How do I clean bird feces out of my attic

The problem with bird feces is that they get accumulated in all the difficult to reach places like attics, roofs or other different kinds of roosting places. You simply can’t ignore them because they not only look terrible, but are also responsible for transmitting different diseases and many other issues. If the fecal matter is exposed to rains then it is good because it will be washed away, but when it gets accumulated inside ducts, attics or other similar places, then it is going to stay there for long (unless removed) acting as a perfect matter on which bacteria can grow and develop.


Diseases and prevention
Elimination of these kinds of wastes is considered as very much important for avoiding different kinds of diseases like psittacosis and histoplasmosis. In addition to this, many other serious conditions develop because of bacteria a fecal matter of birds is an ideal source for growth and development of a variety of pathogens. The best method for avoiding these kinds of diseases is to timely clean the droppings using safe and properly applicable strategies. Remember that bird droppings are removed not only for the purpose of cleaning but also for preventing the occurrence of different harmful diseases.


Safety measures
While cleaning the droppings you need to adopt a cautious approach because in any case we don’t want anyone to contract any disease.

  • Face should be covered properly so that chances of inhaling air containing pathogens are minimized.
  • Wear gloves made up of plastic so that you are saved completely during the entire campaign.
  • In addition to this, long clothes should be worn so that it is ensured that no contact between droppings and your body is established.

We have already discussed that harmful pathogens grow on droppings so it is important that one should be extremely careful while cleaning and only go ahead after adopting basic security measures.


Removal of dropping
Once it is ensured that you are properly covered it’s time to move towards practical removal of droppings. First of all sprinkle water on them so that they shouldn’t be carried away by wind to different places also you should not allow the passersby to inhale them. One more point to highlight here is that droppings should not be washed away because they can be carried to places where bacteria can grow and attain dangerous form. If needed you can have bucket containing a decent disinfectant and with the help of a brush scrub the feces away by applying the disinfectant. In this manner chances of killing pathogens will get high and you will not only remove the droppings, but also harmful germs.


In case you are considering using high power water hose for stripping off droppings that are hard and dry, then it is best to take proper dust control measures. There are definite benefits related with the approach of wetting work area as inhalation will be prevented, spreading of dust outside the work area will also be prevented and reduction in risks related with infections will be introduced. It is strongly recommended that patients who have immune system weakness because of AIDS/HIV or cancer must never get directly involved in the cleaning procedure. It is also recommended that hands should be washed properly after finishing the job.


It is your choice to use water hose otherwise alternatives are also there that can be applied. Read about How to remove pigeon feces from concrete. One such method is related to soaking dropping with disinfectant or water and then they are shoveled. It should be kept in mind that workers must never make efforts for cleaning dry droppings because dust can be inhaled during such practices and diseases get transmitted. The wet material which you will collect from cleaning must be placed inside plastic bags or any other container that is secure.


After carefully cleaning the attic you should move towards its disinfection there are different solutions available in the market for this purpose, but we recommend that best ones should be used. A proper solution of bleach, ammonia or water can be used and can be applied to surface. This will also remove bad odor that is related with dropping of bird.


The above mentioned procedures clearly shows a clean strategy that can be used for safe removal of bird feces from attic, but we suggest that best method for reducing risks that are associated with droppings of birds is to make an environment that pushes away birds from your surroundings.

  • Remove all sources of food
  • Guide people that they should not feed birds
  • Clean your garbage cans and trash bins in a proper manner
  • Eliminate areas that can be used for nesting or roosting
  • Close all the possible entry points which birds can use for accessing attic


In case you find it difficult to remove the feces or droppings on your own then call professionals for assistance. They will manage things in an appropriate manner. Professionals not only are equipped with experience, but also they have proper tools for handling the job so their assistance will be valuable for you in these conditions.

The problem with bird feces is that it can contain disease-causing spores when they become airborne as it dries out and turns to dust. This is the case with the feces of some birds and bats, so heading up into the attic to clean the mess away with a dustpan and brush isn’t always a viable option. The attic is usually an enclosed space, often with poor ventilation. Those conditions are perfect for allowing those histoplasmosis spores to be inhaled by you - the person cleaning it up - and then going on to cause conditions such as lung disease in those who already have a weakened immune system. Even fit and healthy people can be taken seriously ill by histoplasmosis and similar zoonotic diseases. 

If you do intend to clean the bird feces out of your attic alone, without hiring professionals, you should do it wearing full safety gear. This includes breathing masks that are substantially more involved than the ones you’re used to wearing throughout the pandemic, full coveralls, and equipment that is either disposed of, or fully sanitized once the cleanup is complete. 

A filter vacuum is a handy tool for sucking up bird and bat feces without sending disease spores flying through the air, and you're going to want some seriously strong cleaners, preferably with anti-fungal/antibacterial/anti-everything properties. Just remember not to mix cleaning products unless you want to be exposed to potentially lethal gases.