Removal of Pigeon Droppings

Pigeons roosting around your home will lead to large amounts of fecal material that must be removed.

Having to remove pigeon droppings is an unfortunate side effect of having pigeons around your property. Not only are they unsightly, but they can carry disease. Knowing how to properly remove the droppings from a number of surfaces is important to the health of your family and the beauty of your property.

Things You'll Need

• Rubber gloves
• Respirator or painter's mask
• Paint Scraper
• Water hose
• Antibacterial solution (optional)
• Nylon or wire bristle brush

Instructions

1. Scrape away the dried pigeon feces from the surface. Wearing rubber gloves and a painter's mask or respirator, use a wide paint scraper to physically remove the feces from the area, taking care not to damage the surface under the feces. This process should continue until most of the feces have been removed. You can dispose o f the feces in your trashcan or sprinkle it into your flower garden as fertilizer.

2. Flush the area thoroughly with water. Using a water hose with a nozzle fitting, spray the area down with water. The idea is to wash away any remaining feces with the pressurized water and reduce the amount of time you are in direct contact with the feces. Continue flushing for 10-15 minutes or longer for larger areas.

3. After flushing the area with water, use a wire or nylon bristle brush to agitate the area and remove any remaining fecal matter from the surface. Take care to brush the areas gently enough to prevent damage to the underlying surface but firmly enough to remove the remaining feces. You may also choose to use an antibacterial preparation when brushing the surfaces to kill any remaining bacteria. This step is recommended if the area you are cleaning is large or was heavily contaminated with feces. In smaller situations, this is not necessary.

4. After you have completely brushed the entire area, flush it again with pressurized water to remove any leftover feces and any remaining antibacterial solution. Once again, flush the area for 10-15 minutes or longer for larger areas to be sure that the fecal matter and antibacterial solution have been removed.

Tips & Warnings

• After cleaning your outdoor areas, install pigeon deterrent devices like bird spikes to prevent future messes.

• Never attempt to clean up pigeon feces without using a painting mask or respirator. Bacteria and other pathogens can be inhaled, causing infection and illness.

References

• Pigeoncontrolresourcecenter.org: Cleaning - How important is it? - Pigeons & Disease