Your car is always exposed to natural occurrences. Bird poop is one of those unfortunate happenings that can pretty much damage your car's paint. And if you try to clean it by using an incorrect method, you can make it even worse. That's why we will show you how to get bird poop off the car effectively.
Why bird poop is harmful to your car's paint?
Bird droppings are unlike the regular mud or dirt that would get on your car. They are a mixture of both types of waste materials. That's why you'd notice that it's liquid but also grainy at the same time.
Bird droppings contain a cyanide group, uric acid crystals, and other suffocating poisons. If you don't clean these bird poop spots from your car immediately, it can corrode the paint coat and damage the body of your car forever.
To get a better understanding of what you're dealing with, make a mixture of sand and acid. Just to be clear, bird droppings are acidic in nature. After having this mixture on your hand for a while, you would notice that it becomes dry and sticky. This is similar to what happens under the hot sun after long exposure.
Bird poop can also damage other parts of your car's exterior when it mixes with rainwater or gets into hard-to-reach areas. To give you an example, imagine bird poop seeping through the small openings on your car doors or fenders or running down the sheet metal seams. When mixed with moisture, the acidity of bird poop will corrode these surfaces.
Leave it on your vehicle and let it dry. You'd get a solid idea of what it becomes. You'd find it super challenging to remove without scratching your car's paint.
What causes all this?
Birds do not eat food because they want to get stuffed. They simply don' tt have the proper digestive system for it. That's why they poop pellets (a mixture of undigested food and waste materials).
Pellets aren't like our feces which we can flush down the toilet. They contain a lot of uric acids that form into crystals once exposed to moisture or even humidity in the air. This is what makes it very damaging to your car's paint and other exterior components.
So, how do you get rid of these stains from your beloved vehicle?
The best way: Prevention
The best defense is always an offense. If you keep the number of birds away from your vehicle, then there would be nothing to worry about getting pooped on in the first place. For this method, install decals, netting, or fencing around your car to stop birds from getting near it.
If you don't want to use such preventative measures, you can try and befriend the surrounding birds. If they see your car as their friend, then they won't mess with it. You can feed them or just hang out with them on a regular basis.
How to remove bird droppings without scratching your vehicle's paint
When it comes to removing bird poop from an automobile's bodywork, you can never be quick enough to take care of it. In short, timing plays a crucial role here. You must not wait for it to dry out and remove it as soon as you discover it lying on your car. Also, any wiping and scrubbing could spread it across the surface or create scratches on it.
That's why the best solution you can go for is to clean it without coming in contact with it. Let's check out a few methods you can use to deal with bird poop.
Method #1: Try the garden hose
Go old-school and clean the bird poop using a garden hose. Spraying water from a garden hose would work best if the droppings turn out to be fresh.
For at least a minute, douse it with water. After you feel that it has become a bit soft, use the water pressure to remove it all at once from the surface of the car.
When you check that all the grains are gone, use a microfiber towel to wipe the exterior. Then use wax or ceramic coating to revive the shine of the vehicle.
Method #2: Use Turbo Waterless Detailer
Bird won't always poop on your car when you're at home, and even if it's the case, chances are you might catch on when it's too late. So, how to deal with it when you're on the go or when the droppings have become super dried already? Well, the best solution is to use a lubricant.
Turbo Waterless Detailer is an excellent lubricant. It allows a quick, contactless, and powerful cleaning. Also, you can keep this spray bottle and a microfiber towel in the car that'll help you deal with the issue anywhere at any time. So, spray it on the poop and wait for 3-4 minutes. Use the pressure to remove everything. You can use a microfiber cloth to catch the rundown of liquid.
If nothing gets off through the pressure, then use the spray on the folded microfiber towel. With gentleness, roll the cloth over the droppings. Pour some water as well. It'll allow the droppings to get attached to the towel. After you're sure that all particles are gone, wipe the surface softly. You can then apply a sealant to restore the car paint's glossy look.
Method #3: Use a Chemical Pre-soak
Instead of using water, you can use a pre-soak to soften the droppings before attempting any cleaning. It would help if your car is not new and has been exposed to bird droppings for a while now. This way, the acidity slowly eats into the exterior paint and other components. Also, it might have started corroding some parts by this time.
So, let's go with a chemical pre-soak that uses high pH levels to make the poop softer so that you can get rid of it without causing much damage to your vehicle's surface.
For this method, you'll need a few items. These are corn starch, baking soda, laundry detergent, and water softener. Mix them in the ratio of 1:2:1:10. To use it just pour everything in a spray bottle and add water to fill up about half of the bottle's content. Close and shake well. You can then spray it on the car or wipe it off if the droppings have dried already.
Once you let it stay for 7-8 minutes, use a microfiber towel to wipe it away safely. Repeat such steps again if needed until all bird poop is gone from your car's surface. Your vehicle would look as good as new.
Method #4: Use Soap and Water
It'd be a tad bit difficult to remove bird droppings from your car as soon as they hit the surface. In such cases, use soap and water to clean it up. Also, make sure that you do not let them stay for too long on the vehicle's exterior.
In case you still fail to get rid of all particles right away, then just follow the steps mentioned below:
Spray a generous amount of soapy water onto the area where there are bird droppings or any other form of contamination present. Just have patience and wait for about 5-6 minutes until it starts becoming less sticky and slippery. Then use a damp microfiber cloth or towel to wipe it all off. You can also use a soaped-up toothbrush for the same purpose.
Bottom line
When you question how to get bird poop off the car, using a lubricator is an easy and effective solution. You can use bird poop wipes which are pretty effective but might not work too well on hard and baked on droppings.
Bird poops are super smelly, especially the fresh ones that hit your car's exterior paint finish. You can do anything to get rid of bird droppings from the surface of your car. All you need is some patience and ventilation plus these tips should work great for you if they are followed correctly
Also, keep the tools with you in-car so you can deal with an unexpected bird poop incident timely. It might be a hassle but it's better than spending hundreds of dollars on car detailing.