Bird Poo and Your Car Paint

Bird droppings on cars is an inevitable and common issue. Your car can be struck at any time, whether parked outside regularly or driving on the road. Many think parking under trees during the summer is a great way to beat the heat, but that puts your car at risk of droppings from the nesting birds above.

You might think that bird poo only affects the aesthetics of your vehicle, but when ignored, it can lead to more serious issues over time. This article will discuss how your car’s paint can be damaged by bird poo, how to get it off your car, and how to protect your car’s paint from damage.

Does Bird Poo Damage Your Car Paint?

Unfortunately, the answer is yes. To get scientific, bird droppings have a pH of 3.5 to 4.5. Neutral substances, like water, have a pH of 7. Acidic substances will always try to meet a more neutral state by eating away at alkali objects (like your car’s paint) to get to the other side of the pH scale.

The uric acid in bird poo, which birds excrete instead of urine, is what eats away at the clear top layer, the paint underneath, and eventually into the exposed metal. During warmer weather, your car’s metal expands in heat, meaning the bird poo can seep into the layer of paint more easily. This is why cleaning off any bird droppings you see on your vehicle as soon as possible is so important.

How to Get Bird Poo off Your Car

Uric acid only partially dissolves in water. This makes getting bird droppings off your car difficult without using special solutions or seeking professional help.

You should avoid scratching bird droppings off with your fingernails or any other materials that might cause damage to the clear coat. We’ve compiled a few DIY tips to help you safely remove droppings from your car and avoid damaging your car’s existing paint or clear coat.

WD-40

WD-40 is a typically effective option when used on dried bird droppings. It penetrates the poo as it dries and sticks to the clear coat, making it easy for the poo to be rinsed or wiped away. When trying this method, you should:

• Avoid direct sunlight
• Let your car’s surface temperature cool off
• When cool, spray the area with WD-40
• Let it soak for a minute or two
• Easily wipe it away with a damp cloth or rinse it off with a spray bottle or hose
• Use an automotive soap and a washcloth to remove leftover residue

Hot Water and Baking Soda

Baking soda mixed with hot water also can remove bird poo from your car.

• Mix four tablespoons of baking soda into a litre of warm water in a spray bottle
• Shake the bottle so the baking soda fully dissolves
• Spray the solution onto the bird droppings
• Let it sit for 5 to 10 minutes
• Finish the process by washing the residue off with automotive soap and a soft cloth

Specialised Bird Dropping Wipes

Newly available wipes for bird droppings can help remove bird droppings that have dried onto your car’s paint. These are typically made from soft bamboo and biodegradable materials soaked in a solution that breaks down the uric acid in bird poo. These wipes should be used per the manufacturer’s instructions.

Detail Sprays

Quick detail sprays can be used to remove bird droppings from your vehicle’s surface. It is important to pay attention to the appropriate spray for the surface you are spraying, and it is recommended to purchase a spray that is suited for auto paint and clear coat surfaces. 

Protection Against Bird Poo Damage

Your best bet at defending your car’s paint job is to park inside or with a car cover. A car cover will offer the most protection for your vehicle, not only from birds but also from other elemental damages. If you know that birds are a common issue around where you typically park your car, you could try to keep them away with things like spikes, fake predators, or other deterrents. 

Auto Body Paint Repair With Caversham Coachworks

By maintaining your car with regular washing and waxing, you can ensure any bird droppings are taken care of swiftly with minimal damage. If you want to protect your investment and the aesthetics of your vehicle, a high-quality paint sealant or ceramic coating offers an additional layer of protection. With these protective measures taken, you create a barrier over your paint that makes bird droppings unable to stick and penetrate the surface of your car’s exterior. 

At Caversham Coachworks, we take pride in providing a wide range of services and repairs to meet your needs. We offer services like alloy wheel refurbishment, cooling systems and air-conditioning maintenance, paintless dent removal, swift same-day repairs, steering component repairs, the use of genuine parts, and electrical system maintenance and refurbishment.
If you have noticed damage to your car’s paint due to bird droppings, contact us today or use our free and easy estimator tool.