What can I use to remove sap from the boards on my deck?

Fred M EXPERT July 17, 2009

There are two ways to approach this problem.

If you have a heat gun you can try to heat the sap and scrap it off.

The other option is to remove the sap with a stain remover. You can remove any sap that has fallen onto the deck with a heavy-duty stain remover available at home centers and paint stores.

It’s best to find one that is specially formulated to work on tough stains, such as tree sap. Because sap is similar to oil-base finishes, it should come off easily. Use a mop to apply the stain remover or just pour it onto the surface.

Wait about fifteen minutes before scrubbing the area with a brush, and then rinse it off.

An exterior deck stripper can also be used to remove tree sap and involves less scrubbing. Simply apply the stripper with a brush onto the affected areas in the direction of the wood grain. Allow to stand for ten to fifteen minutes and then hose off. As a bonus, most stripper products are deactivated with water, so any runoff will not harm the environment.

I'd try it first on a small out of sight area of the deck and make sure it doesn't leave any stains.

I hope this information helps with this problem.