The Best Way To Clean Bird Poop Off Your RV
Although bird poop can be difficult to clean off of any vehicle, cleaning bird poop off an RV can present a unique challenge. It can be tough to get off without damaging the RV’s rubber roofing or gel coat.
The longer bird poop sits on the RV, the longer it has to leave a permanent stain, so it’s important to get to work removing it sooner than later. In this article, we’ll tell you how to clean bird poop off your RV without damaging your paint or gel coat.
Know this before you start
Before you go out to clean that bird poop off your RV, there are a few things you need to know:
- Clean it off as soon as possible. Bird poop is slightly acidic and will mar the finish on your RV very quickly.
- Don’t use any sort of abrasive cleaner or scrubbing tools because they will scratch the finish of your RV.
- Don’t scrape. Scraping bird poop off your RV can also damage the finish of your RV.
How To Clean Bird Poop Off Your RV
Now that we’ve laid some ground rules for the cleaning process, let’s get to work!
Step 1: Wash down the RV with mild soap and water.
Step 2: Use one of the following methods to clean the bird poop stain:
- Use a commercial product designed to clean bird poop from vehicles and/or fiberglass.
Some products are designed to break down bird poop without wrecking the finish of your RV. Here are two suggestions that have recieved great reviews from RVers:
- Try making your own spray-on bird poop remover.
In a spray bottle, mix:
- 2 Tbsp baking soda
- 1 Tbsp dish soap
- Fill with hot water
- Shake to mix
- Spray liberally on bird poop stain
- Allow to remain for 15 minutes
- Wipe off
- Use WD-40 to loosen bird poop
Step 3: Clean any remaining stain.
Now that the bird poop is gone, you might be left with a stain. This is especially true if the bird poop sat on your RV for a while. If the stain has etched through the gel coat into the colored fiberglass, you’ll need to have the area recoated and sealed. If the staining is minimal, try using any of these methods to remove it:
- Use a fine clay bar over the area.
- Soak the stain with club soda, which will counteract the uric acid in the bird poop.
- Try using Bar Keepers Friend with plenty of water. Avoid scrubbing.
- Spray liberally with Dawn Powerwash Spray. Allow to remain for 10 minutes. Rinse.
Make sure you keep track of all your RV maintenance and repairs with an online tool such as RV LIFE Maintenance. Not only can you keep all of your documents in one place, but you’ll also receive timely reminders when maintenance is due to help you avoid costly repairs and potentially serious accidents.
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