Richard asked, “I have a brick chimney with vines growing from the ground up to the top. They also are wrapping themselves around the vinyl siding. They pull off the vinyl with ease, but leave this very sticky stuff everywhere! What will remove this wonderful nature’s glue from my house? Help!
Plant resin is not water soluble, which can make removal difficult.¹ Follow the steps below to clean away the resin.
You Will Need:
- Rubbing alcohol
- Baking soda
- Enzyme detergent or stain remover
- Peanut butter
- Margarine
- Acetone
- Turpentine
Steps to Remove the Residue:
- Wipe or scrape as much of the resin off as you can with a spoon.¹
- Soak a lint-free cloth with rubbing alcohol and use the cloth to wipe away the plant residue. The alcohol will dissolve the resin; allow it to soak for several minutes if needed.²
- Sprinkle baking soda onto a damp cloth or sponge and use the cloth to wipe away the sticky residue.³
- Select an enzyme detergent or an enzyme stain remover that is safe for your siding material and follow the instructions on the bottle.¹
- Wipe peanut butter⁴or margarine⁵ onto the sap. Allow the peanut butter to soak for about an hour. Test this method on a small, inconspicuous area first to be sure the peanut butter or margarine will not leave an oil stain.⁴
- As a last resort, wipe the plant resin away with acetone² or turpentine.¹ Test these cleaners on a small, inconspicuous area of the siding first to be sure they will not cause any damage.
Additional Tips and Advice
- For hard to reach areas, use a sponge mop.²
Sources
- Stain Removal by Stephanie Zia
- Clean It Fast, Clean it Right by Jeff Bredenberg
- Baking Soda Bonanza by Peter A. Ciullo
- The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Green Cleaning by Mary Findley and Linda Formichelli
- Vinegar, Duct Tape, Milk Jugs & More by Earl Proulx
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