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 bird poop can stain or cause permanent damage to your car’s paintwork if it isn’t removed as soon as possible. 

Thankfully, getting bird poo off your car can be quick and easy if done at the right time and you have your usual car cleaning products to hand. 

Below we outline everything you need to know about removing bird poop from your car and protecting its paintwork with advice from our expert car product testers.

How bird poop damages your car’s paintwork

Bird poo is extremely acidic with a pH level between 3.5 and 4.5, and when left splattered on your paintwork the excrement can burn its way though the lacquer clear coat, damaging and staining the paint underneath.

During warmer temperatures, your car's surface can soften slightly and even mould to the shape of the bird dropping as it hardens. This can make removing the mess more difficult and there’s potential for greater damage to be caused as more effort is needed to remove the poo.

How to remove bird poo safely

Before getting to work you need to ensure the bird poo isn’t dry as you could end up scratching or damaging your paintwork further when you come to wipe it away.

Bird lime remover

Specialist bird poo removing sprays, commonly marketed as ‘bird lime removers’ can be found on the shelves in many petrol stations, motor factors stores, or regular shops which sell car care products. 

Bird lime removers can help breakdown and neutralise the acidic nature of bird poo. All you have to do is spray a liberal amount of the solution onto the bird mess, making sure it is fully saturated before letting it sit for a few minutes.

Then gently wipe to lift away the softened mess using a sponge or microfibre cloth. Avoid scrubbing any stubborn areas as you could damage or scratch the paintwork further. 

If there are any areas which are difficult to remove, just apply more of the solution and repeat the process until it has all been removed.

Car shampoo

Many car shampoos now come with bird poo-busting ingredients that are designed to break down bird poop, as well as general road grime, salt and tar. 

Car shampoo can also protect car paint, and this added layer of protection will help prevent paint damage from any future bird-related damage. 

Simply mix a solution of car shampoo and water in a spray bottle and apply to the bird poo making sure it is fully saturated. Then leave it to sit for a few minutes before removing with a clean microfibre cloth or sponge.

We would recommend using a wax or sealant 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.

However you plan to remove bird poo from your car, never be tempted to use washing up liquid as most contain aggressive and harsh chemicals which can damage your paintwork.

How to remove bird poo from windows and glass

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. To restore your plastics and rubbers, you can use a black plastic and rubber restorer to bring them back to their best.

How to remove bird poo stains from paintwork

If bird poo has left a stain on your car’s paintwork, you might be able to remove the marks from your paintwork yourself.

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. 

If the bird poo was particularly acidic, or left on the paint surface for a long time then you might need to call a professional bodyshop or 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.