Removing Dead Bugs From Your Car

Warm weather is in full swing! And while the warm weather is a breath of fresh air, it eventually also means more bugs and insects. This year many states along the east coast have been invaded with Cicadas, which are relatively harmless, but like any bug can be very bad on your cars exterior from paint corrosion to clogged radiator grills. These specks of bug guts may seem like they should be easy to remove by going through the car wash, but that doesn’t always work. Some insects leave such a sticky mess behind that you need to use other methods of removal. Here are a few methods on safely removing bug guts from the front of your vehicle without having to take it to a detailer:

Car Bug Cleaner

Johnson’s baby shampoo
Dish soap
Hot water
Bucket
Bug sponge

Fill a bucket or container with hot water and add a few squirts of baby shampoo or a degreaser dish soap. Dip a bug sponge into the soapy water and scrub the bug remains off the car using a circular motion.

This solution works well for the windows, the paint on the car, the tires, and is a great DIY cleaner for car headlights that have bug remains on them. Rinse the vehicle with clean water from a garden hose.

Best Way to Remove Bugs Using Baking Soda

Baking soda is an excellent car soap substitute. It is alkaline and a mild scrubbing agent that works well at removing dirty bits of dead bugs from the car.

Baking Soda Car Bug Remover

4 tablespoons baking soda
1-quart warm water
Bucket
Microfiber cloth

Pour warm water and baking soda into a bucket and mix. Dunk a microfiber cloth into the solution and apply it to the car.

Rub the dirty areas with the cloth in a circular motion to remove dead bugs. Rinse the vehicle with a hose and dry it with a microfiber towel.

Removing Dead Bugs from a Car with Dryer Sheets

Fabric softener is not just for softening and removing lint from clothing. Those dryer sheets can also remove dead bugs from a car. This method also works well as a tar remover.

Dryer Sheet Method

Dryer sheets
Spray bottle
Warm water

Fill a spray bottle with some warm water and spray onto a sheet of fabric softener. Rub the softener sheet in a circular motion onto the bug splattered areas of the car.

The solution in fabric softener sheets works by loosening the bugs for easy removal. Once the bug grime is gone, wash your car as you typically would and give it a proper waxing.

Best Way to Remove Bugs from Your Car Windshield

A vinegar solution is the best way to remove bugs from your car windshield and also the best way to clean your car windows, whether they have bug guts or not. Vinegar is a mildly acidic liquid that cleans the glass of all kinds of dirt and debris without leaving streaks. This method also works well for cleaning aluminum rims with vinegar.

Vinegar Car Cleaner

1 cup white vinegar
1 cup of water
Spray bottle
Microfiber cloth

Pour the vinegar and warm water into a spray bottle and label for future use. Spray the glass cleaning solution onto the windshield and wipe it with a cloth using circular motions to remove dead bugs. Reapply the spray a second time and use a clean cloth to wipe away any residue.

Repeat the steps on other car windows that need cleaning. Vinegar is also the perfect solution for cleaning tires with household products you already have in the pantry. It is ideal for cleaning virtually every area of the car, both inside and out.

Removing Bug Guts from a Car with Oil

Various household oil substances work for removing bugs from your car and to clean tree sap off your car and windows, as well. We have listed several of these oil types that get the job done. These oils can also be used for removing tree sap.

Oil Bug Remover

Cooking spray
Baby oil
Lamp oil
WD-40
Microfiber cloth

Apply one of the mentioned oils or sprays onto a soft cloth and rub it onto the buggy area of the car or to the tree sap stain using circular motions. After the bugs are gone, clean the car with soap and water, rinse with clean water, and then follow up with a proper waxing.

Rubbing Bugs Off a Car with a Magic Eraser

Magic Erasers can clean just about anything, so it shouldn’t come as a surprise to discover that it can also remove dead bugs from your car.

Erasing Bug Splats

Get a Magic Eraser wet and rub the bug stains on the car with a gentle motion and not too much force. Using too much pressure or trying this method with a dry eraser may cause surface damage to the paint on your car.

Prevent Bug Splatters on Your Car with a Bug Deflector

If you often travel long distances, consider putting a car deflector onto the front of your car to prevent those bugs from making a mess on the paint.

Bug Deflector

Bug deflectors work by keeping bugs off the car paint, along with other debris. As bugs hit the deflector, they are swept up over the top of your vehicle and away.

You can pick up an auto bug deflector from any auto parts store. Attach the deflector to the front bumper of your car by following the manufacturer’s instructions.

Prevent Bug Splatter Stains with Wax

Applying wax or car sealant to the front of your vehicle is a great way to prevent bugs from sticking to the paint.

Car Waxing

Clean the entire car using soap and water, rinse with clean water, and dry. Use a car wax such as Turtle Wax Bug, and apply it to a sponge. Rub the wax onto a section of the car using a circular motion.

Continue doing this in parts until the car is covered in wax. Use a cloth to remove the wax by buffing the sections using a circular motion.

While cleaning bugs off the front of your car may not be the most desirable job, it doesn’t have to be a chore. You can turn a gross job into a simple task as long as you use the right cleaning product or tool and a little elbow grease.

Use a streak free glass cleaning solution to remove bugs from the windshield and one of our other cleaning solutions to remove dead bugs from the rest of your vehicle.