If you’re like me or my wife, then you most likely love spending time outdoors in your truck.
Whether I’m fishing, camping, or just out for a drive, there’s nothing I enjoy more than being behind the wheel.
However, with all that fun comes to some occasional messes.
In this blog post, I’ll share eleven homemade recipes for cleaning bird poop, tar, and tree sap off of your truck.
Let’s get to it!
Best DIY Truck Wash Recipe
No matter how clean you keep your truck, there will always be the odd spot of bird poop, tar, or tree sap.
And while these can be easy to clean off with a quick trip to the car wash, sometimes you just don’t have the time or money for that.
That’s why I’ve put together this truck wash recipe that you can easily make at home.
Ingredients:
1-1/2 cup Dawn dish soap
2-1/2 cup white vinegar
3-1 gallon of warm water
Usage Instructions:
Mix all ingredients together in a large bucket and use a sponge or cloth to wash away bird poop from your truck’s surface.
Rinse the area with clean water when you’re done.
Simple isn’t it!
I’ve used this truck wash recipe dozens of times and it never fails to get the job done.
Not only does it remove bird poop, tar, and tree sap, but it also does a great job at degreasing and cleaning the undercarriage of my truck.
Plus, it’s gentle enough to use on the paint without damaging it.
I would highly recommend giving this recipe a try the next time your truck is in need of a good cleaning.
Where and for What You Can Use?
The above cleaner can be used on any area of your truck that has bird poop, tar, or tree sap.
I would recommend using it on the paint first, as that’s the most delicate area, but it can also be used on the windows, wheels, and anywhere else that needs a good cleaning.
In short, you can use it as:
- Tar and Tree Sap Remover
- All-Purpose Truck Wash
- Bug and Grime Buster
- Wheel Well Wash
- Undercarriage Cleaner
- Degreaser
- And More!
Homemade Exterior Cleaners for Your Truck
If you do not want to use my tried and tested recipe above, there are plenty of other ways to clean your truck.
In this section, I’ll share some other recipes that can be used for cleaning the exterior of your truck.
1. Dish Soap and Water
This is the most basic truck wash recipe and it works well for light cleaning. Simply mix together some dish soap and water in a bucket and you’re good to go.
For tougher stains, mix together some laundry detergent and water. This combo should break down the bird poop and make it easier to wipe away.
2. Vinegar and Water
If you’re looking for something a little stronger than dish soap, then try this vinegar and water mix.
Again, just combine equal parts of each in a bucket and use it to wash your truck as usual.
3. Baking Soda and Water
Another option for light cleaning is to mix together baking soda and water. This combo will work well on bird poop and sap.
If you’re dealing with tough stains, then you might need to break out the bleach. Just mix together 1 part bleach with 10 parts water and use it to wash your truck.
4. Borax and Water
For tougher stains, try using a borax and water solution. Just mix together 1/2 cup of borax with 1 gallon of water and use it to wash your truck as normal.
5. WD-40
WD-40 is great for removing tar and sap from your truck. Simply spray it on the affected areas and wipe it away with a clean cloth.
6. Ammonia and Water
Ammonia is another strong cleaning agent that can be used to remove bird poop and sap from your truck.
Just mix together 1 part ammonia with 10 parts water and use it as you would any other truck wash solution.
7. Rubbing Alcohol and Water
For light cleaning, mix together rubbing alcohol and water in a bucket. This solution will work well on bird poop and tar stains.
8. Dryer Sheets
This might sound strange, but dryer sheets actually work really well for cleaning bird poop off of trucks. Just rub the dryer sheet over the poop and it should come right off.
9. Baby Wipes
Baby wipes are another unexpected tool that can be used to clean bird poop off of trucks. Again, just rub the baby-wipe over the stain until it’s gone.
10. Magic Erasers
Magic erasers sometimes also work great for removing bird poop stains from trucks. Simply rub the magic eraser over the stain and it should disappear.
11. Auto Glass Cleaner
If you’re dealing with tough stains on your truck’s windshield, then auto glass cleaner can be used to remove them.
Just spray the cleaner on the stain and wipe it away with a clean cloth.
Final Thoughts
There you have it! 11 different ways to clean bird poop, glue, wax, tar, and tree sap off your truck.
All these household products should do the trick, but if you’re still having trouble removing the stains, then you can always try a commercial truck wash solution.
Which one will you be trying first? Let me know in the comments below and happy cleaning!