[Denali AWD]

I thought I would share how I have been handling removing bird droppings and other crud from the paint.

You park somewhere and it's 90 degrees out and when you return you find a present from one of our feathered friends that has dried as hard as a rock on your shiny paint.

The easiest way is to remove the bird droppings is as quickly as possible as the longer it sits the greater chance of it etching into the paint and leaving a permanent mark but as we all know sometimes that isn't possible.

Resist the urge to remove or scrape it off dry. You will probably scratch the paint.

Take a small rag or paper towel and soak it in water or, even better, some detailing spray and soak the rag. Fold it up into a small square that overlaps the dropping and gently press it down over the spot and let it sit. How long depends on how long it's been there. Just check from time to time, keep the rag soaking wet and wait until the dropping has completely liquified.

After it has liquified gently remove the dropping with the rag and you should have a nice clean spot with no scratches. If there is a stain left over after removing it will take some extra work with some polish or polishing compound to return it to normal.

Time is the key. The quicker you remove it the less chance it will leave a mark.

 

[RIT333]

Great post ! I have been doing that and it is a good method.

 

[Terrain11SLE]

Great advice! I recently bought my Terrain (2011) and I hate to park it and come back to it with bird poop all over it. I'll start doing that. Thanks.

 

[fourmoremarine]

I thought I would share how I have been handling removing bird droppings and other crud from the paint.

You park somewhere and it's 90 degrees out and when you return you find a present from one of our feathered friends that has dried as hard as a rock on your shiny paint.

The easiest way is to remove the bird droppings is as quickly as possible as the longer it sits the greater chance of it etching into the paint and leaving a permanent mark but as we all know sometimes that isn't possible.

Resist the urge to remove or scrape it off dry. You will probably scratch the paint.

Take a small rag or paper towel and soak it in water or, even better, some detailing spray and soak the rag. Fold it up into a small square that overlaps the dropping and gently press it down over the spot and let it sit. How long depends on how long it's been there. Just check from time to time, keep the rag soaking wet and wait until the dropping has completely liquified.

After it has liquified gently remove the dropping with the rag and you should have a nice clean spot with no scratches. If there is a stain left over after removing it will take some extra work with some polish or polishing compound to return it to normal.

Time is the key. The quicker you remove it the less chance it will leave a mark.

Right from the Mequiars playbook thanks for sharing Mequiars has other great tips on their website...

 

[GARYD]

Yes, time is everything. My Vette had a surprise for me years ago and it stained the paint and I never could get it out. Wasn't real noticable - - to others, but to me it looked like a flashing red light.
That's the same principle we use to clean our motorcycle windshields. Soak a towel in "COLD" water and then just lay the towel over the windshield for an hour or so - no scratched windshield. Can't remember why cold water was better then hot water in removing bird droppings or bug guts.

 

[Arrowhead32]

any advice on how to remove tree sap droppings? When those settle into the windshield or worse, the paint, it's so hard to remove it without being aggressive.

 

[fourmoremarine]

any advice on how to remove tree sap droppings? When those settle into the windshield or worse, the paint, it's so hard to remove it without being aggressive.

I've used rubbing alcohol in the past to get pine tree sap off my vehicle Desolves it pretty fast then I rewax the area that the sap was in... Works for me, but I'm no expert detailer

 

[RIT333]

If it has dried on, then many people suggest laying a wet towel over it to moisten the poop,and then gently try to remove it with water. Never try to remove it when it is dry - nothing good can come from that !

 

[GARYD]

I've had great luck with Turtle Wax Tar and Sap remover..

 

[teetertotter]

Bucket of water with car shampoo and Safe Scrub Bug & Tar pad. Use for bugs too.

 

[Zach]

Be careful using rubbing alcohol on the paint , it removes the wax . hno:

 

[fourmoremarine]

Be careful using rubbing alcohol on the paint , it removes the wax . hno:

I've used rubbing alcohol in the past to get pine tree sap off my vehicle Desolves it pretty fast then I rewax the area that the sap was in... Works for me, but I'm no expert detailer

 

[Paul79UF]

I've used rubbing alcohol in the past to get pine tree sap off my vehicle Desolves it pretty fast then I rewax the area that the sap was in... Works for me, but I'm no expert detailer

I've done the same thing for sap and also hard water spots but with household vinegar (5% acid level).

I parked in a spot at an apartment complex right next to the sprinkler. Looking at the hard water spots drove me crazy for a few days.

 

[Terrainguy1978]

Now that bird poop season is here, I have my "summer kit" back in the truck- which consists of the following items:

1. Ample fresh clean microfibre towels ( I use diffrent colours for different parts of the car... blue for paint, green for wheels & trim, yellow for wiping under the hood... as they can get pretty mucky with a regular washing process!)

2. Quick Detailer.... NEVER leave home without it!!! This stuff is your best friend!! Bird poo.... bug splatter... foreign black goop.... ALWAYS carry it!

3. Good tire dressing

4. Latex gloves

Yes, I carry latex gloves! A box of 100 is $5, and putting these on before you start squirting the tire dressing let me tell you.... you won't get those gooey black fingernails!!!

Perhaps one of these days I'll write a "Detailing the Terrain the easy way!" column!!

 

[dman001948]

Just for you alls info. The best and cheapest product I found to clean bugs and light cleaning is the good old Blue Water you buy for you window washers....I put some in a spray bottle, spray the bug area and wipe off. To include bird poop, but not not so good for tar...

 

[GARYD]

Whatever you use - get it off immediately or faster.
Years ago I got zapped with bird %$#@ at the office. As soon as I noticed it after work I wiped it off, but there is a slight discoloring there now - ever so lightly. Most people don't see it, but to me it looks like red wine on a white carpet.

 

[Witention]

Interestingly I had a bird dropping on the front hood that got left on for a while. I don't see anything on the paint, but it definitely etched the plastic nose cone.

 

[RIT333]

Interestingly I had a bird dropping on the front hood that got left on for a while. I don't see anything on the paint, but it definitely etched the plastic nose cone.

Probably can't see anything on the paint because it, and the metal that the paint was attached to, are no longer on the car. LOL TGIF