Getting talcum powder off tarp

[XrayCamper]

I need some advice. On my last trip out, I unfortunately ended up hanging underneath a tree that dropped hundreds of sap droplets all over my tarp (silpoly). I had the brilliant idea of using a sock filled with baby powder and rubbing the little droplets off. The plan worked great! A little elbow grease and 15 minutes and I had all of the sap off the tarp, but I was left with a previously blue tarp that now has white powder spread all over it. I attempted to wash it with some soapy water 2 or 3 times, but I can still see the powder all over my tarp. I doubt it will affect how well the tarp works (and who knows, might help with any sap droplets in the future...one can hope), but it now looks incredibly dirty and it's driving me crazy! Has anyone had a similar experience and have any tips on getting the talcum powder off?

[Smckinney0031]

Maybe dawn dish soap??? It cleans almost anything!

[leiavoia]

White Vinegar

[HandyRandy]

I like your sock and powder idea! Did you have to use a lot of powder?

[XrayCamper]

Vinegar won't hurt the tarp?

[XrayCamper]

HR, a few heavy squirts of powder into the sock and a hairband around the end worked well. I shook some out of the sock onto the tarp initially then used the filled sock as a "scrubber". I'm thinking next time though I'll try corn starch...should have tried that the first time.

And Smckinney, the dawn dish soap was what I used initially, without success.

[alt.thomas]

I don't think water will help and the only thing that would dissolve it would be something acidic.

Have you tried gently using compressed air to at least thin out the blemish?

[dscotthep]

HR, a few heavy squirts of powder into the sock and a hairband around the end worked well. I shook some out of the sock onto the tarp initially then used the filled sock as a "scrubber". I'm thinking next time though I'll try corn starch...should have tried that the first time.

And Smckinney, the dawn dish soap was what I used initially, without success.

Check the ingredients on your baby powder, it's probably corn starch. Actual talcum powder fell out of favor a few years ago and now it's hard to find baby powder that isn't made from corn starch.

[Andy "Bull" Bullock]

“....but it now looks incredibly dirty and it's driving me crazy!”

Dude it’s patina! Makes you look hard core. Lol


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[Bubba]

I don’t know if you truly got the sap off the tarp. The sap may still be on it and the powder is now sticking to the sap and that’s why it won’t wash off. Only something like Goo Gone will completely remove the sap but you risk affecting the silicone impregnated material.