Pressure washers and bird droppings - useful?
- Thread starter jim04g
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I prefer to moisten it with a light spray and remove with a disposable paper towel first-- as sometimes the bird "stuff" has dirt and debris in it that might be abrasive if you just power washed it off without wetting it first.
But indeed, if you use a power washer, you will get it off. A good pressure washer with the right tip will etch concrete. The effectiveness of a pressure washer on bird "stuff" depends on how careful with your paint you want to be. But generally, in my experience, a 40 degree tip (appropriate for washing a car) will get it off 99% of the time. But realize that some bird "stuff" if left long enough, will actually damage the clearcoat, so it's best to get it off ASAP.
But indeed, if you use a power washer, you will get it off. A good pressure washer with the right tip will etch concrete. The effectiveness of a pressure washer on bird "stuff" depends on how careful with your paint you want to be. But generally, in my experience, a 40 degree tip (appropriate for washing a car) will get it off 99% of the time. But realize that some bird "stuff" if left long enough, will actually damage the clearcoat, so it's best to get it off ASAP.
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The Detail/Wax forum has taught me to use a rinseless wash product on bird bombs and to remove them ASAP. Rinseless wash is ridiculously cheap after dilution and I have made it a habit to walk around the car when getting fuel and when I get to the house after work.
I experienced damaged clear coat on 2 previous vehicles due to bird bombs. It’s worthwhile to me to spend a minute or two on a regular basis per the above........
I experienced damaged clear coat on 2 previous vehicles due to bird bombs. It’s worthwhile to me to spend a minute or two on a regular basis per the above........
It will come off much easier and with less trauma to your paint if you wet it and wait before you blast it off. The pressure washer, or just the garden hose is my preference to remove it, because wiping it off causes any abrasives that may be present in it to dig into your clear coat. Keep in mind that birds eat sand and other gritty materials purposely to help digest their food.
This time of year, our bird droppings come out like a pile of sticky sand as you mentioned. I wet the area (with a vehicle detailer / rinseless wash) and wipe it carefully with a paper towel in an upward motion to collect it in the paper towel, avoiding sliding it across the vehicle finish. The moment I see one, I don't waste any time.
Even bird droppings that have been there less than a day, I can usually see the imprint in the clearcoat after it's removed. I consider bird droppings worse than my kids writing their names in the dust on the car (which every kid will do at least once until I unleash my inner car-care demon on them).
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Poorboys Bird Sh*t remover is some great stuff. It reads something like that on the label but I don't have the bottle close by. I always have it.
Short answer is yes. Even the cheapest electric pressure washer with a decent fan tip will get off bird droppings. Especially if its wetted and let sit for a minute.
This ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
I'm not a fan of using pressure washers on cars... for anything. They're just not needed. Dirt, dust, bird crap, tree sap, and everything else that collects on the surface of your vehicle just lays there. It's not absorbed into the finish like oil on a pair of jeans or a tee shirt. There is no need to, "blast it off" with high pressure.
All you're doing is risking damaging the clearcoat and paint. The best solution is to simply wet it, allow whatever it is to absorb as much as possible, and it will come right off.
This also applies to tar and that nasty bug juice that hardens on the paint like a 2 part Epoxy. WD-40 or plain Kerosene will soak into tar, just like water will into bird crap and dried bug juice. Just be patient, give it time, and it will come off. Pressure washers can push water into places you don't want it. A garden hose at city pressure is all you need to keep a car clean. Engine bay and all.
Nobody actually mentioned having a coat of wax (or whatever your finish is called) on your car in the first place.
It's fun to blast away dirt...until you see what stuck on anyway.
In my experience the magic ingredient in bug & tar removers is denatured alcohol.
A friend's dark green car had years of pine pitch drippings on it. It was most effective to scrape carefully with a thumbnail (into the glob, not against the paint as if to shear it off in one pass) then use a product on the roughened remainder.
It's fun to blast away dirt...until you see what stuck on anyway.
In my experience the magic ingredient in bug & tar removers is denatured alcohol.
A friend's dark green car had years of pine pitch drippings on it. It was most effective to scrape carefully with a thumbnail (into the glob, not against the paint as if to shear it off in one pass) then use a product on the roughened remainder.
I use a pressure washer because it is more effective than a garden hose while using less water.
With only 1000psi at the gun, you can put your bare skin a few inches away from a 25° nozzle with no discomfort.
Using the pressure washer you can remove more before touching the car than you can with a garden hose, especially on carpet wheel liners, wheels, tires, and the undercarriage.
My cars are ceramic coated and only the "road film" is left after a pressure rinse, making the contract wash safer.
I'd say that at 10-12 inches from the nozzle, you are actually getting more water volume at a higher pressure from a garden hose on "jet" or "full."
For bird I uss a waterless wash. Saturate the yuck while keeping the towel under it so it doesn't run on you. Then lift the softened dirt with the mf towel.
You could blast it off with a pressure washer, but if you don't follow with a full wash and dry you're risking water spots.
For bird I uss a waterless wash. Saturate the yuck while keeping the towel under it so it doesn't run on you. Then lift the softened dirt with the mf towel.
You could blast it off with a pressure washer, but if you don't follow with a full wash and dry you're risking water spots.
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