Help I'm bugged...

I just came through Florida, Alabama, Mississippi and Louisiana with all their love bugs. I didn't have anything else with me, so I got most of the bugs off with sprayed soapy water, a rag and a lot of elbow grease at the first overnight stop.

After the front end dried, I sprayed it with a little WD40 (of course, not the windshield) and left it wet. On my next stop, a plastic paint/ice scraper with a spray bottle of soapy water took them off in short order. It worked so well, I reapplied the WD40 and proceeded down the road.

For the windshield, the soapy water and plastic scraper got the job done with, of course, a generous helping of the invaluagle elbow grease.

FIRE UP wrote:
Here's another remedy that works real well. I've used a solution of about 50% water and 50% HYDROGEN PEROXIDE!!! Man, you ought to see those little, baked on critters start to fiz up! They look just like your skin does when you put it on a cut. There is no, I mean NO ill effects on the paint, rubber windshield molding, 3M mask, chrome or anything you've got on that front end.

I've used it straight out of the bottle too, still no damage to any component, only on the bugs!!! I typically spray it on them, let them fizzle for a bit, then use any type of sponge, or one those sponges with the scrubby on the back of it. But, that's not really needed.

I've used that same solution on the front of my Honda Goldwing motorcycle after a long days ride and ZAP, they fiz right down. I'm pretty finicky about what touches my bike and that front end still looks like brand new. Not to mention, Hydrogen Peroxide is CHEAP!
Scott

Hummm, good to know, Thanks for that tip.

Years ago, people that knew they were going to be traveling in high bug areas, used baby oil on the front to keep the bugs from sticking & then just a simple hose wash off.
Neil

Bugs-B-Gone, just spray it on dry surface and wash the bugs off. Works on the radiator also.

Nick

LA Awesome will take them off very nicely and easily --- however, you have to wax again........:(

I agree dryer sheets do a great job on getting bugs off. If you don't have any dryer sheets spray it down with cold water to wet the mess and remove some of the bulk, then spray with a product like Simple Green, let it soak a couple of minutes then wipe with a non abrasive cloth, rinse with cold water then repeat as needed. The bad thing about strong cleaners is they take off your wax/finish.

It may help to keep the front coated with a good quality finish that makes the surface slicker so the bugs will come off better. It may mean waxing the front more often than the rest of the rig but is is well worth the effort when bugs become a problem.

I use Prestone Bug Wash windshield cleaner on the MH and p/u truck. I use it on the windshield and on the body with absolutly NO ill effects. Just wipe on with a rag or wash brush let sit for about a minute then go back and wipe them away and rince off. Works on LOVE BUGS and any other bugs I may hit. Best part it's inexpensive (about $3.00 a gallon). I get it at WalMart.

Most of the time all it takes to get them off is enough water, applied long enough to soften them up. I usually get them off wet, with a soft carwash brush.

You can do the job faster, a bit more work, with soft abrasive materials like dryer sheets, magic eraser products, etc. Even the softest abrasives, however, will likely scratch waxes and other protective coatings, or plastics and paints.

Some bugs, love bugs particularly, can etch into coatings as they bake, and once they do that, they are harder to remove.

First light when dew is on is the best time to attack them.
Spray with water to loosen even more. Then wash with soft brush and no streak car wash. Use the brush as much as needed. It's not hard when they are soft.
If they are hard park in the shade and cool and soak with water and wash with plenty of suds and brush.
It's aggravating, to have to get up first morning, in camp early but it is the best time to wash the windshield and rig. If they won't let you wash rig they usually have no objection to windshield.
A bucket of suds on brush to soften first them more to wash and then rinse by throwing water on it or whatever you have to do.

WD 40 works great also and will not hurt your paint - can be used to remove tar, pine sap as well.

An old towel soaked in warm soapy water I prefer Dawn dish soap. Just spread it out and do it in the shade they will re-hydrate and come right off.