bird poop on the retaining wall

newfieannie · #1 05/14/14, 01:15 PM

how do I get it off? I've been out there this morning with a scrub brush,comet, soap and what not but it just wont budge. I was thinking maybe a wire brush would do it. ~Georgia

Danaus29 · #2 05/14/14, 01:17 PM

Bird poop? Is it a colorful mess? The reason I ask is because it usually hoses right off. At the very most the scrub brush should have removed it all. And sad to say, once it's cleaned off the birds will just plop there again, just like a car.

Seth · #3 05/14/14, 01:39 PM

It is a retaining wall, it's retaining poop. Seth

ChristieAcres · #4 05/14/14, 01:44 PM

Sorry to hear that, well, it would probably be very helpful to cover the top of the retaining wall with plastic bird spikes or some other product which prevents them from perching in the future. There are other "not so nice" ways to prevent them; I prefer to choose a non-harming and non-lethal method. We have a cat, so no problems with that. Thankfully, she doesn't take out birds, but prefers rodents (is a great deterrent, nonetheless). If you get a cat, a bell on the collar helps to warn the birds in advance.

mnn2501 · #5 05/14/14, 01:50 PM

What is the retaining wall made out of?

Bret · #6 05/14/14, 02:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Seth

It is a retaining wall, it's retaining poop. Seth

Good work Quick Draw. I didn't even clear the holster. That's the problem with thinking too long.

simi-steading · #7 05/14/14, 03:02 PM

Pressure washer... Or.. it's a wall.. let nature take care of it..

newfieannie · #8 05/14/14, 03:10 PM

well I guess I wont ask that question anymore. and why would I put spikes around for birds. I feed the birds. and yes I always just use a hose but it didn't seem to work with this and I thought other people might have had that problem. the retaining wall is cement by the way. ~Georgia.

simi-steading · #9 05/14/14, 03:13 PM

yep, for cement, a pressure washer would be your best bet..

The spikes will at least keep them from sitting on the wall..

Believe me, with a Macaw, I've become quite the expert in bird poop cleaning... if you don't catch it wet, short of a pressure washer, it's a ton of scrubbing..

Harry Chickpea · #10 05/14/14, 03:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by newfieannie

how do I get it off? I've been out there this morning with a scrub brush,comet, soap and what not but it just wont budge. I was thinking maybe a wire brush would do it. ~Georgia

Budgie poop is particularly difficult. What nots look at is and say "What? NOT!"

Washing soda, bleach, or TSP would be a place to start. If the top of the wall is sloped enough it won't be as attractive to them. You haven't lived until you have cleaned a foot or more of pigeon poo out of a rooftop AC.

L.A. · #11 05/14/14, 03:45 PM

Kaopectate ? maybe,,,,preventive solution,,,,

newfieannie · #12 05/14/14, 04:00 PM

what's tsp Harry? the top is flat and it's not there. it's all down the side. a neighbor told me it's probably the home made suet I've been feeding them. I think he's joking though. I'm desperate to get it cleaned! there is a method to my madness here. I'm well aware that's what birds do. it's just I'm having a tea party next week and that is the first thing the ladies are going to see when they get out of their cars. I do have a wire brush out in the country and i'll try that this weekend. to tell you the truth I never found anything so hard to get off. I never have had a power washer but if I have to i'll get one~Georgia.

roadless · #13 05/14/14, 04:17 PM

I think a power washer would be the way go.
They can be rented at home depot, at least in my area.
Good luck.

Harry Chickpea · #14 05/14/14, 05:21 PM

TSP is TriSodium Phosphate, an extremely powerful cleaner available at home stores, paint stores and hardware stores. There is a substitute (because of phosphate pollution concerns in some areas). Don't know if it is AS effective as TSP, but it should be comparable. With all chemicals - give it time to work. Take some old rags to cover the concrete, soak them with a TSP solution, keep them damp for an hour, THEN remove the rags and scrub.

Danaus29 · #15 05/14/14, 05:30 PM

Sorry, didn't mean to come off as snarky just never heard of bird poop that wouldn't wash off. Is it brightly colored or typical white? I know berries can stain which I why I asked. For berry bright poop on cement I would try some oxyclean.

Would you be able to hang a flag or sculpture or something else over the poop, just to hide it for the tea party? Maybe color over it with chalk or washable paint?

In the meantime, get a car cover or park in the garage. If it won't wash off concrete it won't come off a car.

o&itw · #16 05/14/14, 06:22 PM

Once you get it clean, you might want to hang a few CD's or tin pie plates, dangling by string, around on branches, etc. That will keep the keep the birds away for a few days, and you can take them down the morning of your tea.

Nature_Lover · #17 05/14/14, 09:16 PM

Vinegar dissolves bird poop.
Just soak it until it rinses away with water, no scrubbing necessary.

Harry Chickpea · #18 05/14/14, 11:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nature_Lover

Vinegar dissolves bird poop.
Just soak it until it rinses away with water, no scrubbing necessary.

'cept on concrete it will also etch the concrete and get partly neutralized by the lime in it. Would be fine on wood and some painted surfaces tho.

ct01r · #19 05/15/14, 12:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by newfieannie

well I guess I wont ask that question anymore. and why would I put spikes around for birds. I feed the birds. and yes I always just use a hose but it didn't seem to work with this and I thought other people might have had that problem. the retaining wall is cement by the way. ~Georgia.

I think there may be a misunderstanding. The spikes don't hurt the birds, it just keeps them from roosting/sitting in areas that you don't them to leave a mess. They spikes are typically installed on historic buildings that have sustained damage to stucco, mortar, etc. from bird droppings. The droppings can also cause health issues if it builds up enough. We've used spikes and netting at work, and have never seen any hurt birds from either.

I don't think it would look too nice on your wall, though. Sounds like a pressure washer may be the way to go, and if the wall is small enough, maybe cover it till your party. Curt

newfieannie · #20 05/15/14, 06:03 PM

Bingo! the vinegar did it. not sure what Harry meant by etch the concrete guess i'll find out . it's clean anyway. I'm sure if I had used the hose when it happened or shortly after it would have been okay but I didn't have it hooked up this year yet and I was waiting for rain. by that time like I said it wouldn't budge. thanks everyone for trying to help . I am going to invest in a power washer when I figure out what to get. ~Georgia.