How to Safely Remove Bird Droppings From Your Property

Before any method of pigeon or seagull proofing is installed, the area must be cleaned and prepared. Preparation is key before setting out on your cleaning challenge.

Wherever pigeons or seagulls have been perching or roosting, they inevitably leave behind a mess of nesting materials, sticks, feathers and the dreaded piles of pigeon poop. It goes without saying that the longer the birds are in residence, the larger the mess is left behind. As well as being unsightly, bird droppings are often acidic and can stain stonework. Deep cleaning before the installation of an anti-roosting system is therefore recommended.

Preparation

First, kit yourself out. Wear old clothes, preferably long-sleeved tops, long trousers, waterproof shoes and gloves. You may also like to invest in a pair of goggles and a dust mask, particularly for a heavy infestation.

As far as cleaning equipment goes, it’s pretty straightforward. Buckets, brushes, scrapers, bin bags, plenty of water and maybe a shovel. A hosepipe will be invaluable if you have a substantial amount of dried droppings to remove.

A disinfectant spray is a must for finishing off the area. We recommend Germ Clear™ Bird Droppings Disinfectant Spray as not only does it clean, but it kills off any bacteria that may be lurking. Bird guano in its wet form does not usually pose a danger in itself, but if it’s been there a while, it can start growing fungi and bacteria that can become airborne if dry and cause respiratory problems if breathed in.

Cleaning Kit Checklist

For easy cleaning, consider using the following items: a bucket of hot, soapy water or a hose pipe if there are large amounts of dried droppings, a sponge and scrubbing brush, scraper and gloves, dust mask and goggles, bin bags, a disinfectant spray.

We recommend spraying disinfectant on the areas needing to be cleaned. Not only will this loosen and soften the debris, but it will also dampen down any dust that may fly around when you start removing it. Leave to soak in for a minute or two before scraping the larger areas of droppings into a bin bag. This process may need to be repeated several times. Respray, scrape or use a stiff brush to further clean the area, and finally, respray and sponge down, wiping the area clean.

For larger areas, it may be necessary to use a hose pipe to ensure all the droppings are thoroughly soaked. The main health and safety issue during this process is avoiding breathing in the dried dust. For small quantities, ensure all the droppings are wet before removing them.

Finally, shower, change and sit back with a cup of tea for a well-deserved rest while the cleaned areas dry. Always allow the surface 24 - 48 hours to dry fully before installing bird spikes with silicone.

Legal disposal of waste

All bird droppings should be bagged before being binned. Small amounts can be disposed of in a domestic wheelie bin or at a council run tip facility. Larger amounts can be skipped as long as the skip company is an “Authorised Waste Carrier”, which all legitimate skip companies are.

Recommendation

Pigeon guano can simply be spread on the garden. It is a fabulous fertilizer and was literally worth its weight in gold between the 16th and 18th centuries, so much so that guards were posted outside pigeon lofts to deter theft of pigeon poop.