANING PRODUCTS FOR YOUR CONVERTIBLE TOP: "Chemicals you should not use on or near your convertible top include ammonia, bleach, detergent, ALCOHOL and vinegar. Alcohol will dry out fabric and cloud vinyl. Use only products specifically made for cleaning your type of convertible top".

This advice isn't just to sell detail products for companies. I have been professionally detailing cars for 20 years and have a bit of experience with these problems. Some folks may have had success with using alcohol to remove sap, and it probably did work. It will remove just about anything. But I promise you that continued use will lighten the canvas fabric. Nuff said.

Good luck.

[Palafox]

what about ice cubes? it may harden the sap faster

[Maggadog]

If you harden the sap, especially the large drops with ice, most of the drop will come off. I use my fingernail on the leftover residue. Scratch gently and it comes off. Wash the top and the rest will come off.

[boogety boogety]

but alcohol will eventually lighten the color on the top.

continued use will lighten the canvas fabric.

You are absolutely right, but one or two applications over the life of the top (and stop parking under trees that ooze sap!), with RaggTopp follow-up, will not discolor your canvas top. If you use alcohol over and over, then yes, you'll have loss of water repellency and possible color fading (all top materials are dyed).

Sometimes a solution to a minor problem calls for using an otherwise harmful product, that won't harm the item with judicious use. If it's below the threshhold of damage, by all means use it (think BoTox). Remember, the OP is only looking for a quick solution to a "once" event...

[Volkswoman]

I think I quoted the auto care website as saying CONTINUED use will lighten the fabric and actually I did say that I am sure the alcohol would remove it, but... why use something that will eventually lighten the fabric, when there are products that won't lighten it? Anyone?

Moreover, If I had a dime for every customer I had who ruined something on their car because they were told they could use it to remedy a problem, I could probably retire. Like the manager of my apartment building who I observed out the window trying to clean sap off a newly painted vintage 240 Z with one of those green scrubby pads you use for tefflon pans. When I went out and approached her, she said she figured it would be alright because it safely cleans tefflon pans. The point being, the general population does not necessarily get what you can and cannot do with car detailing, and what seems like "common" sense to you or I isn't so common. I use a heavy acid solution on dirty or rusted wheels and water spots on paint or windows. I certainly wouldn't tell a "weekend detailer" to use it. If I sound overly anal retentive about this subject (I am!) it is because I detail high end show and auction cars on a regular basis and work by the book. And yes, I also sometimes do the "unauthorized" one time thing to get a job done fast. Absolutely. I just hesitate telling a non professional to do such because I have seen the damage done. So when I say not to use rubbing alcohol
I say so with the knowledge that not ALL folks will know how to use it "judiciously".

[kingpepsisgirl]

Thank you to everyone who responded to my original question. I really appreciate all the ideas for products and what worked/didn't work for you.

I finally got a chance to clean the top over the weekend. We had what seemed like weeks of rain previously. I went with goo gone first which took the sap right off. I was very amazed. So much so that I thought maybe it was just wet so it blended and that as soon as it dried, I'd see the sap again...nope. After that I washed it with Ragg Topp and was VERY pleased! My top has never looked so good. I didn't treat it, although I did buy that from Ragg Topp as well. It was such a nice day and I wanted to drive around with the top down. It says to let it dry for 24 hours first and I didn't want to wait. I will treat it this weekend.

Thanks again for the help!

[brandon mitchell]

What an unlucky day you had there kingpepsigirl.