If you return to find your car has been ‘attacked’ and covered in bird poo then this can particularly annoying but it is important that you clean off the mess as soon as possible. Bird droppings can be highly acidic and damage your paintwork and any splats that have landed on the windscreen could obstruct your vision whilst driving, creating a potential hazard. Luckily there are a few quick and easy homemade remedies that can be used to remove droppings and other common stains.
If you have managed to catch the aftermath of your bird attack while it is still fresh then it should be easily removed with a little washing up liquid and a cloth. Once the thick of it has been removed finish off cleaning your windscreen with a mixture of warm water and a few tablespoons of white wine vinegar that will leave a non-streaky finish. Newspapers are perfect for drying your windscreen as they absorb dirt a lot better than regular towels.
For stains that are caked on and hardened you will probably need something to loosen them first. A little grease like cooking oil can help or try some soda water to fizzle away the dirt. For more stubborn marks you could also make a paste with baking soda and a little water that can be applied directly to the windscreen and rubbed with a cloth. Once the stain is removed, take care to wash away all of the mixture and avoid allowing it to spill into the vehicle’s engine as this could cause innumerable problems that could potentially lead to a trip to the mechanics.
Other common stains like tree sap and tar can be removed with a solvent such as WD-40. Alternatively you can try nail polish remover applied with cotton wool. Remember to take extra care when using solvent-based products that may be flammable or damage the paintwork of your car if left on for too long and wash them away thoroughly with warm water afterwards.
As always prevention is often the best cure so try to avoid parking your car under trees or natural shady areas that will accumulate leaves, twigs, bugs and bird droppings. You could also think about investing in a bug deflector that clips to the front of the hood and prevents stains, chips and scratches that can occur whilst driving. If you do find any debris on the windscreen and grille then be sure to remove these straight away as a built up of dirt and grit could create long-term damage to your windscreen.
This blog was submitted by freelance writer Andrew Fields, freelance car journalist, specialising in car maintenance with services such as windscreen chip repair and windscreen replacement.
