help!!!! [bird droppings on car]

[poisonskyvy]

Went out to the garage this evening to check on my baby and noticed she got soiled by bird excrement!!! Since it is dark when I drive home from work, I didn't notice until now, so It is dried on. What do I do!!!!! Anyone know the best way (ie products) to loosen up the dried on **it without scratching my paint? There is also a drop on my top!!! I am desperate as to what to do. It has baked onto the paint from sitting in the Florida sun. Hubs won't be home until late!!! HELP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Rick Tinley Park]

Soak a paper towel in water. Fold the wet towel so it covers the dropping and let it sit on it for a while - In a few minutes (I give it 10-15) you can remove the wet towel and wipe off the now soft droppings. Use a microfiber, or terry cloth wiper to clean and dry the spot. Should be no damage to the finish (unless it is blueberry season)...
On the roof you can do the same - but use the paper towel to wipe up the mess as best you can then use whatever you use to wash your convertible roof to rid the top of the rest of it.
All should be fine!

[cerberus]

Agreed with Rick above. You do want to remove droppings as soon as possible as they can contain acids which can etch into the clear coat or even the paint itself. Work carefully as droppings can contain small gravel. Should there be some surface imperfections not in the finish after cleanup, they can usually be worked out with a clay bar. You'll be fine, just get that stuff off the car.

[Maverick]

I would soak the towel in detail spray it contains a lube & cleaner. If it removes bugs it will remove poop. My fear is poop on the top, between clear coat and wax the surface of the car is more resistant to permanent damage.

[poisonskyvy]

Thanks guys, your suggestions worked like a charm. You guys are awesome!!

[BlueSkyRL]

This thread just brings to mind another issue. I usually run my car's though the quick wash. But now that I will have ragtop, I think I will have do the wash a different way. Think wax on the top....can't be good. Oh and by the way I live in wisconsin and in the cold days of January, I won't be outside in a T-shirt washing my car.

[GaryH]

poisionskyvy, Since you live in Florida I'm sure you have love bugs. The acid in love bugs will damage the paint just as bad and maybe faster than bird poop. I keep a spray bottle of windex and a microfiber towel it the front of my garage. I spray the front bumper and any bug spots on the hood every day. Some people may say that the windex will remove the wax on the car. I don't care. The love bug juice will do much more damage. I can rewax the car.

[MidniteBlues]

My only problem with "windex" or ANY house hold cleaners (windows or other wise) is, just make sure it does NOT have "AMMONIA", that stuff is deadly to plastic and rubber parts on a vehicle, especially down here in florida sun/heat--Just thought I mention that-- NO ammonia on your cars please--

[poisonskyvy]

Originally Posted by GaryH

poisionskyvy, Since you live in Florida I'm sure you have love bugs. The acid in love bugs will damage the paint just as bad and maybe faster than bird poop. I keep a spray bottle of windex and a microfiber towel it the front of my garage. I spray the front bumper and any bug spots on the hood every day. Some people may say that the windex will remove the wax on the car. I don't care. The love bug juice will do much more damage. I can rewax the car.

That's a great idea, I will do that! Love Bugs, a University of Florida experiment gone awry!!! You do know how the love bugs ended up in Florida don't you (May flies my *ss!!, more like April, May, June and July!!)

[poisonskyvy]

Originally Posted by MidniteBlues

My only problem with "windex" or ANY house hold cleaners (windows or other wise) is, just make sure it does NOT have "AMMONIA", that stuff is deadly to plastic and rubber parts on a vehicle, especially down here in florida sun/heat--Just thought I mention that-- NO ammonia on your cars please--

I checked and Windex does have ammonia, any other spray that I can use for this purpose other than windex. Like the idea of having something handy to spray, wipe and go.

[GaryH]

Originally Posted by poisonskyvy

That's a great idea, I will do that! Love Bugs, a University of Florida experiment gone awry!!! You do know how the love bugs ended up in Florida don't you (May flies my *ss!!, more like April, May, June and July!!)

No. I don't know how they ended up in Florida. I just know that the first time I ran into them was in south Florida in 1975 when I moved to Miami. They seem to have migrated north since then. They are a pain in the a$$ twice a year around here (South Alabama). I guess we're lucky they don't bite or sting.

[MidniteBlues]

I always seem to accumulate them in many many pairs by the hundreds--front end caked with these critters--you know, those buggers are ALWAYS mating--what life--what away to die--on my front end--ah well such is life- hehe They don't call 'em the love bug for nuttin

[MidniteBlues]

Originally Posted by poisonskyvy

I checked and Windex does have ammonia, any other spray that I can use for this purpose other than windex. Like the idea of having something handy to spray, wipe and go.

409 might work just no ammonia

[poisonskyvy]

Originally Posted by GaryH

No. I don't know how they ended up in Florida. I just know that the first time I ran into them was in south Florida in 1975 when I moved to Miami. They seem to have migrated north since then. They are a pain in the a$$ twice a year around here (South Alabama). I guess we're lucky they don't bite or sting.

A group of "Genius" UF students found that this bug liked to consume mosquitos, so they brought them over from (Amazon, I think) and bred them to control Florida's mosquito population. It just so happens, these pesky insects only eat one kind of mosquito, (not the Florida variety) therefore became vegetarians. They are so acidic, no other insect will eat them except dragon flies, so they have no predators to control them. What a vicious cycle, huh? I know this is kinda off subject, couldn't resist telling the story.!!

[poisonskyvy]

Originally Posted by poisonskyvy

A group of "Genius" UF students found that this bug liked to consume mosquitos, so they brought them over from (Amazon, I think) and bred them to control Florida's mosquito population. It just so happens, these pesky insects only eat one kind of mosquito, (not the Florida variety) therefore became vegetarians. They are so acidic, no other insect will eat them except dragon flies, so they have no predators to control them. What a vicious cycle, huh? I know this is kinda off subject, couldn't resist telling the story.!!

So now we know who to thank for them ruining our cars!!!

[ggccg]

Originally Posted by poisonskyvy

So now we know who to thank for them ruining our cars!!!

This story of UF is BS. See: http://www.snopes.com/critters/lurkers/lovebugs.asp

Go Gators!

[GaryH]

Originally Posted by MidniteBlues

My only problem with "windex" or ANY house hold cleaners (windows or other wise) is, just make sure it does NOT have "AMMONIA", that stuff is deadly to plastic and rubber parts on a vehicle, especially down here in florida sun/heat--Just thought I mention that-- NO ammonia on your cars please--

Your right but... I'm talking about the painted surfaces. Yes the ammonia probably takes off the wax. If you have ever seen the damage that love bugs do to a cars paint, I think you would say it was worth rewaxing.

[MidniteBlues]

Originally Posted by GaryH

Your right but... I'm talking about the painted surfaces. Yes the ammonia probably takes off the wax. If you have ever seen the damage that love bugs do to a cars paint, I think you would say it was worth rewaxing.

ABSOLUTELY!! If your front end has ever been invaded by love bugs like I have- YOU better clean those critters off FROM EVERYTHING!! then re-polish and reseal--( I don't use wax) wax only last 30 days if ur lucky--don't care which high quality one you use--Especially down here in florida- wax is useless, I polish and seal--5-6 months-- Sorta like Zaino, but its a different product that works like zaino--

[TulsaSky]

I found this stuff in a general dollar store its was George Foreman’s all purpose car cleaner will not harm any part of your car. Its not a detail wax type of cleaner but its cheap and would be great to clean off the bugs. I will have to read the contents but I do not think it has any ammonia. I also found these wet wipes by Armor All at the dollar stores they have aloe and look like a big cloth wipe for baby’s backside they work good and can be carried in the car for emergencies.


TulsaSky

[SKYtime]

It is said that having a bird **** on your brand new car is good luck.... So, once you've cleaned it off, think good things.....

[SKY Spy]

For those that don't know what these "Love Bugs" are... Here you go LOVE BUGS

Regards,

BA...