Question:

When you need to remove a stubborn stain like bird poop or tree sap from your car, what are the best products to have on hand?

Answer:

Few things are more aggravating than finding bird droppings, tree sap, or plain old dead bugs on your freshly washed minivan. How can you eliminate these unpleasant blemishes without another trip to the car wash?

General Cleaning Tips
There are many solvents and cleaners on the market, but two around-the-house products — baking soda and white vinegar — can tackle most jobs, says Erik Bruun, author of How to Get Red Wine Out of a White Carpet (Black Dog & Leventhal, $15). Keep these items in the car to tackle bird droppings, bugs, and dirt.

Baking soda: Sprinkle this miracle powder on dirty chrome and enamel. Rub gently with a wet cotton cloth and rinse.

White vinegar: This is great for cleaning car windows without leaving streaks. Apply to a microfiber cloth and wipe in a circular motion.

Specific Cleaning Tips
When it comes to tough substances, like tree sap and tar, Ted Quinby, president and CEO of Red Arrow Car Washes, in Jackson, Mississippi, suggests a couple of methods that are best tried at home. If the tree sap is still wet, then a simple spritz of Fantastik Orange Action All Purpose Cleaner ($4, www.target.com for stores) can do the trick. However, once the substances have dried, follow these guidelines.

Tree sap: Since sap is a wood-based resin, you need a wood-based solvent to completely dissolve it. “Check your local liquor store for a wood grain alcohol, such as Everclear ($7, www.wittyswine.com),” says Quinby. Moisten a cotton cloth with the alcohol, gently work the sap off the vehicle, and then rinse with water. This type of alcohol is safe to use on paint and windows. However, do not store it in the car as it is a flammable substance.

Tar: “Kerosene easily dissolves dried tar,” says Quinby. But it’s extremely flammable, so take caution. Turn off the car before using kerosene, make sure that the area is well ventilated, and don’t store kerosene in your vehicle. If you want to keep a cleaning solution in the car for on-the-go touch-ups, Quinby recommends a solvent-based bug-and-tar remover, such as Turtle Wax Bug & Tar Remover ($7, www.pepboys.com for store locations).

Ashley Phillips
Real Simple Home Department