Poultry droppings not only look unattractive, but they also have a strong acidic effect and dries quickly, which makes it difficult to remove. If the droppings are not removed immediately, it can dig into the surface and damage it. If you are unlucky and the bird has stained an item of value to you, the best thing you can do is to immediately start removing the stain in the most gentle way available.
Steps
Method 1 of 4: Cleaning upholstered furniture and carpets
Step 1. First, remove the bulk of the droppings with a rag
Use a rag soaked in warm water to wipe the stain several times to remove most of the bird droppings. On carpets and upholstered furniture, the bulk of bird droppings remains and hardens on the surface of the material, making it easier to remove. So grab a wet rag and scrub or wipe off bird droppings from carpeting or upholstery.
Step 2. Apply carpet or upholstery cleaner to the stain
Depending on what kind of surface you are cleaning and what materials it is made of, you need to purchase a special cleaning agent that is guaranteed not to cause any harm to this surface. Most specialty carpet cleaners and even all-purpose cleaners are gentle enough to clean any kind of carpet. And special foaming products for cleaning upholstered furniture can be easily found in almost any supermarket. Spray enough cleaner onto the stain to completely cover the area it covers.
If you don't have a specialized carpet cleaner on hand, you can always make a gentle cleaning solution yourself using liquid laundry detergent, vinegar, and warm water
Step 3. Let the cleaner work on the stain
Leave the detergent on the stain for two to five minutes. The chemicals in the cleaning agent will begin to dissolve the hardened droppings, making it easier to remove.
Step 4. Erase the rest of the stain
Take the damp cloth again and wipe the stain again. The stain-removing properties of the cleaning agent, combined with the rubbing of the rag, should be sufficient to completely remove the stain from carpet or upholstered furniture. If after wiping the stain, there are still some marks on the material, apply more cleaning agent to them, let it work, then try again to wipe the stain.
- Rub the stain hard enough to remove dried bird droppings from the deeper layers of the material as well as possible.
- After removing the stain, be sure to immediately wash the rag or towel used to remove the bird droppings.
Method 2 of 4: Cleaning bricks, concrete, and roofing materials
Step 1. Dampen the stain with warm water
If bird excrement is in an accessible area, wet it before cleaning the surface. Pour water directly onto the stain or place a wet rag on top of it. Heat and moisture will help soften the droppings, making them more pliable and easier to separate from the hard, porous surface.
Step 2. Leave the stain to soak for a few minutes
Give the water enough time to soften the stain. Poultry droppings quickly become thick and hard, making them difficult to remove as long as they remain at least partially dry. Be sure to soak the entire stain with water. When the droppings soften, the stain will look completely fresh.
Step 3. Wash off the softened droppings with a hose
Take a garden hose and hold it up to the stain. Turn on the water at full pressure and direct the hose stream directly onto the softened bird droppings. A steady stream of water should complete the job you started with soaking the stain. Water the stain until you wash it off.
- If your hose is equipped with a nozzle that allows you to change the pressure and spray of water, set it to a high pressure single jet to better wash away bird droppings.
- If the hose does not have an adjustable nozzle, you can close the hose outlet halfway with your thumb to manually increase the pressure of the water jet.
Step 4. Use a brush to remove stubborn stains
If, after using the hose, residual stains are still visible on the surface, take a small, stiff household brush (you can even use a broom instead) and scrub the stained area, dampening it with water if necessary. The bristles will penetrate the grooves in the surface of brick, concrete or roofing material, removing bird droppings from there.
Be sure to wash the brush thoroughly after such use, as bird droppings are simply teeming with bacteria
Method 3 of 4: Cleaning wood, car paint, and other smooth surfaces
Step 1. Place a cloth soaked in warm water over the stain
Dampen a rag with hot or warm water and cover the stained area. To clean wood and car paintwork, it is preferable to use a wet rag, as it retains heat and moisture well, preventing water from simply draining off or causing damage to the surface. Let the stain soak in the moisture of the rag.
Step 2. Treat the stain with a specialized cleaner
When the bird droppings have softened, use a wood or car cleaner to clean it. If you are cleaning a smooth surface of vinyl or similar materials, a general purpose cleaner or even just a warm, damp cloth will probably suffice. Spray a generous amount of detergent over the entire surface of the stain, or blot it with this detergent. Avoid applying the cleaner outside of the stain itself on wood or paintwork.
- For cars, an automotive detergent with added wax may be suitable. It is formulated to remove dirt, oil and grease from vehicle surfaces while leaving behind a thin layer of glossy wax on the paint.
- It is recommended to use specialized cleaners to clean organic surfaces, but if you don't feel like spending too much money on cleaning your droppings, you can make a homemade cleaner as well. For example, a natural wood polish can be whipped with hot water, olive oil, and lemon juice. Whereas a detergent for dishes diluted with water will become an effective cleaning solution for the exterior of the car.
Step 3. Leave the cleaner on the surface for a short time
Wood and car paintwork are easily damaged, so give the cleaner just a little time to work on the stain. Otherwise, the cleaning agent can soak through the stain into the wood and discolor it or corrode the top coat of paint. It is not necessary to leave the cleaning agent on the stain on a hard and smooth surface without pores for a long time, as it does not need to penetrate into the material itself in order to clean it.
Step 4. Gently wipe off the stain with a soft towel
Take a clean, damp towel and use it to wipe off the stain as much as possible. It is best to work with wide, sweeping, and at the same time careful movements. Try not to rub back and forth or apply excessive pressure to the stain, as this could damage the outer coating of the item to be cleaned. When all residual marks of the stain have been removed, wipe the cleaned area with a dry towel.
- Microfiber towels are very soft, and the structure of their material allows them to absorb dirt and water well, making them ideal for most situations in which gentle cleaning is required.
- As a precaution, try to dry your wood floors as quickly as possible, as moisture can cause the wood to warp and split.
Method 4 of 4: Cleaning Clothes
Step 1. Mix some liquid laundry detergent with warm water
Pour a small amount of liquid laundry detergent into a container of warm water and stir. This will create a cleaning solution that can be applied directly to bird droppings. Even a small amount of detergent will achieve good results. Try mixing about one part detergent and five parts water; that's more than enough.
Step 2. Apply the resulting solution to the stain
Special detergents effectively attack dry and greasy stains, such as those left by bird droppings. Moisten the stain with the solution to soften it. Let the solution work on the stain for two to three minutes. If during this time the stain does not have time to get wet, re-wet it with the solution.
Step 3. Wipe off the stain
Use a household brush or disposable dish scrubber to scrub the stain thoroughly to remove it from the fabric. By dipping a brush or sponge in soapy water as needed, keep the stain wet and covered with foam. Continue working until the stain is completely removed.
- If you are washing a delicate item, remove the stain with gentle sweeping and circular motions with the sponge, or generally use only the soft side of the sponge.
- If you've used a dishwashing sponge, be sure to throw it away afterwards. Its further use is unhygienic!
Step 4. Wash the thing
After removing the bird droppings stain, place the item in the washing machine and wash it as usual. In medium to high water temperatures, wash together only items of similar colors. Once the item is dry, you won't even be able to find the spot where the stain used to be!
Advice
- A stiff kitchen dish brush can be a great tool for removing bird droppings from a variety of surfaces.
- The best measure against bird droppings is prevention. If you live or work where birds tend to congregate in large numbers, try to park your car under a canopy and keep an eye on where you walk. Look up from time to time.
Warnings
- Poultry droppings can contain bacteria and sources of various diseases. It is recommended that you only wear gloves and a face mask for any work to remove poultry droppings to protect yourself from anything that may come out of the droppings while you wash it. Wetting the stain with water further helps to reduce dust that separates from it during cleaning.
- If an evening suit, a pretty dress, or something that can only be dry cleaned is soiled by bird droppings, get a professional dry cleaning service. It would probably be wiser not to touch such a stain on your own. Dry cleaners know many ways to deal with a wide variety of stubborn stains on a wide variety of materials.
- If you need to re-expose the stain to a cleaner, be careful not to leave chemical cleaners on wood or car paint for too long. The top coat of these materials can be damaged in a minute or two.