Published
Can bird droppings damage your car's paint?
Yes. Bird droppings are acidic, and as they dry on the surface they can etch a dull mark into the clear coat that won't come off in a wash. The sooner the droppings are removed, the smaller the risk. Soften them first and lift them off; don't rub.
Why droppings damage paint
The acidity of the droppings eats into the clear coat when it is left to act for a long time. Heat makes things worse: in the sun the surface warms up, and the droppings dry into a hard crust pressed tightly against the paint. Dried droppings can leave a pattern in the clear coat that is still visible after washing.
Droppings often contain seeds and grit as well. If they are rubbed off dry, these scratch the surface and the damage gets even worse.
How to remove droppings
- Wet the droppings. Lay a wet cloth or piece of paper over them and leave it for a moment until the droppings soften.
- Lift the softened droppings off in a single wipe. Don't rub back and forth.
- Rinse the spot with water and dry it with a soft cloth.
Keep a bottle of water and a couple of clean microfibre cloths in the car, so you can remove droppings straight away rather than waiting until you get home. If the droppings have already dried hard, wet them again and let them soak for longer. Dry kitchen roll, fingernails and ice scrapers all cause scratches.
If a mark is left
If a dull patch or pattern remains after you have removed the droppings, they have had time to etch the clear coat. A surface mark may fade or disappear with polishing: Paint polishing costs €350–450. A deeply etched mark won't come out with polishing and needs a paint repair.
If you are not sure which it is, call 010 508 9300. We can look at the mark and assess what can be done about it.
Protection buys you time
Wax or a coating is a layer on top of the paint that the droppings land on first. It doesn't make the surface resistant to droppings, but they come off a protected surface more easily and you have more time to remove them.
If your car is often parked under trees or somewhere with a lot of birds, it's worth keeping the protection up all year round. Hard wax (€129–149) protects for 6–8 months and Premium wax (€199–239) for about a year. We cover coatings in our article on wax versus coating.
Protect your paintwork
Hard wax €129–149, with the preparation work and a hand wash included in the price. When booking, you will see the price for your car.