Who hasn't been there: You park your car unsuspectingly under a tree, come back from shopping, and discover some unsightly, sticky resin stains on your car's paint. Unfortunately, they not only look horrible, but in the worst case scenario, they can also damage the paint if you wait too long to remove them. And what's the best way to remove such a stubborn resin stain?
⏰ Briefly summarized
- Tree resin consists of oils and terpenes
- Paints on older models are vulnerable to resin
- Oils and alcohol as home remedies against resin
- Test alcohol on an inconspicuous area of the paint
- Dried resin needs special cleaner
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Why is tree resin harmful to car paint?
Let's start from scratch for a moment. To understand why tree resin is harmful to car paint, it's best to understand what substance tree resin actually is . Tree resin is produced almost exclusively by conifers to protect themselves from insects and to heal wounds. The resin consists of various components, including essential oils and terpenes . These substances give tree resin its sticky consistency and its typical Christmas scent.
The liquid forest gold is still used today in the production of paints and varnishes , as well as in the adhesive layers of bandages . So, when it's not stuck to your car, it certainly has valuable properties.
So, now to the actual question: Why can tree resin be dangerous for your car's paint? The longer the tree resin remains on your paint , the greater the risk of damage. This can lead to resin stains remaining on the paint and causing the paint to discolor unsightly in that area . This is also a sign that the paint in that area is more vulnerable to environmental influences . But there's also reason to breathe a sigh of relief. With modern car paints, usually nothing , or not much, happens.
Tree resin can be particularly damaging to older models from the 1940s to 1960s . Despite the durability of modern car paint, tree resin should be removed as quickly as possible before it can set in and harden. The faster you act, the less work you'll have to do. Removing tree resin is by no means as difficult as removing a scratch in the paint . However, it could definitely cause problems for your windshield wipers .
Cleaning the convertible top shouldn't be put off too long either , as tree sap is particularly difficult to remove, especially on soft-top convertibles. If the damage is too extensive, you may have to replace the convertible top .
Removing resin – this is how you do it!
Before you start, you should check whether the resin is fresh or already dry . Depending on the type, you'll need to take a different approach to removing the tree resin from your car.
Removing fresh resin stains
Especially when the resin is still fresh , it's best to use a wooden spatula or the plastic edge of your ice scraper to carefully lift off the still-soft tree resin . For the remaining resin, you'll need nothing more than a few tools you probably already have around the house.
Home remedies for car scratches
How nice when something works without expensive special products, right? If you want to wash your car yourself to remove resin stains, you can resort to simple household remedies . Especially if they're still fresh and soft. If you're using a car wash , ask if you can bring cleaning products with you.
Sometimes it's enough to simply remove the resin with a little soapy water and circular cleaning motions. Removal works even more effectively with the following miracle products , of which you probably already have several in your cupboard at home:
- Oils and fats
- De-icing spray
- White spirit or methylated spirit
Oils and fats
Tree resin , which itself contains essential oils, can be dissolved with the help of grease or other oils . Simply apply a little butter or vegetable oil to the resin stain and let it work for a few minutes . Then you can wipe away the dissolved resin layer with a soft cloth . If a resin stain is particularly stubborn, this process can be repeated several times. It does n't matter which vegetable oil you use. From sunflower oil and rapeseed oil to olive oil, you can use anything you have in your kitchen cupboard.
Door lock de-icer
If you have a door lock de-icer or de-icing spray on hand, you can also use one of these products to remove resin stains . The magic ingredient here is alcohol . This dissolves the resin without damaging the paint. It's best to spray the stains and then wait a few minutes before gently wiping away the dissolved stain with a soft cloth (such as a microfiber cloth). This process may need to be repeated here, too, depending on how large or stubborn the resin stain is.
Spirit or white spirit
Since methylated spirits , like door lock de-icer , consist almost entirely of alcohol , it can also be used as a solvent for tree resin . White spirit is also a common cleaning agent, which, by the way, has little to do with the fuel you get at the gas station. Even though white spirits or methylated spirits generally don't damage the paint , it's a good idea to test the cleaning process on an inconspicuous area , especially if you have a custom paint job.
To do this, apply some spirit or white spirit to a soft cloth. Once you've confirmed that the solvent won't damage your paint, you can then wipe the damp cloth over the resin stain. This will absorb the sticky tree gold, restoring your car's shine.
By the way: If you don't have any of the above-mentioned products at home, or if the home remedies don't work , you can also buy special removers from specialist retailers , although these are usually a bit more expensive. Using the methods presented here , you can also remove resin stains from vinyl convertible tops . If you have a convertible with a fabric top, using oils and grease is not a good idea, as stains could remain. You should be especially careful with cars with matte finishes , as these are very sensitive and not yet repairable.
Remove dried resin stains
If your car has been outside for an extended period, resin stains may not be discovered until very late . If the resin has dried, soapy water or other household remedies will likely no longer help, and a special resin remover will be required. Resin removers are easily applied with a soft cloth, which is gently pressed onto the resin stain for a few seconds.
- Note short exposure time
- Too long exposure can damage paint
- Wipe and clean with clean water
- Do not wait too long, otherwise paint discoloration is possible
The ingredients dissolve the tree resin, allowing the stain to be wiped off after a short exposure time . Afterwards, you should clean the area with clean water , as special resin removers are more aggressive than household remedies and, in the worst case, could damage the paint. The universal oil WD-40 has a similar effect . You might have it in your garage to remove a stubborn, dried resin stain.
In summary, resin stains aren't a big deal as long as they 're discovered early and removed quickly using the household remedies mentioned. However, especially old, dried resin stains can be more difficult to remove, requiring the use of a special resin remover. In the worst case (especially with old or special paint finishes), resin stains can discolor the paint over time , making those areas more vulnerable to environmental influences.
Removing resin from your car: aftercare and polishing
Once you've removed the sticky resin stains from the car paint using household remedies or special resin removers , you should treat your car to some care – ideally at a car wash. To make it even easier to remove tree resin stains from your car in the future, we recommend applying hard wax after washing . If the car is polished , the tree resin doesn't adhere as well , making it much easier to remove during the pre-treatment process. A ceramic coating may also be an option.
But the following always applies: The sooner you discover the tree resin stains and take care of their removal, the faster the cleaning will go .