Car owners are being warned that tree and animals could cause damage to their cars during summer. There's also a warning that failing to clear things like bird poo or tree sap from windows could even lead to fines if visibility is reduced.
Both substances can cause expensive damage to paintwork, which could even be irreparable if not dealt with swiftly. To help motorists avoid irreversible damage and fines, the International Drivers Association looked at the most common issues caused by nature and provided some tips and tricks on how to protect their cars.
Tree sap
Tree sap generally starts to fall in the spring and continues well into the summer. It’s a thick, sticky liquid that is harvested to make food and objects, such as maple syrup and glue.
Although it can be useful in day-to-day life, it can also become a big problem for car owners – especially as temperatures start to creep up. If tree sap gets onto your paintwork, it can begin to eat through the wax and clear coat finish that sits on top of the coloured paint, leaving behind permanent blemishes, which could then reduce the value of your car when you come to sell it.
How to remove tree sap from your car
The key to removing tree sap and minimising damage is to act as fast as you can. Of course, it’s difficult when you’re out and about, but if you have some water and a cloth, you can remove the excess while you’re not at home, before giving the area a good clean with car shampoo when you’re able.
If you’ve found the sap has hardened over a longer period of time, or has been in direct sunlight for many hours, don’t worry – there are still things you can do. Sap remover is great for breaking down the hardened liquid, meaning you can wipe it away without the need for vigorous scrubbing. You can also buy clay bars for stubborn sap stains. These are designed to be used after a thorough car clean and remove any remaining sap on your car.
Bird poo
Arguably the most common blight when it comes to our cars is finding bird poo on our roofs, doors and bonnets. An issue all year-round, it can be more common in spring and summer as birds hunt to feed their chicks and they then begin to flee the nest, plus the sun can harder it very quickly.
It may be classed as lucky, but bird poo is anything but for cars. Extremely acidic, it cuts through paintwork if left to set. At certain times of the year you may also find digested berries in the poo, which can make it more difficult to remove.
How to remove bird poo from your car
If you catch bird poo while it’s still wet, you can usually wipe it off with a soft, damp cloth and some water. However, once it’s dry, it can be more difficult to remove.
Start by getting off the excess with a damp cloth, before using a car shampoo and water to softly buff off the excess. If you don’t have any car shampoo, a handy alternative is sparkling water – just soak a cloth in the water and let it sit on the offending area for a few minutes before wiping it away.
Bugs and insects
Although not as immediately unsightly as bird poo, insects and bugs are an issue for drivers in the summer months and you’ll often find car bonnets and grills splattered with them. Their acidic nature means they can cut through paintwork quickly, ruining the front of your car. Add this to pebble chips, and the front of the car can end up looking worse for wear.
How to remove bugs and insects from your car
As with everything, it’s a good idea to target the problem as soon as you can. They usually end up stuck to windscreens, which often don’t cause an issue (other than unsightliness), but appear around front bumpers, grills, and at the side of windscreens. A quick shampoo is usually enough here, but if you’ve left them for a few weeks, you may have to use a specially formulated solution designed to remove them.
Top tips for removing these issues from your car’s paintwork:
Remove the offending item as soon as you can
Only use products that have been designed for use on car paintwork
Use a clean, soft cloth to remove the stains to minimise the risk of scratching the paintwork
Clean and wax your car regularly – the shinier the surface, the harder it is for anything to stick to it
WD-40 can help to loosen stubborn stains if you don’t have any car shampoo or specialist solution
Michael Bissona, IDA's motoring expert, said: “We often think it’s the winter months that pose the most potential damage to our cars – due to storms, snow and ice – but the warmer months also have their challenges when it comes to our vehicles.
“It’s vital that car owners keep an eye on their cars, checking it regularly for signs of the above. But as with most things, prevention is better than treatment. We advise drivers to avoid parking under or near trees or under bird nests wherever possible, in order to help reduce the chances of damage going forward.”
