Parked my car under some trees - and upon my return, some birds have left some "calling cards" for me. What is the best way to remove it, if I am not going to wash the car for a week or 2 ?

 

It's best that you remove this mess ASAP. Don't wait, as these droppings can etch the paint rather quickly depending on the bird's diet. I'd use a few cotton or microfiber towels. Spray the area liberally with water or use a Quik Detailer to soften and remove most of the deposit. Then with a pinching and lifting motion, try to remove any remaining deposit. Use caution when removing, as in many cases these droppings will contain sand or gravel, part of the birds diet, and just wiping will likely induce marring. I'd then wipe the area with some baking soda dissolved in water to neutralize any remaining acid and I'd dry and re-wax the affected area.

Bird droppings are like a ticking time bombs. Some are duds and don't cause harm but frequently they cause great damage in a short amount of time. Much depends on what the bird has been eating. The droppings themselves are highly acidic and as such will etch paint if left in contact. As they dry, the acid becomes even more potent. Couple that with the fact that water and dew wil re-invigorate the acid, and you have the potential for permanent paint damage. Automotive paint is paper thin and quite vulnerable to such an attack. I've worked on many cars where etching caused by bird droppings was beyond polishing out.

No wax or sealant can prevent this damage. Some can delay the etching but none can stave off the effect of acid for long.

If you haven't already done so, go out right now and remove the droppings.

Here is a photo of damage courtesy of MeguiarsOnLine:


If you find that etching has occurred, let us know as we can offer some help mitigating the damage.

 

thank you very much indeed jfelbab. Some very handy tips - its a new car, so just want to make sure I look after the paint..

Many thanks

 

Many of us keep a bottle of Quick Detailer and a couple microfibers in our car just for such an occurrence so we can remove the deposits immediately. They fit in the door sills nicely.

 

I either use a quick detailer or an all purpose cleaner. If I spot it early then I blast it with the quick detailer to let it loosen the deposit. Then I damp it with a mf towel and continue the process. It goes like this, blast it, damp it, blast it, damp it. If it's dried up then I have no choice but to use my Opt Power Clean to dissolve it away. You will need to rewax that area afterwards.

 

So the next question.....What do you do when the bird droppings have etched the paint? My wife has a spot on her hood that looks just like the picture above. The car has been clayed and the bird droppings in now smooth with the rest of the paint.

I've got a PC and some products, just not sure how to go about this....?

 

Bird etching is usually best performed by hand as the area is typically small and you can apply more direct pressure to the smaller area with your fingers.

Before you begin, inspect the damage closely. Occasionally, the damage is so deep that it cannot be safely removed without cutting through the clear coat and exposing the base coat. If this occurs, you'll need to get the spot resprayed. A good paint shop can wet sand and airbrush blend in some new clear.

Assuming the damage is not that severe, using a polish like Ultimate Compound and a microfiber covered foam pad should do the job. Use heavy, brisk strokes and lighten up the pressure as the area smooths out. You will have to rub with some passion and likely multiple passes to remove the damage. You might have to use a finer polish with a foam pad to finish the repair.

Be aware that your clear coat is very, very thin and that this damage will likely come back in the form of early CC failure at that spot in the future. That's why it is so vital to get the droppings off the paint before they can cause damage. Not always possible, I know, but I keep a bottle of QD and a few MF towels in the car to assist in getting the crud off as soon as I can.

 

Thanks. I will give that a try. I've told my wife, time and time again. Yet she must have left some on there. It looks pretty bad on the hood. Pretty much just like the picture you posted above.

I just had a large on on my hood last night. Pulled into the driveway, got out my quick detailer and a microfiber towell and it came right off.

 

Try this thread Bird Droppings - Ask the Experts. There is a lot of very useful information there.