I am really enjoying the information on car exterior care but I have a questions about BUG Removal. I live in SW Florida and we have semi annual hatching of what is affectionatly called a Love Bug. These are mid air mating bugs that will swarm in the millions and have an affinity for the interstate. I commute 60 miles and will arrive home with a front end and windshield that looks like three day stubble. You would not even think of using your wipers to clear the windshield since the bug guts are like glue. I arrive at home after a long day and drive and have to remove these bugs or they harden like superglue by the next day. I have tried the RainX bug product but there is really nothing that cuts this mess. I am open to suggestions about what is safe and effective to remove and what follow up is necessary. These bug infestations can last for up to two weeks.

What we do on our motorcycles,is put wet towels on the windshield and keep them wet for 10 or so minutes. If they are fresh they come right off. If not fresh it takes a little while. Also reported , bug guts are like shellac and alcohol removes them like a solvent but is not harmful to other surfaces.

When I worked at UPS one of my jobs was to wash the package cars and in the summer those things would be baked and caked on. I found pre-soaking it then use a strong detergent.

I've always used a "bug removal" sponge with great success; no damage to the paint finish or chrome. I don't know the offical name of the sponge, but its basically a sponge covered in a woven nylon type fabric. You can buy them at any auto parts store, as well as Walmart, Kmart, etc. They sell for $3 to $4 and will last about a year under normal use. I've never had much success with any of the bug remover spray or liquid products.

Thanks for the "pre-soak" tips. That sounds like a great idea and I have abundant old towels that should do the trick. Sort of funny since I described the love bug coating on my car as a "five oclock shadow". Isnt that the way they softened beards in the old days before a shave in the barber shop?

I gave my 08 Kiwi Green EX some TLC this weekend. I tried the ICE liquid clay and it worked very well, but does require a wash off. Then a good coating with Mother's Carnuba wax.

I've always found that first soaking the windshield with glass cleaner and using 0000 ultra fine steel wool,works great at removing dried/caked on bug guts.Also a trick that can be done to ease the removal of bug guts from the front of your vehicle before driving,would be to first spray Pam cooking spray over the area,so when your ready,you can basically rinse those Pam marinated bugs off.Also if you use the flavored Pam cooking spray,before rinsing,you could take some bread and wipe it across your Pam,bug gut,soaked front end and have yourself a tastey bug gut treat.LOL.:twisted::-D

I just got a can of DuPont Bug & Tar Remover which I havent opened yet. I used to use this stuff eons ago, but paint was different then - no clear coat, (yes, that's how far back I go - we'll leave it there). If you dulled it, a compund and wax would fix it.

Anyone used this stuff or anything like on an E?


If so, what results?

I still use it sparingly on hard to remove bug and especially tar. Then I just use some polish or wax on the area after rinsing and drying the area.

[QUOTE=LPhilip;558606]I am really enjoying the information on car exterior care but I have a questions about BUG Removal. QUOTE]

If you avoid collisiosn with some VWs, then you do not need to worry about bug removal.


Bob

I have been using a product called Goo Gone that my wife picked up at Publix. It's orange and comes in a spray bottle. It's supposed to take off just about anything sticky. I used it on my baby to remove some pine sap (I'm sure you have that prob as well given where you live) and it came right off. NOTHING I ever used could remove that gloppy mess. Totally safe for the finish. It'll remove, according to the bottle, tar, sap, bugs, sticker adhesive, grease, chewing gum, crayon, makeup, candle wax. I spray it on a cloth or paper towel, rub like hell for a minute or so and voila. Gone. Unfortunately, the label does not specify what is in it that makes it so great, just that it's organic. Then again, uranium is organic, isn't it?
I have solved the problem of getting bug mess on my car. I drive my wife's minivan down SR 80 to visit her mother in Ft. Myers and leave mine safely in the driveway.

Cheers! Chris

Then again, uranium is organic, isn't it?


Been a long time since chemistry, but I'm pretty sure uranium is inorganic.

Ah, must have left my periodic chart at home at the time. Of course, it's not. Might explain why I got a C in ORGANIC chemistry. Could I say it's natural?

Chris

Hi ~ We're in S. Florida and all to familiar with the "lovebugs". Those buggers will eat paint if you don't get them off quickly!

The best solution we have found to date it to apply a diluted mix of baby shampoo (Specifically Johnson's Shampoo - the gold colored stuff) and water and let it soak a couple minutes before washing off. Works everytime, no damage to E and everybody smells nice afterwards :)

We live in Mobile Al. Love bugs are a fact of life here also. As others have said pre soak , I use Dawn dish soap in a bucket of hot water to pre soak with.