Remove bird droppings and tree sap the same day if you can. Soak the spot with water or a damp cloth until it softens, lift it off, then wash and re-protect the area. Never scrub or scrape it dry. If a dull mark stays behind, the clear coat is etched and needs machine polishing, from $264.
Plenty of streets in Berwick and Beaconsfield are lined with mature trees. The best known row is the Beaconsfield Avenue of Honour, poplars planted in 1919 along High Street on the way into Berwick from Cardinia Creek. Shade is kind to a car. What falls out of the canopy isn't.
Why do bird droppings damage car paint?
Two things are going on. The first is chemistry: Mazda's owner's manual says bird droppings "contain acids" which, if not removed, "can eat away the clear and colour base coat".
The second is heat. Ford's paint engineers test finishes with synthetic droppings baked at 40, 50 and 60 degrees. They explain that paint "can also soften and expand under intense sunlight", and that when it cools "it contracts and any grime, including bird droppings, attaches itself to the surface" (quoted by ClassicCars.com Journal). Left there, Ford says, it "can leave a permanent impression that requires specialist treatment to remove". That's the dull outline you find after a dropping has baked on a bonnet through a warm afternoon.
How long before bird droppings damage paint?
Nobody credible gives an exact number of hours, and we won't invent one. Kia's owner's manual says droppings "may damage painted surfaces in just a few hours". How fast depends on heat, direct sun, the paint and what the bird ate (Ford mixes its test droppings to match different diets, because the acidity varies). On a hot panel, treat it as urgent.
What about tree sap?
Sap does its damage by setting. Mazda again: "Tree sap will harden and adhere permanently to the paint finish. If you scratch the sap off while it is hard, some vehicle paint could come off with it." Hardened sap has to be dissolved, never picked.
What to do the same day
- Soak. Lay a wet microfibre cloth over the spot for a few minutes. Mazda suggests "a soft sponge and water", or "a moistened tissue" if you're away from home.
- Lift. Pinch the softened mess up and away. Don't wipe it across the panel, because anything gritty in it will scratch.
- Wash. Clean the area with car shampoo and water, then rinse.
- Re-protect. Mazda says the cleaned area should be waxed. A spray wax or sealant does it.
Safe removal of hardened sap
Mazda's method is to cover the area "with dampened newspaper for one to two hours", then rinse off what has loosened. If a bead remains, put a tar and sap remover made for car paint on a microfibre cloth, hold it on the spot until the sap softens, and wipe gently. Then wash and re-protect, because Kia notes that a spot remover "will usually strip the wax from the finish".
What not to use
| Don't use | Why | Do this instead |
|---|---|---|
| Fingernail, scraper or razor blade | Hard sap can take paint with it (Mazda) | Soak, then a sap remover |
| Dry tissue or dry cloth | Drags grit across the clear coat | Wet cloth, lift rather than wipe |
| Kitchen scourer or abrasive cleaner | Abrasives scratch paint (Mazda) | Microfibre and car shampoo |
| Strong soap, chemical detergents or hot water | Kia's manual says not to | Mild soap made for vehicles |
When is the mark already etched?
Wash the spot and look at it dry, in good light. If you can still see a dull patch, a ring or a wrinkled outline where the dropping sat, the damage is in the clear coat. More scrubbing won't help and usually adds scratches around it.
The fix is machine polishing, which levels a very thin layer of clear coat until the mark is reduced or gone. Our Cut & Polish costs $264 for a hatch or sedan, $294 for a small SUV or wagon and $324 for a large SUV, 4WD or 7 seater. Light etching usually improves a lot, while a mark that has gone right through the clear coat won't polish out and needs a paint shop. Our guide to cut and polish versus paint correction explains where the line sits.
Prevention
- Parking. Avoid parking directly under branches, light poles and power lines.
- Regular washes. A wash every week or two catches droppings before they bake on. A Mini Detail ($89 / $99 / $115) includes a snow foam hand wash and a protective spray wax sealant.
- Sealant or coating. Ford suggests waxing once or twice a year. Wax, sealant or a ceramic coating puts a layer between the mess and the clear coat. None of them makes paint immune.
- A glovebox kit. A small bottle of water and a clean microfibre cloth let you soak and lift on the spot.
Frequently asked questions
Do bird droppings damage car paint permanently?
They can. Removed the same day, a dropping usually leaves nothing behind. Left to bake, it can etch the clear coat. Light etching often polishes out. Damage through the clear coat needs repainting.
Will a normal car wash remove tree sap?
Fresh sap often washes off. Hardened sap usually doesn't. Kia's manual notes that even prompt washing with plain water may not completely remove deposits like sap, so soak it and use a tar and sap remover made for car paint.
Does a ceramic coating stop bird dropping etching?
Not completely. A coating or sealant makes the dropping easier to lift, but droppings left to bake can still leave a mark.
Got a mark that won't wash off? See our packages and prices or book a detail. We come to your home or workplace across Berwick, Beaconsfield and the rest of Melbourne's south east, 7 days a week.