Bird Poo

[spikeyboy]

One thing im sure we all hate with a passion is bird crap on the car - in the past i have taken it off as soon as i see it (learnt my lesson on what happens when you leave it on)

now the question is what is the best way to remove bird crap from your car, and once removed does the area need to be treated ??

[JonC]

I presume it's gone hard and dry, so all it needs is to be softened (ensuring all the crap is softened) with a fairly damp soft cloth and removed gently. To be on the safe side, treat the area with your LSP.

[OGWT]

Excrement Removal

To remove bird excrement without causing scratches; apply very little surface pressure, dusting with long strokes in one direction only, use a product that contains a surfactant; this will lessen surface scratching as they ‘lift’ dust etc into the media used avoiding surface friction (use a solution of Optimum no-rinse (ONR) diluted 1:20 / distilled water in a fine mist spray bottle) Use a long nap micro fibre towel to ensure the dust lifted from the paint surface will remain in the nap and not on the towel surface thereby causing surface marring. Shake the towel occasionally to ensure any particles picked up will drop out rather than come to the surface while you’re using it. Renew the shine - Optimum QD don’t use on a hot paint surface (soon after driving) as this will cause streaking

Do not scrub hardened/dried excrement residue as it is very abrasive and will scratch the paint surface, once they are softened (re-liquefied) it enables their removal with less likelihood of damage to the paint surface Do not use on a hot paint surface (soon after driving) as this will cause streaking?

[steelwind101]

Not a damp cloth! You need some quick detailer, spray that on the area in question and leave it for a second. The QD should then start to gently soften then encapsulate the bird crap and dust around it. You can then wipe it away. Anywhere your wiping you want have lubricated with QD and always use a good microfibre cloth.

If the car is really dirty then washing it is the best way to go. Even with a QD running a cloth across the paintwork will move dirt and cause marring as there will be more dirt then the QD can encapsulate.

Most QD's provide some kind of protection, this would probably see you over to the next wash. In general natural (nuba) waxes like the one Nathan applied to your car will stand up better to birds crap then synthetic ones.

[steelwind101]

I was going to add, let me know where you are buying your polishes from and i can let you know some good QD's. More or less ones that would work out good for this task would be, Spray and Wipe, Quik Shine, Megs NXT, Megs Quik Detailer, Last Touch.

[OGWT]

Avoid using a QD spray to flush residue, as they contain either carnauba wax or polymer sealants, which will seal the acid and not allow it to dissipate. Using an alkaline rinse of baking soda and water (to neutralize the acid) as soon as is practical is highly recommended, if the affected paintwork is not neutralized any remaining acid residue will be reactivated with water (moisture, rain, etc).

[steelwind101]

OGWT: Good point, thats why i recommended mainly cleaning QD's Quik Detailer and Spray and Wipe as examples.

[spikeyboy]

thanks - already have two bottles of megs nxt speed detailer - is this ok to use ?

or Zymol field glaze

[steelwind101]

Speed detailer would be great! Dont use the Field Glaze for this kinda clean up.

[spikeyboy]

thanks - speed detailer worked a treat

far better than my old method which i wont scare you with