Birds can enhance our yards greatly with their presence, antics, and song, but when nature calls theyre capable of leaving a mess in their wake. The distinctive stain and splatter of bird poop on your lovingly picked garden furniture is enough to break the hardest heart. It doesnt just look gross, but it can ruin your furniture and in worst-case scenarios, exposure to it can make you quite ill.
Birds do not care how expensive or stylish your loungers, recliners, pergolas, gazebos, tables, and chairs are. When they need to go, everything is fair game. Fortunately, there is a host of tried and tested means to safely remove even the most stubborn bird poop stains and clean your outdoor furniture. Read on to find out how everything from WD-40, club soda, vinegar, bleach, and a good old-fashioned brush can be your best friend next time a winged passer-by decides to drop something wicked your way.
How to Remove Bird Poop Stains From Outdoor Furniture and Fabrics
- Scrape Away the Poop: Use a dull knife, spoon, or credit card to scrape away any excess wet or dry poop from the cushions of outdoor furniture or outdoor umbrellas. Using a hard-bristled brush, remove any light-colored or dusty excrement from the fabric. Do not rub or scrub the poop. The Spruce / Almar Creative .
- Fill a Spray or Squirt Bottle: Fill an empty spray or squirt bottle with a few drops of laundry detergent. Add lukewarm water to the bottle to create some suds. If you need to clean an umbrella or a large area of fabric, use a bucket to hold the cleaning solution instead of pouring it directly onto the fabric. The Spruce / Almar Creative .
- Gently Brush the Stain: Apply the mixture to the poop-related stain by spraying, squirting, or pouring. Apply a light coating of water and detergent mixture to the stain using a brush with soft bristles. Use oxygen-based bleach to remove any additional stains that the bird poop may have left from its most recent meal, which was probably berries. The Spruce / Almar Creative .
- Rinse and Air-Dry Use a garden hose to thoroughly rinse away any excess suds if the stain is no longer visible on the furniture, umbrella, or other outdoor fabric. Let the fabric air-dry. The Spruce / Almar Creative .
Time is of the essence
When your feathered friends drop their mini mess bombs, you have to move fast to save yourself trouble. Strike hard and strike quickly because stuck-on bird poop is not only more difficult to remove but can also pose a health risk if left unattended. New spills are frequently simple to clean up with a bucket of water or a regular hose.
Remember that bird poop has a pH of between 3 and 4, which indicates that it has a very high acidic content. 5. If your upholstered chair is left to deteriorate slowly, just think of the harm that could be done to it if its caustic properties could eat away at the paintwork of an automobile. Additionally, people with weakened immune or respiratory systems are especially vulnerable to the dangers of bird droppings. When removing stains caused by bird droppings, it’s advisable to wear protective gloves and, if you’re extremely sensitive, a mask.
Declare war with some oxygen-based bleach
When things get hard, the hard ones take an oxygen-based bleach and start a war. Well, they do when it comes to cleaning outdoor furniture stained by bird droppings. When all other options have been exhausted, oxygen-based bleach is typically the last choice, but it typically has the strength and potency you need to make a difference.
You will need to mix it with an appropriate amount of cold water according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Using a sponge, apply the bleach solution directly onto the stain, or use an eyedropper to apply it. For optimal effects, give it about half an hour to do its magic before gently blotting it until the stain is only a faint memory. While this method is effective on metal furniture, it is not recommended for use on wood as it may result in discoloration.
FAQ
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