Birds can be fun to watch; however, the damage that they might do to your deck and outdoor furniture isn’t attractive. Bird poop is not only unsightly, but it can also be a health hazard to humans.

Dried bird poop can cause histoplasmosis, a respiratory disease that might be fatal. The disease results from a fungus growing in dried bird droppings.

You should get rid of bird poop immediately before it accumulates on your deck. Here is how to do it:

Does Bird Poop Stain Decks?

Bird poop can stain your deck if it stays there for too long. However, you must take certain precautions when cleaning the poop because dried poop can be toxic to humans. You can spray the deck with a hose that has decent water pressure to clear up most surface stains.

If the stains are too tough, you can use a commercial deck cleaner, diluted bleach, or soap to eliminate them. However, it’s best to understand that different deck surfaces have different needs; therefore, it’s crucial to choose a suitable cleaner for your surface.

How to Clean Bird Poop off Wood Balcony

It’s soothing to sit on your wood balcony and watch birds fly around. However, finding bird poop all over your patio isn’t interesting at all. Cleaning bird droppings is not a difficult task; however, you should choose an appropriate cleaning technique that ensures you get the poop stains off without compromising the quality of the wood.

Here is how you can clean bird poop off your wood balcony:

What You Need

• Rubber gloves
• Mask
• Hot water
• Bucket
• Liquid dishwashing soap
• Stiff scrub brush
• Garden hose

Procedure

1. Put on gloves and a mask to protect yourself.
2. Fill a bucket with hot water and add a few squirts of the liquid dishwashing soap. Mix the warm water and soap well.
3. Dip a stiff scrub brush in the warm water and soap solution. Scrub as much of the bird poop from the wood as you can.
4. Use water from the garden hose to remove the soap and loosened bird droppings. Next, inspect the balcony to establish if you’ve eliminated all the droppings. After that, you might only need soapy water and a scrub brush, depending on the severity of the bird droppings.
5. You might have to use a commercial wood deck cleaner if some of the stains are still there. You should choose an eco-friendly product that is safe for plants around your home. Follow the directions on your chosen cleaner because they will vary among different cleaning products.
6. Rinse the deck well after cleaning.

You should always remove bird poop from your wood balcony as soon as possible because the longer it sits, the more damage it can cause to your surface, including eating away wood finishes or paint.

If your wood balcony is not finished or you plan to refinish it, you can use some sandpaper to scrub off the bird droppings. However, you should avoid sanding if the wood is finished because sanding will remove surface applications, making your balcony undesirable.

You should avoid scraping up the bird poop on windy days or going too quickly because you don’t want to spread the dust from dried-out bird poop, which might harden like cement.

Additionally, bird poop is acidic; hence, inhaling any airborne poop particles might lead to potential sickness. Therefore, it is best to wear a mask and protective rubber gloves before embarking on cleaning bird droppings from your wood balcony.

How to Clean Bird Poop off Concrete

A bird’s chirping is a relaxing way to wake up in the morning; however, cleaning bird poop from your patio or driveway isn’t so glorious. The biggest issue with having bird poop on a concrete surface is its acidity level. Bird poop can become pretty acidic over time, leading to corrosion to your concrete surface.

Additionally, bird droppings can also carry various diseases; therefore, you should take necessary precautions when cleaning up the droppings, including wearing rubber gloves and a mask.

While every concrete surface is unique, the process of removing bird poop from such surfaces is universal. Here is how to do it:

What You Need

• Liquid dishwashing detergent
• Garden hose
• Natural fiber scrub brush
• Broom
• Plastic putty knife or a scraping tool
• Sawdust or cat litter
• Paper towels or a rag
• Rubber gloves
• Mask

Procedure

1. Scrape off dried bird poop using a plastic putty knife or a similar scraping tool. Scraping cuts down the amount of poop that will find its way to the surrounding areas of your concrete surface during cleaning.
2. Use a garden hose to clean off as much debris as you can. You can use a power washer if there are any tough stains on the concrete surface. However, be sure to set the washer to a light setting.
3. Put some liquid dishwashing soap on the bird poop stains, get a bristle brush, and start scrubbing to loosen the stains.
4. You can rinse the concrete surface with a garden hose; however, if you’re looking for an alternative cleanup method or don’t want to rinse the droppings into the surrounding areas, you can put something dry and absorbent on top of the loosened droppings.

If the droppings are few, you can put a rag or a paper towel. However, if there is a lot of bird poop, cover it in cat litter or sawdust.  Wait for a few minutes, and then use a broom and dustpan to sweep up the mess.

• The steps above should take care of the bird droppings stains. However, if tough stains are still present, you can create a homemade bird poop cleaner by following this procedure:
• Fill an empty spray bottle with half vinegar and half water. Shake the bottle around to get a perfect mixture.
• Spray the tough stains with the diluted vinegar solution and let it sit for at least thirty minutes. The stained areas will turn the clear mixture into a white or green opaque liquid, depending on the poop’s color.
• Rinse the concrete surface with club soda because the acidic qualities of bird poop are likely to break down with carbonation. Carbon soda will react to any bird droppings stains that remain on the concrete surface, bubble for a while, and runoff. However, if you’re cleaning a larger area, it might be best to dilute the club soda with equal parts of water and rinse the stained surface with the solution.

How to Clean Bird Poop off Wood Furniture

The high concentration of uric acid in bird poop can leave a yellow residue and discolor your wood furniture. Therefore, it is best to clean off droppings as quickly as possible to ensure less time for any corrosion.

Here is how to eliminate bird droppings from your wood furniture:

What You Need

• Spray bottle
• Mild detergent
• Hot water
• Sponge or a washcloth

Procedure

1. Fill an empty spray bottle with mild detergent and hot water. This simple cleaning solution is pretty effective in removing bird droppings from your wood furniture.
2. Apply your homemade cleaning solution to the areas of your furniture that have bird droppings.
3. Let the solution sit for at least thirty minutes, and then use a washcloth or sponge to wipe away the bird droppings.
4. Repeat the process until your furniture is entirely dropping-free.
5. If the soapy water does not remove bird poop, you can opt for specialist disinfectants, which remove bird poop and offer some protection to your wood furniture. First, however, confirm if the specialist disinfectants are safe for your wood furniture.

How to Clean Bird Poop off a Trex Deck

You most likely chose a Trex deck because it’s low-maintenance and durable. However, you will still have to clean bird droppings to ensure that it’s looking clean and great. Here is how to do it:

What You Need

• Garden hose
• Soft-bristle brush
• Warm water
• Dishwashing liquid soap

Procedure

1. Spray the Trex deck with a garden hose to remove the bird droppings, debris, and other surface dirt.
2. Make a soapy solution by mixing warm water and the dishwashing liquid and pour it to the Trex deck.
3. Scrub the deck using a soft-bristle brush. The brush ensures that you remove any dirt in the embossed pattern.
4. If bird stains are present after following the above steps, apply a commercial deck brightener as soon as the deck is dry to help remove the stains. Be sure to follow the manufacturer’s instructions, and confirm whether the cleaner contains acid or bleach. If it does, it is most likely to lighten your Trex deck; therefore, apply some bit of the cleaner to an inconspicuous area first to find out whether you like the look.

You can pressure wash your Trex deck; however, ensure that the pressure washer doesn’t exceed 3,100 psi because it could damage the deck. If you opt to use a pressure washer when cleaning off bird poop, you should first spray the deck with commercial pressure washer soap. Next, proceed to scrub each stained board with a soft-bristle brush, and then rinse thoroughly with a pressure washer fan tip that isn’t more than eight inches from the surface.

Check this too: How to Clean Baseboards

You shouldn’t pressure wash your deck if it’s created from earlier generation Trex products because doing so might damage the decking materials.

How to Clean Bird Poop off Metal

The acidity in bird poop can lead to metal corrosion; therefore, you should clean the droppings off a metal surface as soon as possible to avoid corrosion. Here is how to do it:

What You Need

• Rubber gloves
• Filtering mask
• Spray bottle
• Warm water
• Enzyme-based detergent
• Paper towels or a disposable rag
• Zippered plastic bag
• Garden hose
• Mild dish soap

Procedure

1. Wear rubber gloves and a filtering mask.
2. Fill the spray bottle with warm water and a tablespoon of an enzyme-based detergent.  You can also opt for a commercial bird-waste remover.
3. Soak the bird droppings with the soapy water solution to prevent the matter from being airborne.
4. Wet a disposable rag or paper towels with diluted enzyme detergent or bird-waste remover. Lay the disposable rag or the paper towels over the droppings and leave them there for at least fifteen minutes.
5. Remove the paper towels or rag and place them in a zippered plastic bag. Throw the load into an outdoor trash receptacle.
6. Twist a nozzle onto a garden hose and direct water at the bird droppings. Let the water push the debris off the metal surface.
7. Dampen a rag with water and add a squirt of mild dish soap. Rub the metal surface lightly in a circular motion. Rinse the metal surface with the garden hose until no detergent residue remains, and then dry it off with a microfiber cloth.
8. If your metal is painted, inspect it for any signs of damage. If there is any damage, apply a small amount of fine polishing compound and rub the surface with a soft rag to blend the damage with the paint. Next, apply color wax to the area, allow it to dry, and buff with a soft rag.

You might be tempted to wipe off bird droppings from a painted metal surface; however, don’t do it because the waste contains abrasive matter.

ProTip: A good way to reduce how much cleaning you have to do is to get rid of the birds or make your home less attractive to them

What Is the Best Cleaner for Bird Poop?

Cleaning bird poop on the deck and other surfaces is a pretty challenging task, especially if you’re cleaning a large surface. You can use commercial cleaners to make your work easier. Here are some of the commercial cleaners that you should try:

Krud Kutter

If you’re cleaning a large surface with many bird droppings, you can opt for Krud Kutter. You can use the cleaner on brick, concrete, asphalt, and masonry to cut through the toughest bird poop stains.

The best thing is that the cleaner comes in a dilutable format, which you can spray on the affected area.

Simple Green Oxy Solve Deck and Fence Pressure Washer Cleaner

You can opt for Simple Green Oxy Solve Deck and Fence Pressure Washer Cleaner if your deck is covered with bird poop. The cleaner does a good job, especially if you’re cleaning a large surface, and it’s capable of lifting the toughest stains. In addition, the cleaner doesn’t contain harsh chemicals, and you can dilute it to use as a spray or use it with a pressure washer.

Commercial bird poop cleaners can irritate your skin and eyes; therefore, it’s prudent to protect them when using commercial cleaners. Purchase a pair of safety goggles and chemical-resistant nitrile gloves and gear up before attempting to use commercial cleaners to clean bird poop off surfaces.

How Do You Remove Dried Bird Poop?

You can remove dried bird poop from most surfaces using seltzer water. The carbonation from seltzer water breaks up dried bird poop to help clean up surfaces. Here is how to do it:

1. Pour some club soda or seltzer water directly on the dried bird poop stain, and allow it to bubble for at least thirty seconds.
2. Wipe the surface with a damp, clean sponge or cloth.
3. Rinse the surface thoroughly using a garden hose.

It’s best to understand that you can’t use all carbonated drinks to clean surfaces filled with dried bird poop because some of them can damage the surfaces.

Does Vinegar Clean Bird Poop?

You can use white vinegar to clean bird poop, especially if the poop caused tough stains on a concrete surface. You will have to fill an empty spray bottle with half vinegar and half bottle, mix it thoroughly and spray the diluted solution on the stained surface. Let the solution sit for at least thirty minutes to get the best results.

Apple cider vinegar (ACV) also removes dried bird poop. It not only cleans well, but it’s also a deterrent for birds; therefore, you might have to clean less in the long run. However, it’s not advisable to use ACV on car paintwork because its acidic nature can attack the clear coat, making the car’s paint look dull over time.

Does WD-40 Remove Bird Poop?

Finding bird poop on your car, especially on a busy morning, is not attractive. If you’re in a hurry and looking for a quick solution for bird poop on your car, you can opt for WD-40. It has many uses, including removing bird poop from your car.

WD-40 is generally safe to use on your car paint; hence, you don’t have to worry when using it. If there is bird poop on your vehicle, spray WD-40 on it, let it sit for at least thirty minutes, and wipe gently using a damp sponge or a clean microfiber cloth.

Once you’ve removed the bird droppings using WD-40, it’s advisable to wash your car and apply a fresh coat of wax or a similar vehicle protectant.

Check this too: How to Clean Rubber Flooring

If you don’t have WD-40, you can use a solution of hot water and baking soda to remove bird poop. Mix a liter of warm water with four tablespoons of baking soda. Shake the solution, spray it on the bird poop stain, and allow it to soak for ten minutes. Finally, rinse off with a hose.

Although birds are beautiful creatures, their poop can cause stains on various surfaces and is a health hazard to humans. It’s easier to handle bird poop before it dries up and stains surfaces; however, ensure that you wear protective gear when handling the droppings.