Classic Auto Body Shop’s Guide For Bird Lovers: How to Remove Bird Poop and Protect Your Car’s Paint

Jul 13, 2022

Summer time means more time spent on the open road and exploring uncharted territories in the wilderness, and enjoying a day out soaking up the rays on white sand beaches listening to the ocean waves. Unfortunately, both of those things also mean your vehicle will have regular contact with one of Mother Nature’s finest creatures: birds!

While you’re appreciating a meadowlark in the woods or giggling at the tricky antics of a fry-stealing seagull, their little feathered patooties can wreak havoc on your precious automobile with just a few stray droppings. The acid in the feces begins to burn and bubble the paint and clear coat. It will etch into the paint and corrode it with rapid inte. Ugh! But never fear, Classic’s Body Shop is here! Let us save the day from villainous bird feces and help you protect your car.

Today we’re going to cover some helpful tips and tricks via our Body Shop Technicians for removing bird poop and protecting your car’s paint and clearcoat for years to come. Bird poop is highly corrosive thanks to the uric acid and chemical compounds within it, and the strong acidic pH of between 3 and 5. If left unchecked, the bird droppings will quickly degrade clear coat, bleach and bubble the paint, and cause scratches and abrasions on the surface. In fact, paint damage can occur as early as 10 minutes, especially in hot weather and direct sunlight, so it should be removed as soon as possible within 48 hours from contact with bird poop.

While it is really important that you remove it as quickly as possible, don’t just swipe, wipe and go! There is a method to the madness when it comes to cleaning off the “muck” and not just anything can be used; you need products that are heavy “doody” enough to clear it without damage. Trying to scrape it or remove it without taking the proper steps will further damage your vehicle’s clear coat and paint, and leave it prone to rust and further corrosion.

Here’s a list of helpful ways to remove bird droppings from your vehicle, and great ways to clean, buff, and protect it for the future:

Commercial Bird Poop Cleaning Solutions
Soak microfiber cloth in a cleaning solution and place gently on top of dried caked on bird poop for 15 mins, rub softly with the cloth to lift the poop mess off; use a clay bar to pick up remaining impurities and muck left behind and buff with polish.
Bird Poop wipes made of bamboo or other soft fibers and covered in gentle, noncorrosive cleaning solution or a little bottle of specialized Poop Spray can also be used.
WD40 Spray
Spray a generous amount on dried up bird poop splats and let it sit for about one minute. Using a clean microfiber cloth and a soft touch, gently wipe and it should lift up easily!
Hot Water + Baking Soda Spray
Mix 1 Tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon of baking soda into a 32 ounce spray bottle filled with hot water, stir, and shake to dissolve. Spritz the solution onto the dried bird poop and let it soak in for about 10-15 minutes. Rinse with fresh water from a bucket or hose.
Seltzer and Club Soda on Windshield
For bird poop that’s stuck to your windshield and stubborn enough that it won’t remove with wiper fluid, a little bubbly will do the trick! Simply pour a little club soda or seltzer on it, let sit for up to 5 minutes or so, and then spray with clean fresh water, and wipe with windshield wipers and wiper fluid.

Parked under a tree and returned to a polka-dotted poop mess and feeling a bit intimidated? We get it! Sometimes, things are best left to the pros. In this case, we recommend having your car professionally detailed and cleaned by an auto body technician or automotive detailer.

Have you left the poop on a little too long or perhaps made a rookie move of cleaning it without realizing the proper technique?

If your paint has been scratched, damaged, bubbled, or is beginning to corrode, you can bring your car in for a professional touch-up and have it repainted or a new clear-coat applied.

Looking to head off those dastardly defecating demons of the sky?

No problem! Head them off at the pass by protecting your car by having a professional install a clear bra vinyl wrap, applying a fresh clear coat to the paint, or even something as simple as a coat of wax polish. And make sure to wash your car on a regular basis with professional grade supplies at home, or through a professional auto body detailing service.

More of a visual learner who needs some video tutorials? No problem! We’ve selected some of the best picks from YouTube’s Car Vloggers to share with you:

Chemical Guys: Bird Poop Cleanup: