How to Clean Pigeon Poop Effectively

There are lots of wonderful things you can say about pigeons, but their droppings aren’t one of them.

Pigeon poop can be a major issue, so it is worth knowing how to clean pigeon poop effectively.

There are various methods, but it depends on where it is and the surface it is defacing.

Keep reading to find out how to properly clean their poop off wood, metal and fabrics.

Take Caution When Cleaning Pigeon Poo

It is well known that pigeon guano carries pathogens, so when cleaning up their mess, it is a good idea to take a few precautions. Most of these pathogens are ingested through the nose and mouth in the form of dust or particles.

Pigeon poop dries and the droppings under feet or anywhere else that they can be touched are turned to dust on contact. The dust floats in the air and we can breathe it in. Wet droppings that get onto food or in our drinking liquids can be particularly nasty.

When cleaning pigeon poop it is best to cover up.

An overall, mask, long-sleeved shirts, and trousers, along with gloves and closed shoes are the order of the day, just in case.

Those of you that have a latex fetish, you can don your gear and come out of the closet for a while. Everyone will think that you are just being extra careful!

Also Read:
Why Do Pigeons Poop So Much?
Is A Pigeon Pooping On You Good Luck?
Why is pigeon poop white?

Equipment Needed:

Once sufficiently covered up, with or without latex, you can arm yourselves with the following:

a scraper
scrubbing brush
bucket
detergent
a dustpan and brush
vinegar
club soda
baking soda

Warning: if you have any weakness in your immune system or any respiratory problems it is safer to leave the cleaning job to someone else.

Cleaning Pigeon Poop On Wood:

Lift off the big bits with your scraper and sweep it all up.
Sometimes the poop sets like concrete, so you might have to put some effort into it. Take up your trusty scrubbing brush and a bit of water to scour away the residue.
Unfortunately, some droppings seem to leave stains on wood, even when you’ve got rid of the rest. The thing to do is fill your bucket with a mixture of water and vinegar. About a 50/50 ratio should do the trick. Get a spray bottle and fill it with the mixture and then spray the areas of the stains lightly.
Leave it to dry for about 30 minutes and then rinse with club soda, scrubbing vigorously. Baking soda also works just as well.

Cleaning Metal:

For some reason it is often more difficult to remove pigeon droppings from metal surfaces, but it is similar to the method used for wood:

Remove the hard bits with your scraper.
Clean up the debris with a dustpan and brush.
Take a tablespoon full of clothes detergent and mix it with 2 cups of water.
Pour it into a spray bottle and dowse the affected area liberally with the spray.
Allow it to dry for between 10-15 minutes.
Get a rag and rub away the residue.
If some bits aren’t moving, blast them with a hose or some sort of power jet wash.

Don’t allow the droppings to remain on metal surfaces for long. Pigeon faeces is very acidic and will corrode metal objects. Remove them as soon as possible and check for damage.

Removing Pigeon Poop From Fabrics

Fabrics are probably the worst things to remove bird droppings from however it will depend on the fabric.

Clothes:

Scrape off as much as you can but use something a lot softer than your scraper.
Fill a bucket with warm water and laundry detergent. The label on the box or bottle should tell you the correct ratio of detergent to water for this kind of cleaning.
Let the item soak for a few hours.
Take it out and spray it with pre-treatment liquid. Put it in the washing machine and wash as normal.
If that doesn’t work, put a few drops of hydrogen peroxide on the stain and add a little ammonia. Rinse under cold water and then wash again.

If the pigeon has been eating anything like blackberries or strong coloured fruit, it is likely that the stain will be permanent, and the garment ruined.

Upholstery:

Use something soft to scrape off the worst.
Take two cups of cold water, pour them into a bowl and add a tablespoon full of detergent.
With a cloth soaked in the mixture, gently dap at the spot.
Using a dry cloth, dab at the spot until it is dry.
For really stubborn stains, add a bit of hydrogen peroxide to the mix and try again.

Pigeon poop is here to stay. It is as inevitable as death and taxes.

As pigeons can’t be potty trained, their droppings will fall where you don’t want them.

Incidentally, if you have a pet pigeon you can invest in pigeon pants, these are basically nappies for pigeons which prevent you from getting covered in poop when you are handling them!

It’s best to accept the fact and learn how to deal with them.