Bug removal success!

[Cujet]

Here in South Florida, love bugs and skeeters/flies/moths are problematic on rural roads. I have been struggling with these for years. I finally discovered the answer. WINDEX. spray it on liberally, wait a couple of minutes and use a Windex wet microfiber towel to remove. They come right off. Much easier than using the other commercial products and faster too!

Chris

 

[Jimmy9190]

Thanks. I'll have to try Windex. We have bad bugs here too.

 

[Ryan]

Does that remove the wax though?

 

[Jim 5]

I will have to try it. Is there any issue with the ammonia that is in Windex as far as paint etc?

I know ammonia can be bad for plastic/vinyl inside cars (and that is why they market automotive window cleaner that has no ammonia).

 

[XPR]

For really bad bugs I use Meguiar's APC. Does it take off wax? Don't know since I would re-wax that area or even the whole car anyway.

 

[Mike-in-Orange]

Yes, both Meguiar's APC and Windex will completely strip off any wax.

 

[qwertydude]

I wouldn't use windex if you're having trouble with lots of little bugs. The ammonia can damage the paint. I'd just soak the area in spray detailer and wipe gently with a soft cloth, follow with a wax. A large difficult bug I would actually just smear a dab of liquid car wax over it and the solvents in the wax will dissolve the bugs sticky resins and proteins and make wiping off easier. Then I'd polish and wax the section to finish it off.

 

[PW01]

I've used Goo Gone with great success to remove bugs. After using it, I wash the area and re-wax.

 

[Mr Nice]

How does WD-40 work on bugs ?

 

[Cujet]

So far, no paint damage. In fact, getting rid of the bugs likely helps the paint. As the bugs can etch the paint if left on long enough.

cujet

 

[2002 Maxima SE]

Originally Posted By: Cujet
Here in South Florida, love bugs and skeeters/flies/moths are problematic on rural roads. I have been struggling with these for years. I finally discovered the answer. WINDEX. spray it on liberally, wait a couple of minutes and use a Windex wet microfiber towel to remove. They come right off. Much easier than using the other commercial products and faster too!

Chris


Also try Pam cooking spray. I put it on about 15 to 30 min before I wash the car (sometimes overnight after reaching my destination). The oil soaks into the corpses and allows them to come off easily.

 

[chiefsfan]

I have been spraying on a mixture of baking soda and water on a wet front end, letting it soak and dissolve for a few minutes while I wash another part of the car. It does not take much scrubbing at all to get the bugs off. It works better than anything else I tried. Someone told me that the baking soda neutralizes the acid in the bugs and makes them easier to remove.

 

[qwertydude]

It's not the acid neutralization that makes baking soda effective it's the abrasiveness of it, the acid in bugs will degrade when it dries out and is exposed to light and air.

 

[XS650]

Originally Posted By: Cujet
Here in South Florida, love bugs and skeeters/flies/moths are problematic on rural roads. I have been struggling with these for years. I finally discovered the answer. WINDEX. spray it on liberally, wait a couple of minutes and use a Windex wet microfiber towel to remove. They come right off. Much easier than using the other commercial products and faster too!

Chris


Plain old water or water with a little car wash detergent and patience works too. Run some water over the buggers several times before you get around to washing that part of the car.

Water plus time does a good job of reconstituting a lot of bugs.

 

[CharBaby]

I prefer to use really HOT WATER with a little bit of carwash soap in a bucket(prior to washing your vehicle). Use rubber golves of course! The bugs just melt away. Great on the front of the vehicle(painted flexable plastic/urathane front bumper covers, chrome, painted plastics as well as the windshield).

 

[Cujet]

I tried that hot water thing when I lived up North. I cracked my windshield.

Chris

 

[CharBaby]

I've never cracked a windshield in any vehicle especially in Florida where it's already HOT!. Was in Tampa/St Pete's for a spell. Those Love Bugs are incredable!. I only used hot tap water. Never boiling hot, just hot!

 

[qwertydude]

I think he meant to de-ice a windshield with hot water. That will crack the glass.

 

[FZ1]

I keep 3 coats of wax on the front and mirrors of my car. The bugs seem to wash off easier with a good wax base. I just wash 'em off with the wash mitt,dry,and put on a replacement coat of wax.

 

[digitalSniperX1]

This stuff works great and it goes easy on your paint and wax.

http://www.turtlewax.com/main.taf?p=2,1,4,11

It won't remove the ones that have been left a long time. That requires the strong stuff.

Using baking soda will scratch. Rubbing the [censored] out of it with just water can too. Never tried windex but I cannot image that ammonia is good for your paint. Windex contains ammonia.