How to Safely Remove Bugs

What’s the problem with bugs?

Aside from being an eye sore on your vehicle’s paint, bugs can damage your clear coat and cause “etching” marks that cannot be wiped off if left on too long. This is due to most bugs becoming acidic, which will slowly eat through your vehicle's clear coat, especially when heat is involved. This is a mechanism similar to water spot etching, where hot minerals in the water dig deeper into the softer clear coat and cause water spots. In both cases, a certain level of cutting and polishing will be necessary to remove these spots - a time-consuming and, therefore, costly service that can be avoided. Additionally, modern paint systems are becoming thinner and thinner - it’s not uncommon to see a vehicle that does not qualify for the polishing needed to remove bug etching and water spotting completely. So, it’s best to quickly address any organic matter to minimize damage to your investments.

A note on Bug Removers

As with any detailing product category, there are many choices regarding bug removers. The best ones offer an effective anti-organic matter formula (for lack of better terminology) and excellent lubricity, and the formulation should be as close to pH neutral as possible. Beware of heavy degreaser/caustic products that must be used carefully to avoid paint damage (especially in the sun) or staining on nearby plastics. The best bug removers are effective AND very safe to use repeatedly.

How to safely remove bugs from your vehicle

Regarding bugs on your vehicle, our priority is to address them immediately, especially with unprotected paint. Vehicles with wax or a spray silica sealant (“ceramic” sprays) will give you a little bit of extra time, and better yet, a ceramic-coated vehicle will give you even more time before your clear coat begins to see damage.

Excessive and heavy rubbing, especially on a non-lubricated surface, is what will mar the paint surface. Additionally, many caustic bug removers will wreak havoc on paint and/or nearby plastics if left on too long or used on hot surfaces. It’s best to use these products in the shade only as directed and fully rinse them off after use.

The Step-by-Step:

1) Cool down panels with water if they are hot to the touch.

2) Use your favorite bug remover as directed. Note: It’s best to use a bug remover 2-3x before starting to agitate your surface in order to reduce marring.

3) It’s best to use a pressure washer and safely attack the bugs this way - with the bug remover having been used 1-3 times, most bugs should come off nicely.

4) At this point, if you still have bugs left, you’re probably dealing with an unprotected car. You may now agitate the surface with your weapon of choice. There are dedicated bug scrubbers that work very well for this application. Ensure you have proper lubrication for this step - i.e. a bug remover with lubricity in its formula, foam wash, rinseless/waterless, etc.
5) Rinse all products and inspect the surface. Repeat steps as necessary.

Good luck!

The goal is to use chemicals and water pressure before beginning to agitate. Let these do the work for you, and ensure you’re working with enough lubrication when you do agitate. This will keep marring to a minimum and ensure your paint stays in great condition.