How To Clean Bird Poop Off Concrete?

Backyard

Cleaning bird poop off concrete can be accomplished by washing down the the area as soon as it happens. A few methods will work on small areas with light staining. Stubborn stains and larger amounts of poop require a bit more attention.

Why Bother Removing It?

Flickr Image by Peter

Unless the bird poop is in an unsightly area, such as your front stoop or garden, you may wonder why there is a need to remove it. There are several reasons why removing bird poop is necessary.

  • Birds do not have separate excretory systems for urine and poop.

  • Because of this, what you know of as poop is both. 

  • That means bird poop contains a white, uric acid paste surrounding the dark brown feces spot in the center.

  • Uric acid can damage or disintegrate concrete, paint, marble, and metals. 

  • When buildings made of these materials have large amounts of bird poop, it can cause water leaks.

  • This can also cause harm to historic sites and buildings, such as monuments and churches, that would be expensive to fix.

Knowing all of this, it is easy to see why removing bird poop is so important. There are many different ways to remove this unsightly mess. 

Which method you use can depend on several factors, including how long the poop has been there, what type of stain it has caused, and how big the area of poop is.

1. Removing Bird Poop From Concrete In a Small Area

When the area affected by bird poop is small, it usually means that the stains are fairly new and will be easier to remove.

Materials:

  • Mask

  • Gloves

  • Dish soap

  • Scrub brush

  • Hose with spray attachment

  • Sawdust

  • Broom

  • Dustpan

Instructions:

  1. Always wear a mask and gloves when cleaning bird poop because it can cause respiratory and gastrointestinal illnesses in humans.

  1. Using a water hose with a powerful spray attachment, spray away the bird droppings. 

  1. Pour a liberal amount of dish detergent onto the stain.

  1. Allow the dish soap to sit for at least 20 minutes.

  1. Scrub the stain with the scrub brush.

  1. Cover the spot in sawdust.

  1. Let sit until the dirty soap is soaked into the sawdust.

  1. Sweep it into the dustpan and throw it away.

  1. Rinse the area again with the spray hose.

This method works for small areas, such as your windowsill, garden monuments, or walkways where birds’ poop has not accumulated. 

2. Removing Bird Poop From Concrete in a Moderate Area

When the area where you have moderate accumulations of bird poop, a simple dish soap scrub may not do the trick. In such cases, more work is involved in removing bird poop from concrete.

Materials:

  • Mask

  • Gloves

  • Light-duty power washer

  • Dish soap or concrete cleaning agents

  • Scrub brush or scrub broom

  • Sawdust

  • Regular broom

  • Dustpan

Instructions:

  1. Put on your mask and gloves.

  1. Wash away as much poop as you can with a light-duty power washer.

  1. Cover the area with dish soap or concrete cleaner.

  1. Use a scrub brush or broom to clean away as much of the stain as possible.

  1. Cover the area with sawdust and let it sit until the mess is absorbed.

  1. Sweep it away into the dustpan with the regular broom.

You may need to repeat this method a few times if there is severe accumulation. Likely, there will still be stains beneath the poop once you’ve washed it away. 

How To Remove Stains Left By The Bird Poop

Here are the materials and instructions you will need:


Materials:

  • Gloves
  • Mask
  • Hydrogen peroxide
  • Water hose
  • Scrub brush or scrub broom

Instructions:

  1. Put on the mask and gloves.

  1. Pour a liberal amount of the hydrogen peroxide onto the stains and allow it to sit for several minutes.

  1. Using the scrub brush or scrub broom, clean the area thoroughly.

  1. Spray the area down with the hose.

Hydrogen peroxide makes a great cleaner and is often used as a disinfectant. It should help remove moderate stains from bird poop.

For larger stains, you may need something stronger.

3. Removing Bird Poop From Concrete In A Large Area

Photo by Sean Foster on Unsplash

Bird poop in larger areas where it has been sitting for a while can be more complicated to clean. You should get this done quickly to avoid humans inhaling dust from these droppings or damage to buildings, etc. 

Materials:

  • Mask

  • Goggles

  • Gloves

  • Coveralls

  • Heavy-duty power washer

  • Concrete or all-purpose cleaners

  • Scrub broom

  • Sawdust

  • Regular broom

Instructions:

  1. Put on gloves, goggles, a mask, and coveralls.

  1. Prewash the entire area with a heavy-duty power washer.

  1. Cover the area in a heavy-duty concrete cleaner which contains an acid-base.

  1. Using a large scrub broom, work on the entire area for as long as possible.

  1. Cover the dirty soap with sawdust.

  1. Sweep it all into the dustpan and throw it away so that it doesn’t contaminate the yard.

  1. Repeat the entire process if needed.

Some people use hydrochloric acid to remove bird poop stains from concrete. This will work nicely if you are experienced and know how to handle the acid. Leaving it on for too long can damage the concrete, and mixing it wrong can be dangerous. 

There are also other, more natural ways to remove bird poop from concrete.

4. Removing Bird Poop With Vinegar

The acidity in vinegar can break down the stains left behind after you clean away bird poop.
 

Materials:

  • Gloves

  • Mask

  • Scrub brush

  • White vinegar

  • Water

  • Empty spray bottle

  • Sawdust

  • Broom

  • Dustpan

Instructions:

  1. Put on the mask and gloves.

  1. Mix one part white vinegar and one part water in the spray bottle.

  1. Spray the bird dropping liberally with this mixture.

  1. Let it soak for a few minutes.

  1. Scrub the area vigorously with the scrub brush.

  1. Cover in sawdust and allow it to sit long enough to soak up the mess.

  1. Sweep it into the dustpan and discard.

Other Methods For Removing Bird Poop From Concrete

There are several other solutions and methods for removing bird poop from concrete. Here are a few.

  • Baking soda works well for dissolving bird poop. Simply cover the area in baking soda and let it sit for 20 minutes before brushing it away.

  • WD-40 is also good for taking up the stains that bird poop can cause. You have to spray the product onto the bird poop stain and let it sit for several minutes before scrubbing the stain.

  • Ammonia also works for removing bird poop from concrete but can be dangerous. Only use this substance if you are experienced and understand how it works, dilute it, and what cannot be mixed with it.

  • A mixture of one tablespoon of hydrogen peroxide and three drops of ammonia can sometimes do the trick, but be very careful of the fumes!
  • Suppose you are using any substances such as ammonia. It is advisable to wear rubber boots and protective clothing, gloves, goggles, and masks since these substances can be dangerous when they contact human skin or if inhaled.

FAQs on How To Clean Bird Poop Off Concrete

How Long Does It Take Bird Poop To Damage Paint?

Bird poop can ruin the paint on concrete, wood, or even cars within 48 hours of landing on them. It bonds with the paint, causing discoloration once it is removed.

What’s The Best Way To Get Bird Poop Off My Car Quickly?

Baking soda is awesome for removing bird poop and stains from cars. Mix two or three tablespoons of baking soda with a drop of dish soap in a spray bottle. Continue filling the bottle with hot water and spraying it on the mess. Wipe away carefully with a soft cloth.

Can I Remove Bird Poop From A Brick Wall?

On brick walls, try using plain water from a spray nozzle first. If needed, go back over the area with a stiff-bristled scrub brush.

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