How to get bird poop off your car

It sometimes seems inevitable that after you’ve taken the time and effort to clean your car, a bird will decide to poo on it. Not only is this highly annoying but these droppings could stain or even cause permanent damage to your paintwork if they are not removed as soon as possible. 

Ideally, you should remove bird droppings as soon as you spot them on your car. If they have not yet dried out, this will make them easier to remove and should nip any potential lasting damage in the bud. If they have dried, then they could damage the car’s paint. Use your usual cleaning products to shampoo the area clear but do not use washing up liquid - this will strip the paint of its protective coatings.

A car shampoo will contain ingredients that are designed to protect car paint, and this added layer of protection will help prevent paint damage from any future bird-related damage. We would recommend waxing your paint after you've suffered a bird poo strike. This will restore the lustre of your paint, and give added protection from future dropping incidents, too.

If you have bird poo on your windows, that will be easy to remove. A glass spray will contain vinegar, which will help lift the droppings quickly and easily and leave a streak-free finish. Watch out for the window rubbers, though, as bird poo can leave creamy grey stains on them. Again, a black plastic and rubber restorer will bring them back to their best.

If you leave bird poo on your paint, it can eat through to the layer of lacquer below. The nitrogen in bird poo - or bird lime as its' often called - is corrosive, especially on modern-day water-based car paintwork. If you fail to get the poo removed before it's caused damage, then you'll have to repair the paint - which can prove costly.

You could try T-Cut or a similar colour polish to blend the affected area back in using circular motions, as this should do enough to remove the marks. If not, a more thorough paint repair kit can be used, or you could call out a Smart repair expert to get the paint on your car smooth and matched for colour.

If you’ve noticed more blemishes in your paintwork than you would like - bird-related or otherwise - click here to learn how to remove car paint scratches and blemishes.