How to Remove Bird Droppings From Concrete

Birds naturally leave droppings on concrete and other surfaces.

Cleaning outdoor concrete surfaces is not at the top of most people's to-do list. However, concrete, like other natural stone surfaces, absorbs stains that are left unattended. Organic materials, such as bird droppings, should be removed from concrete regularly so they don't attract dirt, debris or fungus, such as mold. Timely removal of bird droppings or feces prevents stains from foods consumed by birds from forming on your concrete.

Things You'll Need

• Hose
• Bucket
• 1/2 cup ammonia
• Scrub brush
• Cat litter
• Broom
• Dustpan

Instructions

1. 

   The garden hose conveniently rinses off nearby concrete surfaces.

   Hose down the concrete where the bird droppings have stained the surface. After wetting the surface of the concrete, adjust the nozzle on the hose to a hard stream of water, rather than a spray. Use this stream to remove any dried-on bird droppings from the concrete.

2. Combine 1/2 cup sudsy ammonia with 1 gallon hot water. Soak a natural-bristle scrub brush in the ammonia mixture, and then wash the concrete with the solution. Move the scrub brush back and forth over the concrete, making sure to scrub in the grooves of any textured surface added to the concrete.

3. Cover the scrubbed area of the concrete with a mound of cat litter. Allow the cat litter to remain in place until it absorbs the ammonia and water solution then dries. Using the cat litter to absorb the ammonia solution saves you from having to rinse it into the grass or garden area, where it can damage plants.

4. 

   Cat litter absorbs cleaning solutions so you don't have to rinse them into the grass.

   Sweep the dried cat litter off the surface with a broom and dustpan. Ensure the entire bird dropping stain has been removed and repeat these steps if any stain remains. Rinse cat litter dust off the concrete with a hose.

Tips & Warnings

• When cleaning up fresh bird droppings, wear rubber or garden gloves to protect you from coming in direct contact with germs and bacteria.

• Rinse fresh bird droppings off the concrete with a hose and allow the sunshine to naturally bleach any remaining stain.

• Keep bird feeders and bird houses in one area of the yard, preferably over a grass surface, to minimize the need for cleanup.

• Avoid the use of a metal scrub brush on concrete as tiny shavings of metal left behind can cause rust stains.

References

• Marble Institute of America: Natural Stone Care and Cleaning: Types of Stains and First Step Cleaning Actions: Organic
• Ask the Builder; Cleaning Concrete Oil Spots; Tim Carter; 2011
• Housekeeping Channel; Stain Removal: Removing Stains From Stone, Tile and Concrete; Fred Hueston; April 2010