If you’re anything like me, you spend a fair bit of time cleaning surfaces and decluttering your personal spaces in the name of mental health and a general sense of having life under control.
But, you know, life just has a different idea sometimes.
And such is the case when you’re cruising along, interior looking spick and span, the exterior washed and waxed, and then a kindly pigeon decides the time is now to let a bit of bird-poo go airborne.
It might be news to you, but bird poo actually presents a real danger to your car dangerous to your car. If you don’t deal with bird poop (or tree sap) right away, they’ll permanently harm your car’s paint.
Yes, both materials are natural, although they usually include a lot of acid. And therein lies the problem. In short, these natural compounds can etch themselves into the paint if left on your car for too long.
And we’re sorry to say, that if not treated quickly, they can lead to visible marks on your car.
The paint on your car is essentially a protective covering, and both sap and bird faeces erode away at that layer. Your paint may peel or break, and the metal beneath it may corrode.
What to do when there’s poo
Wash off the sap or bird droppings as soon as you discover them. Before it dries, take it to a car wash.
It becomes significantly more difficult to remove after it solidifies on your paint.
Use a touchless car wash since bird droppings are gritty and can harm your paint if agitated with a brush. Tree sap has a tendency to smear, producing a considerably bigger mess to clean up.
What if the bird poo or tree sap has dried up?
It’s possible to avoid paint corrosion if you find yourself unable to get to a car wash, or don’t notice it until it’s dried.
Using a moist cloth, soften bird droppings. Paper towelling is abrasive and can scratch your paint, so use a cotton or microfiber cloth instead. Using your fingers, remove the droppings from your paint. Don’t touch it! Rep till there are no more indications of bird droppings.
To soften sap, park your automobile in the sun for 10 minutes. Then, using a microfiber cloth and a good-quality road tar and sap remover, dissolve the tree sap from your paint job. After it’s gone, wash your automobile to get rid of any leftover residue.
If you don’t want to get your hands dirty cleaning the goo off your car, you can soften it by spraying it with car cleaner. Then go over the list again.
How to fix any damage to your car from bird poo or tree sap
To be straight up, you need to be quick on this one, damage can occur as quickly as 10 minutes from the time of contact.
Use a high quality car polish to diminish the water spots on your paint, rubbing until they start to weaken. If you can’t get them out by hand, it might be time to get in touch with a professional car detailer. Head over to the services area if this is you!
Make sure to protect your car’s finish once you’ve eliminated the offending stuff and repaired the damage. Wax your car’s paint to seal it and protect it from harm the next time a bird decides to use it as a toilet.
Once you’ve completed your paint repair, and are satisifed with the result, maybe just quickly remind yourself that in some places, a bird letting loose on your shoulder is a sign of good luck!