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  4. Can you polish out bird mess marks?

Can you polish out bird mess marks?

Quick answer: Sometimes. Light bird-mess etching or staining can usually be polished away, but droppings are highly corrosive and can etch through clear coat to base/primer—those cases need repair and repaint. Remove droppings ASAP, and consider a dedicated neutraliser you can keep in the car.

It depends on how bad they are. If it is only light surface damage to the clear coat, then it should polish out, just as with scratches.  We have seen them etch their way through to the primer, in which case, repair-and-repaint would be the only way to solve the issue. Bird's mess can be highly corrosive, and the corrosive compounds can soak deep into the paintwork where they continue destroying the binders in the paint every time moisture is re-introduced, re-activating the acid. This means it can continue destroying your paintwork months after you have washed it off.

We recommend washing off any bird mess as soon as you see it, using plenty of soap and water. It may be worth getting a product especially for neutralizing bird's mess and keeping it with your car with some wipes.

Having said all that, if the etching is light, we can polish out bird mess marks.

Written by . Last updated 12/09/2025 16:15

  • Bird Mess Marks
    This is a quick clip showing damage by bird mess, which has etched its way right through the clear-coat and permanently damaged the finish of this Toyota.