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How to clean bug guts off painted surfaces?

Jeff7181

Jeff7181

Lifer
I drive about 30 highway miles every day to work and back... and I just drove 260 miles round trip to a funeral. The front of my car is covered in bug guts. I just washed it today using Mothers California Gold car wash and a cotton wash mitt. I know the mitt isn't ideal for cleaning bugs... my dad has always used a horse hair brush to wash his cars because it wouldn't scratch the paint but cleaned well.

Any recommendations on what to use or what not to use?
 
I have a similar problem with tree sap currently, nothing will touch the stuff. the Turtle wax stuff is a joke.
 
Originally posted by: narzy
I have a similar problem with tree sap currently, nothing will touch the stuff. the Turtle wax stuff is a joke.
Click to expand...

Tree sap is probably the hardest thing to get off of paint.

I would recommend that you don't park under trees or use a cover if you have to.

For bug guts I'd go with clay bar or a clear coat safe paint cleaner. I like Meguiars cleaners/polish. As Iamwiz said though, you will need to wax your car after claying or using a paint cleaner.
 
Bug and Tar remover works. So does WD40. I once drove through a recently repaved road with my white car, and WD40 is what got the tar off. Works just as well for bug guts. I was told it doesnt harm the paint and it didnt.
 
Originally posted by: sjwaste
Bug and Tar remover works. So does WD40. I once drove through a recently repaved road with my white car, and WD40 is what got the tar off. Works just as well for bug guts. I was told it doesnt harm the paint and it didnt.
Click to expand...

WD40 won't harm the paint? That's questionable...
 
Stoner's Tarminator

Spray on and let it sit a minute.
Then get a hose and blast bug debris with relatively high pressure.
Next take a soapy rag and rub off the hardcore remnants, frequently hosing off the dirty rag so you aren't rubbing bug parts into the paint.
Perhaps a 2nd application of Tarminator would help.
Just make sure you rinse off the paint after using the stuff.
 
Originally posted by: FeuerFrei
Stoner's Tarminator

Spray on and let it sit a minute.
Then get a hose and blast bug debris with relatively high pressure.
Next take a soapy rag and rub off the hardcore remnants, frequently hosing off the dirty rag so you aren't rubbing bug parts into the paint.
Perhaps a 2nd application of Tarminator would help.
Just make sure you rinse off the paint after using the stuff.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the tips. Sounds like a once or twice a year thing right? Not something you'd want to do every time ya wash the car?
 
Honestly there area few solutions to this problem depending on how long the bugs have been on your car you can start with a chemical product or you can try this method, get a towel dampen it with hot water and place the towel over the problem area, hope that the bugs get steamed off and then repeat yourself. Clay bar should work as well.

Goodluck
 
Elbow grease isn't the answer, nor is chipping away at it with your nails or wiping/rubbing focused pressure on fixed spots with your regular cleaning sponges. You'll just wear and scuff the paint.

Clay bar and a proper clay lubricant to progressively and abrasively wear down the deposits, and seal and polish and re-wax is about the only method for removing things that don't come off after a normal reasonable wash (tar, sap, bug guts, etc)

Be sure you research the proper use of a clay bar before using one though. It's an abrasive suspended in putty and requires a gliding lubricant to keep it off the paint surface and works basically like sand paper to sand away deposits above surface level. You'll ruin the paint and clear coat if you just use it dry.
 
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