how to clean bird poop off boat

When you keep your boat in a marina, you are going to have to deal with lots of bird poop! The bimini top on our boat is black canvas and it’s nearly impossible to clean the back end of it during regular washes. This is because we can’t reach it from the front and it’s too tall to reach it from the swim platform.

Scott and I knew we need to address this, as our neighbor’s boat in the marina was covered in heron poop!

We figured we could remove the top and lay it on a tarp on the dock to scrub it clean. In fact, we had purchased outdoor fabric guard by 303 Products, but it has to be absolutely clean and dry before you apply it. Scott thought we just needed to remove one of the rods and slide it out and we would unzip the rest.

The bimini had to be cleaned and so we decided to unzip the back of it, so the dirty part would hang down into the boat. Can you say “YUCK!”?

This is not “art”, but heron poop all over our canvas! So I moved the tarp into the boat and put a large beach towel on the floor right below where we would be scrubbing to catch any water. (I did take a photo of all of this, but I guess it didn’t take). Scott used a bucket of clean water,Mer-Maids Canvas and Vinyl Cleaner and a scrub brush to clean it. We rinsed it with a bilge sponge with clean water. It wasn’t perfect, but it was certainly better than it was!

Once we were done, I wanted to figure out a way to deter the herons. All of our marina neighbors are laughing at us, as they say there is nothing we can do. They say we just have to clean it regularly. Not giving up, we decided to put up an Inflatable Owl and Bird Repellent Scare Tape. Let’s see if it works!

If anyone has suggestions on what has worked for you. please let us know. We’ll check on it in two weeks and give you all an update!

Although the stain should be removed by doing this, your work is not yet finished. You’ll want to apply a layer of wax to protect the surface to avoid problems later. The simplest, safest protection for decks is a wash-n-wax. Although you can use a specific non-skid wax (see Non-skid Waxes, PS October 2006 online), the wash-n-wax cleaners leave a gloss on the surface that is easy to hose off bird droppings without being overly slippery. Numerous boat soaps are available that are effective (visit Boat Soaps for Regular Washdowns, PS January 2013 online). You could use a spray wax as an additional precaution (see Looking for Spray Waxes, PS December 2014). Although most aren’t too slippery for a deck, we should test them beforehand or save them for areas where traction isn’t necessary.

I honestly hope you can help. On my boat a few weeks ago, local seagulls feasted on sushi. The leftovers were large and small and mostly on non-skid. I cleaned up whatever I could find when I got to the boat, but the sun-baked stains were still there. I’ve tried Barkeepers Friend and Total Boat White Knight, among other things. They both have oxalic acid as main ingredient. It stayed there for 30-40 minutes, I didnt touch it. Next, I made a very potent mixture using oxalic acid powder that I had. Again, no major effect. I then broke out a 3000 PSI power washer out of desperation, but it failed to remove the stains once more. My marine biologist friend said to try Draino.

Although we haven’t used Draino, we can suggest a technique that has been incredibly effective for us. You should begin using the least aggressive cleaner on any stain. If your hull has recently been waxed, most stains can be removed with regular boat soap or phosphate-free laundry detergent (diluted as instructed). Your next weapon is diluted chlorine bleach if that doesn’t work.

The alternative is to use an over-the-counter cleaner (marine or not) that has been hydrochloric acid pre-diluted. You have plenty to choose from. A good option would be one of our best waterline stain cleaners (see PS Tests 22 Hull Cleaners, PS November 2007 online) or rust-stain cleaners (see Rust Erasers, PS May 2006 online). In both tests, spray-type cleaners came out on top, but gels may work better on vertical surfaces. Use a mild acid (but make sure to rinse it well with fresh water) and don’t let it dry.

In the event that acids are unable to remove the stain, oxidized layers of gel coat that are holding the stain are removed using a rubbing/buffing compound. Try using a cleaner wax or light-duty rubbing compound if you have any. We’ve tested a few heavy duty rubbing compounds, which you’ll probably need (See Heavy Duty Rubbing Compounds, PS April 2014). You can manually apply these to the stain unless the entire deck seems like it could use a buffing, which it sounds like it might.

We decided to unzip the back of the bimini so that the dirty part would hang down into the boat because it needed to be cleaned. Can you say “YUCK!”?.

If anyone has suggestions on what has worked for you. please let us know. Two weeks from now, we’ll check on it and update you all!

Scott and I knew we need to address this, as our neighbor’s boat in the marina was covered in heron poop!

FAQ

How do you remove dried bird poop?

According to WD-40, its magic-in-a-can spray has 259 automotive uses – and cleaning off dry bird poop from car paint is one of them. To remove bird droppings from your vehicle, spritz a little WD-40 on the area, let it sit for 60 seconds, then rinse or wipe away with a clean, soft cloth.

What is the best cleaner for bird poop?

A disinfectant spray is a must for finishing off the area. We recommend Germ Clear™ Bird Droppings Disinfectant Spray as not only does it clean, but it kills off any bacteria that may be lurking.

How do you get bird poop off a boat lift canopy?

Use a soft cloth, mild dish soap (like Ivory) and water for best results. 6. Of course, Do Not get too aggressive when cleaning bird droppings from the vinyl cover. You may wear the protective finish off in that area or tear the vinyl.

Does white vinegar remove bird poop?

White Wine Vinegar You likely have distilled vinegar or some other type of vinegar at home. The acidic properties of vinegar make it easy to remove bird poop and prevent it from forming on your siding. You can put vinegar in a spray bottle or apply it directly to a sponge to remove the bird poop more easily.