Old bird poop stains (also referred to as bird poop etching) are caused by the process of the paintwork warming and cooling whilst the bird droppings are left on the paintwork. During this process, the clear coat warms and moulds around the bird dropping, which then hardens and forms the etching upon the paintwork.
In terms of how damaging the etching can be to the paintwork, it depends upon a number of factors. For example, the etching will be more damaging the longer it’s left on the paintwork. The composition of the bird dropping may also make it more damaging as well as hotter weather conditions and the paint type. Therefore, we always recommend that you attempt to remove bird poop from your car as soon as you can to avoid any etching marks on your paintwork.
Regarding the weather conditions, there is a common misconception that as long as it’s not sunny or warm outside, the bird dropping won’t stain the paintwork. This isn’t the case because the heating stage of the process can be caused by heat from the engine, which means you can’t escape the heating stage. However, the hotter weather will cause the bird droppings to bake onto the paintwork and increase the chances of etching.
If you have just washed your car and noticed old bird poop stains and etching marks on the paintwork, we will walk you through five different methods that you can use to remove the defect.
How To Remove Bird Poop Etching From Your Car
1. Dedicated Product – Autoglym Reflow
Using a dedicated product that has been primarily designed to remove old bird poop stains and etching marks is the recommended method of removal. Although there are a number of products available, the Autoglym Reflow is our top recommendation that we’ve tried and tested ourselves. It’s one of the brand’s latest products that they state is a “groundbreaking” solution to the removal of bird etching marks and we would certainly agree with this statement.
The product itself is a water-activated thermal transfer pack that the brand states is designed to heat to a specific temperature for a set time. During this time, it softens and fills the etchings in the clear coat and once it has had time to cool down, you’ll be able to see the old bird poop stains removed and it really is that simple.
In order to use the Autoglym Reflow pack, we used the following steps:
- Wash away the bird droppings and dry the paintwork
- Add 40ml of water to the Reflow pack
- Fold the top twice, peel away the sticker on the pack and then use it to secure the folded top
- Massage the heating pads inside of the pack for 10 seconds to activate the pads
- Use the provided adhesive tabs to secure the pack to the etching mark
- Allow the pack to get to work for 30 minutes
- Remove the pack and check the results
It really is that easy to use and as you can see from the before and after results, the Autoglym Reflow was very successful at removing old bird poop stains from our car.
To conclude, using a dedicated product such as the Autoglym Reflow is the recommended method of removing bird etching marks and we will be using it going forward.
2. Polish or Cutting Compound
Using a car polish or cutting compound is the next best alternative to a dedicated product. As long as the polish or compound you use has some abrasive qualities, it’ll be able to remove the bird poop etching. It’s able to eliminate the defect by removing a tiny layer of the clear coat and it can be very effective if the etching isn’t too severe.
Although you can do this by hand, we would recommend using a car polishing machine for the best results. However, if you don’t own a polisher, you could attempt to remove the bird poop etching by hand with a polish such as T-Cut.
3. Hairdryer
Similar to the way the Autoglym Reflow works, you can use heat from a hairdryer to remove bird poop etching marks from your car. We would recommend that you aim the hairdryer a few inches away from the paintwork and move closer if you feel that the surface isn’t getting hot enough. If you don’t have a hairdryer to hand, you may be able to use a heat gun on a low to medium heat setting because heating the surface too much may lead to damage to the clear coat.
4. WD40
WD40 is one of the most versatile products on the shelf and it can be an effective and easy-to-use method of removing old bird poop stains. To use the WD40, we would recommend spraying a generous amount upon the etching, waiting 60 seconds and then wiping it clean with a microfiber cloth. After using this method, we would advise that you clean the car and reapply any waxes or sealants applied because it may strip them.
5. Homemade Solution
Creating your own homemade solution with baking soda, fairy liquid and hot water is also a great method to consider. Although you need to mix it up yourself, it’s easy to apply and it may be something that’s in your kitchen cupboard.
All that’s required is three tablespoons of baking soda, a drop of fairy liquid and warm water in a standard spray bottle. You can then spray it onto the bird poop stain, wait a few minutes and then wipe it clear.
Autoglym Reflow Review
As demonstrated above, the Autoglym Reflow exceeded our expectations and it’s certainly a product that we will continue to use if we need to remove old bird poop stains.
Previously, to remove bird poop etching marks, we would’ve gone down the route of cleaning and polishing the car. However, the Autoglym Reflow requires no equipment and all you need to do is add water.
As well as testing the product above, we’ve also used it a number of times on other cars with great success. It’s certainly a detailing product that you’ll see become very popular over the next few years.
To conclude, the Autoglym Reflow is a highly effective and easy-to-use method of removing old bird poop stains. The fact that you need no other tools or products is another great bonus that’ll be very beneficial to many people.
The only slight drawback is the premium price tag but it’s a worthwhile investment that’s very effective and it certainly won’t disappoint.
Below is a video that we posted on our YouTube channel that shows us testing the Autoglym Reflow pack upon an old bird poop stain.
Conclusion
Bird poop stains and etching marks can completely ruin your paintwork and it’s crucial that you remove any bird droppings as soon as you can to avoid the etchings becoming too severe. Using a dedicated product is our top recommendation for removing old bird poop stains but the other methods can be just as effective.
If you feel that you need further help regarding old bird poop stains and etchings on your car, feel free to get in touch and we will try to provide our assistance where possible.
