I have been reading about the vinegar/baking soda to clean -

no not a recommended idea.Use Wet and Forget made for situations as outdoor stained concrete

Sure you can! Powerwash or hose off steps first then use a good stiff brush and rinse well. Will look beauiful when done.

And add a few drops of dishwashing liquid to help dissolve the sap, but only a few. Even Dawn might make the steps so slick they are slippery at first. 😇

On GardenWeb, the site carried the following advice: "I used to keep a can of Goop (petroleum based hand cleaner) under the sink to clean sap off the drive/cars/kids/dog. We had several large pines hanging over our drive and entry and everything seemed to get pine sap on it. It works best if you work the Goop into the sap before putting any water or soap on it. With bad cases or dried sap you may have to let the Goop sit for a while and/or repeat the treatment."

On ThriftyFun.com, the following recommendations are made for the pine sap:

*To remove the tree sap, use fingernail polish remover on a cotton ball. After removing the sap, make a paste from water and baking soda to wash the affected area.

*Another method to remove sap is to use mineral spirits or denatured alcohol (also removes tar). Use a soft towel or wash cloth dampened with mineral spirits. After removal, wash the car and apply polish/wax to the affected area.

*WD-40. Spray some on the sap, let it sit for a while and wipe off with a soft cloth. Repeat if necessary then wash as usual.

*Make a paste out of baking soda and water and cover the affected area. Wipe clean with a soft, damp cloth.

*Applying mayonnaise to the area is also said to remove tree sap.

(Note: I've also used these different methods on clothing and our cars!)

Clorox and a stiff brush. Apply on bright, sunny day. Then rinse, rinse, rinse.