Some say it is good luck when a bird poops on you, but what about if a whole flock has pooped all over your patio? Sounds like bad luck to me. Birds and their lovely songs are wonderful to welcome to your yard, but finding their droppings all over your porch furniture is an annoying, and possibly dangerous, consequence.
Even though your goal might be to stop birds from pooping on your patio, you still might end up with a stray doo drop here and there. It is important to clean up the mess safely and before it leaves any permanent marks on light-colored wood or furniture. This bird poop remover from Amazon uses enzymes to break down droppings easily or you can use a few household items you probably already have.
First, you need to put on some protective gear and wet the droppings with your cleaning solution. Bird poo carries fungi that cause Histoplasmosis and Cryptococcosis and bacteria that causes Psittacosis. Protective goggles, a mask, and gloves will go a long way to protect you from developing one of these nasty infections. And gently wetting the droppings with water or a cleaning solution will prevent the fungal spores and bacteria from becoming airborne and inhaled. Let's dive in an explore how to safely clean bird poop off your porch.
Safety First
Protect Eyes
These goggles will protect your eyes while you clean up the bird poop from your patio. No one needs poop in their eyes…always don goggles when handling wildlife poo. I like these goggles because they fit over glasses, won’t fog, and provide a good, safe seal around your eyes
Protect Your Hands
Inspire
Nitrile Disposable Gloves
Nitrile gloves are wonderful for all kinds of cleaning chores. They will protect you from directly touching the bird poop while you are cleaning. Always remember to not touch your face when you have dirty gloves on or they won’t do much good to protect you. And, of course, wash your hands after removing them.
Protect Your Lungs
3M
Particulate Respirator 9205+ N95
A good N95 mask will keep you from breathing in any particles of bird doo or its associated bacteria or fungal spores. Histoplasmosis, Cryptococcosis and Psittacosis are very serious infections and can cause respiratory distress and pneumonia. It is never out of style to protect your lungs!
Supplies
Disinfect
Mixing 1 part bleach to 10 parts water in a spray bottle is a good, all around solution for bird poop removal and disinfection of surfaces. If you need to clean surfaces that might be damaged by bleach, a 50-50 mix of vinegar and water or your favorite dish soap and water will work. They just won’t disinfect like bleach does.
Gentle Mist
Flo-Master by Hudson
1-Gallon Lawn and Garden Tank Sprayer
A sprayer that creates a fine mist will gently wet the bird droppings without disturbing them and aerosolizing them. If you use bleach or vinegar in the sprayer, mark it on the bottle so you don’t get confused later this summer and accidentally spray your plants with it!
Wipe Clean
AIDEA
Non-Scratch Scrub Sponge, 24-count
Wetting a sponge or rag with the same cleaning solution will help you remove bird droppings from your patio or porch effectively without scratching any surfaces. Be sure to throw away any sponges or rags you use when you are done cleaning.
Step-By-Step
(Image credit: Avatarmin / Getty Images)
- Mix your cleaning solution in a spray bottle with a gentle mist. It is important to gently moisten the bird poop so that particles don’t become airborne and inhaled.
- Don your personal protective equipment. Safety goggles, nitrile gloves and a well-fitting N95 mask will keep you safe while cleaning and disposing of the bird doo.
- Gently spray the bird droppings with your bleach and water mixture and let it soak for 5 minutes. This will prevent aerosolization of the droppings and also allow the bleach some time to neutralize bacteria and fungi. (If using bleach, you should test for colorfastness in a small and inconspicuous area first).
- Use a sponge or rag dipped in your cleaning solution to wipe away the bird droppings. Work slowly so you don’t splatter bird poop all over yourself.
- Once you have cleaned the bird droppings off the patio and furniture surfaces, dispose of the sponge or rag in the trash.
- Gently rinse the area with water from your garden hose or a watering can to remove any residual cleaning solution.
- Remove and dispose of gloves, and wash hands before removing your goggles and mask.
- Enjoy your freshly cleaned patio, poop free!
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