Can Bird Droppings Damage Car Paint?
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Time to read 3 min
It’s really not a surprise that the answer is “Yes, bird droppings can damage car paint.” What is surprising, however, is that we’re not exactly 100% sure what the mechanism behind the damage is.
How do bird droppings damage car paint?
Conventional wisdom says that the high levels of uric acid in bird droppings create an acidic environment that slowly degrades protective waxes, clear coats, and paints, leading to dull or etched areas that detract from a car’s look and value. On the other hand, an R&D team at Autoglym , a trusted UK car detailing and automotive care product supplier, discovered that the damage isn’t caused by the droppings’ acidity but rather by paint lacquers expanding in the heat and contracting around the droppings as it cools.
Whatever the causes, we can all agree that nobody likes bird poop on their vehicle, and nobody wants to deal with frown-inducing, dull, or etched paint jobs that make you resent your own car. This guide will walk you through the best practices for cleaning bird droppings off your car and keeping your finish as pristine as possible.
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Table of Content
How to remove bird droppings from your car
The fresher the bird droppings on your car, the better. No, that’s not a mistake, and yes, we genuinely mean it. As bird droppings dry out, they become harder and harder to safely remove without harming your paint job. ‘Freshly applied’bird droppings are quick and easy to take care of without risking any harm to your paint and can safely be removed by collecting the bulk on a piece of tissue paper and washing the rest away with some water.
Once dried, bird droppings become coarse, and indiscriminately scrubbing them away may cause noticeable scratches. To remove dried bird droppings from your car without any risk to the paint job, you’ll need the right tools and method:
Tools:
Microfibre cloth - Microfibre cloths have two properties that make them ideal for this task: they are ultra-soft and effectively lift and trap particles, both helping to protect your paint job.
Hot water in a cup or spray bottle - Hot water quickly loosens dried droppings for easy removal. A spray bottle can make the job easier, but a cup of hot water works just as well nine out of ten times.
Tissue paper (optional)
pH-neutral car shampoo (optional) - If you’re cleaning a heavily soiled car, a pH-neutral car shampoo can help to soften and break down the droppings without harming your paint.
Rinsing water - Clean cold water from a hose or bucket will do.
Method
The only really important thing to remember is that dried droppings scratch paint, fully soaked-through droppings don't. With this in mind:
Spray or pour a generous amount of hot water onto the dried droppings. Allow the moisture to fully soak through the droppings to the point where it almost completely loosens. Mixing a pH-neutral shampoo into the hot water is advised when dealing with lots of droppings.
Try to ‘pinch and lift’ the bulk of the droppings using the corner of a microfibre cloth or tissue paper. Ideally, you want to avoid wiping or spreading the droppings as much as possible. The more you can lift in one shot, the less remains to spread around or harm the paint job.
Remove the remainder using a clean section of microfibre cloth. Do not aggressively scrub any stubborn droppings. If any pieces remain stuck, soften them with more hot water.
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Rinse the area thoroughly to avoid any residue, watermarks, or mineral stains. Thoroughly dry the area with a clean and dry section of your microfibre cloth.
Check out our blog post on How to Dry a Car to learn how proper drying protects your paint.
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How to protect your car from bird droppings
The occasional droppings are inevitable, and you’ll eventually have to deal with them—’bird droppings happen’.That being said, here are a few steps you can take to help keep it to a minimum:
Avoid parking under trees or power lines where birds tend to gather or perch. Covered parking, including garages or carports, can help protect your vehicle from bird droppings.
Consider keeping a car cover in your boot for whenever you absolutely have to park under trees.
Consider keeping a spray bottle and a roll of tissue paper or a pack of microfibre cloths in your car to clean up fresh droppings before they harden.
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