Dirt, dust and other grim can accumulate quickly on your car, which is why it’s important to clean it regularly. During the spring and summer seasons, vehicles can be at risk of more than just road debris, thanks to the likes of insects and bird droppings that are more likely to appear on the car’s paintwork.
While most road dust and grime can be cleaned quickly and effectively by following a regular car cleaning routine, dried insect debris and bird droppings can present a more difficult challenge.
Thankfully, at Simoniz, we’ve got the expertise and products to make removing insects and bird droppings from your car a breeze.
Can insects and bird droppings damage your car?
Any dirt left on your car’s paintwork for extended periods isn’t good, but insects and bird droppings in particular are notoriously good at damaging paintwork.
Bird droppings are slightly acidic (about as acidic as fizzy pop or orange juice). They contain uric acid, that makes them corrosive to paintwork – potentially bonding directly with your car’s clear coat, causing etching and dulling relatively quickly if left untreated.
Dead insects act in a similar way. As insects hit the paintwork at speed, their bodies rupture and release acids and other compounds that can begin to chemically break down your car’s clear coat and paintwork. The longer they are left, the deeper this damage can penetrate. This can lead to subtle etching or complete discolouration of your paintwork.
How to clean insects and bird droppings from your car
It’s not all bad news, though. If you act quickly enough, you can prevent insects and bird droppings from causing lasting damage to your paintwork.
Firstly, you must soften the residue. You can use a specialist product like Simoniz Insect & Bird Dropping Remover. This product works to quickly rehydrate the dried insect or bird droppings, allowing you to simply wipe away the intrusive dirt.
After this step, you should wash the car – or, if you’re strapped for time, just the area that had the insect/bird droppings on – with a car shampoo to wash away any remaining grime as well as the product itself.
After this, dry the car properly to ensure that water spots won’t form; the last thing you want is to replace one problem with another.
Protecting your car paint from insects and bird droppings
The good news is, there’s more we can do than just react; we can be proactive by using products that will provide an extra layer of protection to the top coat.
Applying a protective layer to your paintwork can significantly slow the damage caused by insects and bird droppings. Products like Diamond Wax & Polish or our Original Wax Tin provide a barrier that takes the brunt of the damage instead of your clear coat — though these will need reapplying regularly.
These products can’t work alone, though. Having a cleaner spray and cloth in your car will give you the opportunity to quickly remove the dirt before it becomes a problem.
Additional top tips for removing insects and bird droppings from your car
Protecting your car from insects and bird droppings goes beyond cleaning products; sometimes, a few top tips can prevent much of the bird droppings.
Firstly, sunlight and warm temperatures can cause damage from bird droppings and insects to accelerate. Parking in a shaded spot can help to reduce this.
However, be careful of the place you find shade. Parking under a tree can be even more detrimental to your paintwork. Obviously, birds congregate in trees, so parking directly under one is going to lead to a lot of bird droppings on your car, not to mention tree sap.
And, while motorway journeys can’t always be avoided, it’s worth noting that it will inevitably lead to more bug splatters.
Your car’s paintwork is one of the most precious aspects of your car, adding to the overall aesthetics of your vehicle, so don’t let a few pesky birds and bugs spoil it. Remember to follow our tips, protect your car with wax or ceramic coat, and if all else fails, you’ve got Simoniz Insect & Bird Dropping Remover to remove dirt before it damages your paintwork.