My second drive of the season and this happens...

While sitting on a park bench I picked up some pine sap on my pants. Then I proceded to sit down in the car and drive for a while. When I got out I saw several light colored areas on my seat, and as soon as I touched them I knew what it was.

What would you guys suggest to try and remove it?

This morning before going to work I wiped the seat with just warm water to soften it up a little (was freezing here last night) and then used my meguiars gold leather conditioner. This disolved some of it, but not all. So what should I do next?

Thanks!

 

this thread at the top of our forum might have some tips...

http://forums.s2ki.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=149485

i have contacted our leather expert and asked him to respond to this, but it could take him awhile to see my message-
my guess is that you will need some sort of oil (maybe peanut butter!) to soften and remove, but lets wait for the expert!

 

Wow, thanks!

Everything I could think of to cut the pine sap just seemed way too harsh for the leather, I never even considered the oil route. I will be more than happy to wait for his reply, thanks for facilitating this.

(When I work with oil base paints or other nasty stuff I always "wash" my hands with baby oil. This is obviously way easier on my skin than turpentine or paint thinner and it works like a charm to disolve the paint/grease/oil based product; so I know exactly what you are thinking.)

 

Okay, I got through page one and my head feels like it is going to explode.
I'll do more reading later.
Again wanabe, thanks!

 

our leather guys pm box is full... but i did email him-
he must be out of town. never has taken this long to reply!
let me try someone else-

 

dave, who owns the detail supply site at autopia (http://autopia-carcare.com) sent me the following email:

"The answer to the question is "hair spray". Spray it on the stain and wipe it off right away. It will take most sticky stuff off without damaging the leather. Did it this past weekend on my partner's new Lexus SC.

db"

(thanks dave!!)

 

Hey, thanks, I'll give that a try.

 

Hair Spray...NO NO NO NO NO NO NO. Sorry about my delay in replying, but hold your horses. hair spray contains alcohol which will strip the finish off the leather as well as maybe taking off the sap. The finishes used on leather today are water based and this will eat right through them. Strip the finish and you will not only have a section that looks like hell, but it will also cause premature wear.

Let me look into this, will get back later today.

 

someone had mentioned butter for taking pine sap off the paint... considering how "gentle" butter is (and the fact that it's basically all tasty animal oil/fat), wouldn't that be a reasonably decent thing to try? Worst case, it doesn't take off the sap and leaves a fresh buttery smell.

 

Well its kinda funny, you wouldn't think that a bug and sap remover for the exterior of your car would be safe for the interior, but it kind of is. The base of the bug and sap remover in most cases is mineral spirits, which is also a great way to remove sap from your leather without damaging the finish at all. Remember to be gentle and not to saturate out the leather with this stuff, but it will work slowly but surely. Once the sap is gone, go over it with your leather cleaner to remove any residue of the mineral spirits left on the surface, the condition the leather as usual.

Hope this helps...