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Like most car owners, once in a while you will have to handle the unfortunate situation of dealing with bird droppings on your cars clean paint. If you do not deal with the bird droppings appropriately and immediately, they might leave permanent marks and ugly etchings behind. Since these droppings are caustic, they might seriously damage your car’s finish. According to auto dealers, you need to take a proactive approach and quickly clean away the droppings and other harmful objects such as tree sap and dead bugs.
The dangers of letting bird droppings stay on your car paint
Apart from the fact that bird droppings are unsightly, they can cause irreversible damage to your cars paint. If left unattended, it can penetrate your car’s protective layer of the paint. Also, the droppings have acids and can burn through the top coat in less than 48 hours. This is due to the uric acid in the droppings, which is corrosive enough to even eat through a wax job.
Some birds also swallow gravel which helps them with digestion. These tiny bits of gravel can, therefore, scrape the paint off your car when wiped off. Repairing this damage is very expensive and can cost you between $300 to $1000. It’s a bad thing when an otherwise attractive car is blighted with ugly looking car droppings. The longer the droppings remain on the car the harder it will be to remove them.
How to safely clean bird droppings off car
- Catch the droppings early
The best way of dealing with bird droppings is to clean and wipe them away as soon as you notice them. Since they will not leave any stain this is the best way to remove them. However, if this is not possible due to any reason you need to look for other ways. One way is to cover the affected place with a wet towel to prevent the droppings from drying on the car until you can appropriately remove them.
- Soak the area
It’s also important to clean the droppings in a shaded area so as to prevent the cleaning product from drying on the surface. You can then soak the area using foam so as to loosen and lift them off the surface. If you do not have a foaming substance, then it’s important to spray the area with a diluted cleaner which will also help to break down the bird droppings before you can start cleaning. You can also wash the exterior with water to soak the droppings before you can start scrubbing and cleaning them.
- Use a cleaning solution
Nowadays, there are many cleaning liquids in the market specifically made for bird droppings. It’s important to purchase cleaning liquids manufactured from natural products instead of using petroleum based surfactants or inorganic substances. You should aim at using a cleaning liquid that can remove the droppings without further damaging the car paint. You can also use fluids containing citrus oils, witch hazel, orange or any other plant based materials. Before using the liquid, you need to mix it according to the instructions on the bottle. Once you have mixed it, pour some on a piece of cloth and use the same to wipe off the droppings.
- Removing the toughest droppings
For tough droppings, pour some liquid directly on them and then leave it to rest for a few minutes so that it can react with the droppings. Next, use a clean cloth to wipe off the mess without spreading it to other parts of the car. For very hard droppings, use a no scratch sponge.
- Inspect the area
After properly cleaning the area, you need to inspect it for any damage. In case of any damage use an all in one paint to remove etching marks. You might need to repeat this process a couple of times in order to bring back the color of the car.
Summary
Removing bird droppings from your car can be a very challenging task if you don’t act immediately. It’s, therefore, important to regularly clean, polish, and protect your car as this would minimize the chances of the droppings inflicting any damage. However, for droppings that are difficult to remove at home, you need to seek the services of an expert.