Post-Camping Cleanup: How One Simple Tool Saved My Gear from Sap, Bugs, and Campfire Gunk

After three days off-grid in the Adirondacks, Erin’s SUV looked like it had been through a war.

The drive home added its own layer of bug splatter, but that wasn’t the worst of it. Parking under pine trees for shade left sap streaked across the hood and roof. The firepit grates were caked in char, and her camp stove lid had a perfect, fossilized marshmallow from Saturday night’s s’mores.

Erin wasn’t looking forward to the cleanup.

The Problem: Outdoor Mess That Doesn’t Wash Off

She pulled into her driveway, unloaded the gear, and gave everything a once-over. A quick rinse wasn’t going to cut it. The sap was sticky and set. The bugs were baked on. And scrubbing too hard risked scratching paint or ruining the finish on her stove and cooler.

She’d made that mistake before, using a metal scraper on her kayak hull, which left permanent scuffs.

Not this time.

The Fix: A Plastic Scraper in the Camp Kit

Erin reached into her camping bin and pulled out the plastic scraper she’d thrown in “just in case.” It had a firm edge like a razor blade, but it was plastic — safe to use on coated surfaces, paint, and plastic without doing damage.

  • She used a flexible blade to peel sap off the car's hood, then followed up with a bit of rubbing alcohol on a cloth.
  • For the windshield, a stiffer blade helped chip away the bug mess without scratching the glass.
  • On her fire grate, the blade scraped away soot and burnt bits — no metal brushes needed.
  • Even the marshmallow mess on the stove popped off in seconds without scratching the surface.

No chemicals. No scouring. Just controlled scraping and a few wipes.

Why It Worked

Plastic blades gave Erin just enough scraping power to lift off the tough stuff — without the risk of scratches or gouges. And because they’re lightweight and easy to toss in a kit, she’ll never camp without one again.

Now It’s a Go-To

Cleanup used to be Erin’s least favorite part of camping. But now she keeps a few plastic blades in her glove box and camp bin — one soft, one stiff — ready for whatever mess the weekend leaves behind.

It’s not fancy. It’s just one of those tools you don’t realize you needed… until you do.

Looking for the same kind of tool? Scraperite offers different blade strengths for different surfaces — and they’re small enough to fit in your back pocket. Check out our blade types page to pick the one that's right for the job.