How to safely remove a dried bird dropping

[Mike Phillips]

How to safely remove a dried bird dropping (http://www.autopiaforums.com/forums/autogeek-net-sponsored-forum/28274-how-safely-remove-dried-bird-dropping.html)


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If you have a completely dried bird dropping on your car`s finish, and you DON`T have access to a water hose with free flowing water, then instead of wiping it off with a spray detailer or worse, scrubbing it off, do this instead,


Take a clean microfiber polishing cloth, fold it four ways to create a thick, plush wiping cloth.


Next, spray one side with your favorite spray detailer, the idea is to hyper-lubricate the entire face of one side.


Next place it onto the dried bird dropping.


Wet the cloth with water until the entire cloth is saturated but not to the point where water is running down the hood. The idea is to have plenty of water present to soak into the dried bird dropping.


Let the wet cloth stand on the dried bird dropping for 5-10 minutes.


Now, carefully enclose the wet-microfiber around the bird dropping using your hand and fingers , you`re trying to carefully bunch-up the microfiber and then LIFT the bird dropping off the paint. Don`t simply wipe the bird dropping over the paint.



Simulated bird dropping that has landed on the middle of the hood. In the real world, bird droppings contain Uric Acid and if not removed in a very short period of time they can actually eat through a coating of wax or paint sealant and etch or eat into the paint.
http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/719/HowToSafelyLoosenaDriedBirdDropping1.jpg



Simulated bird dropping using Meguiar`s M205 with a little Wolfgang Finishing Glaze mixed on top for visual effect. Note, because the focus of this how-to article is on technique, we did not let the polishes dry as that`s not a good practice but we think you`ll get the idea.
http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/719/HowToSafelyLoosenaDriedBirdDropping2.jpg



Mist on a wet or heavy application of your favorite spray detailer detailer to hyper-lubricate one folded side.
http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/719/HowToSafelyLoosenaDriedBirdDropping3.jpg



Gently place the wet side of the microfiber onto the bird dropping.
http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/719/HowToSafelyLoosenaDriedBirdDropping4.jpg


Now add water to saturate your microfiber but don`t add so much that you have water running off the hood. Allow 5-10 minutes to pass so the water can soak into the dried bird dropping in an effort to re-liquefy to make it soft so as to reduce the potential of instilling any swirls and scratches from dried bird dropping being rubbed against the paint.
http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/719/HowToSafelyLoosenaDriedBirdDropping5.jpg



Now carefully use your hand to scrunch or bunch up the microfiber around the now liquefied bird dropping and then lift the bird dropping up and off the paint. Don`t simply wipe the bird dropping over the paint.
http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/719/HowToSafelyLoosenaDriedBirdDropping6.jpg

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/719/HowToSafelyLoosenaDriedBirdDropping7.jpg

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/719/HowToSafelyLoosenaDriedBirdDropping8.jpg


Give the area a final wipe using a new, clean fresh microfiber polishing towel using your favorite spray detailer.
http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/719/HowToSafelyLoosenaDriedBirdDropping9.jpg



Bird Dropping Etchings
If you notice any etching in the paint left by the bird dropping you`ll need to use a compound, paint cleaner or swirl mark remover by hand or machine to carefully remove the etching and then afterwards polish the paint to a high gloss and re-apply your favorite wax or paint sealant.

If you need helps with removing an etching by hand or machine, post your question to the Autogeek Online Discussion Forum (http://www.autogeekonline.net/) and we`ll be happy to walk you through the process.


Products shown
Pinnacle XMT Final Finish Instant Detailer - 12 ounces (http://www.autogeek.net/xmt-final-finish-detail-spray.html)
Cobra Arctic White Edgeless Microfiber Polishing Cloth (http://www.autogeek.net/corbra-teal-edgeless-microfiber-cloth.html)


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[Mike Phillips]

***Update***

Below is another reason to lift bird droppings off instead of wiping them off posted by Michael Stoops the Admin on MeguiarsOnline.com I`ve never owned any pet birds so I didn`t know about the need for gravel or stones with bird food for digestion which can cause a potential problem with instilling scratches into car paint if a bird dropping is wiped off. I always like to give due credit where credit is due so I`ve simply quoted him off of MOL and added it to this reply.

How to safely remove a dried bird dropping - Thread on MOL (http://meguiarsonline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=40155)





Another reason why you should lift the bird dropping off of the paint rather than wiping, is because of how birds digest food. If you`ve ever had a pet bird you know that you need to add gravel to their food seed.

Birds require gravel and/or even small stones to help them grind up and digest food, primarily seeds that are swallowed whole and need to be literally ground down in the gizzard.

Inevitably, some of this gravel, sand or other abrasive particulate matter is going to be passed through their system and end up in that dropping on the hood of your car.

Simply wiping the dropping off the paint can potentially lead to a grinding of this particulate against the paint, which is obviously not a good thing.



Just thought the above made a nice addition to this article.

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