It’s the holiday season again, and we know how crazy and sometimes messy a home can get during this time. If you find yourself with tree sap on your carpet wondering how to get that sticky mess out, this article will give you some tips on how to do that.
Tips for Removing Tree Sap from Carpeting
There is no substitute for a lovely, real Christmas tree: the lovely pine aroma, the glittering feel of having a living, beautiful thing in your home. Despite their loveliness, trees require a lot of care, even after they are chopped down. Besides the obvious shedding of needles, they also leave another little gift of their own: sticky tree sap. Here are a few tips for cleaning tree sap off of carpet and household items.
Sap is sort of like removing gum. There are a few ways to handle it. One of the easiest ways is to harden it, then chip it off, another is to dissolve the sap to remove it.
1. Rubbing alcohol or hand sanitizer
These products will help to dry the sap and eventually break it off. Soak a small cloth or paper towel in the alcohol, then blot at the sap stain gentle. Don’t rub or you’ll make the problem worse! Repeat as needed. Allow it to dry, then pick the sap up off of the fibers.
2. Ice
Ice works in the same way that it would work on gum in hair. It’s not the best method to harden the sap, as it takes longer and, well, melts! Place the ice on the affected areas and allow to harden, then pick the sap out of the fibers.
3. Dishwashing detergent
Apply a small amount of the detergent (test a small area of carpet or fibers first) to the sappy area, and massage with a warm, damp cloth. Continue until the sap is loosened and removed. Make sure to then clean the detergent off of the carpet with a wet cloth and some dry towels. The detergent can attract dirt if left.
4. Natural alternatives
There are some natural alternatives to remove the sap, such as mayonnaise or peanut butter, but these should be used as a last resort. Due to the greasy residue in these household items, you may remove the sap, but you’ll be left with a bigger stain problem on your carpet.
If all else fails, give us a call at J and R’s Carpet Cleaning.
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