Bugs. As soon as the weather begins to warm up around here, suddenly, they’re everywhere. Big ones, little ones; all equally annoying, especially when you find their remains cemented to the front of your car, truck, or other motor vehicle. Like a badly burned dinner pan, insect residue, bug stains, and other unsightly matter can be a real pain to chisel off without damaging the finish on your vehicle.
Why Should I Remove Bugs From Car Paint?
Aside from the obvious — being a cosmetic eyesore — bugs and insects can do more damage than you might think if not treated. Bug splatter is fairly acidic, which means, if severe enough, it can eat through your clear coat over time.
What’s worse is that some bugs can etch, or dig into, the vehicle’s paint, resulting in even more damage if the etching is deep enough. Certain bugs have super-hard exterior shells — exoskeletons — that make them very sharp and capable of digging into your clear coat, potentially reaching your paint or primer.
Prevention is truly the best course of action. However, some techniques may prove more effective than others, depending on your circumstances.
Prevention
The first step in controlling the big situation is to stay on top of it! While there’s no surefire way to prevent bugs from sticking to all parts of your car, there are some things you can do to create a protective barrier or make it challenging for some bugs to stick.
- Wax: The primary purpose of wax is to protect your vehicle’s clear coat. After you remove all dried bugs from your car and wash it, always be sure to protect your hood and bumper with a good coat of wax. It can be effective in helping smaller insects, such as gnats and small flies, slide off your car, though it’s main job is to make clean-up a breeze by creating a barrier between your clear coat and rain, bugs, and other outside elements.
- Bug Barricade: This water-based formula creates a slippery surface ideal for offroad vehicles. After you wash and dry your vehicle, simply spray it on and take a microfiber towel or sponge to spread it evenly across the surface. It’s important to remember that this is a short-term bug repelling product meant to protect for just a few weeks; it can be great for road trips!
- Windshield protection and covers: If you can’t park your vehicle in a garage every night, a windshield cover could be effective in keeping insects off of your windshield in the morning. If you have an older vehicle — one that you may not “baby” as much as a newer car — you can apply bug repellent to your windshield to stave off bugs in the morning. However, never apply bug spray to the paint itself.
Protection
Maintaining a clean exterior is key. Ensure that your car is washed on a regular basis, more during the ‘bug-heavy’ times of the year. You may also need to use some elbow grease to really get the grime and bug guts off your bumper, hood, and mirrors. A bug sponge — a sponge with a honeycomb cover that helps to get under any particles — works wonders.
You may also want to try a bug and tar remover specifically designed for car exteriors. Avoid using any harsh chemicals not approved for automobile paint; the last thing you’ll need is to rub the paint off your car while trying to rid it of bug gunk.
Keeping it Off
Regular wax jobs will help to deter insects from sticking to the paint. In addition, a thin layer of baby oil on your car’s hood and bumper will help bug residue wipe off a bit easier. Another preventative measure is having a deflector shield or protective screen installed on the front of your car. A bit pricey, but there is less clean-up involved.
What’s the Best Way to Remove Bugs From My Car Bumper?
The best way to get rid of bugs from your bumper or other surfaces of your car is to grab a bucket of water and a microfiber cloth. For the peskiest of dried-on pests, spritz from a spray bottle of water mixed with a few drops of dish detergent. There are myriad specialty bug-removal solutions, as well. There’s no one magical product that will effortlessly dissolve the bug remains off of your car; there will be a degree of labor and attentiveness involved. However, you don’t have to bear the brunt of this work.
If you’re wondering how to get dead bugs off your car — and lower the chances of them sticking to your vehicle in the first place — it pays to partner with auto care professionals that work to give you a comprehensive clean that protects your vehicle paint’s integrity. The specialists at Car Spa have seen it all, and in addition to providing you with a car wash that will leave your vehicle looking new, can consult you on best practices for keeping bug buildup off your car.
Although it’s impossible to avoid the inevitable bug goo on your car, there are ways to keep your car looking great. Be sure to follow the above measures for easier clean-up and maintenance and talk to your Car Spa car care professional for any additional questions you may have. For more information on how to remove pet hair from your car or car detailing in Dallas, get in touch with our team today.
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