Best way to get baked on insect residue off paintwork
Best way to get baked on insect residue off paintwork
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Discussion

omniflow

Original Poster:

3,673 posts

177 months

Yesterday (16:50)
quotequote all
I've watched a few product reviews, but they're all focused on fresh bugs.

The problem I've got is what's there after a 4,000 mile roadtrip across Europe over 6 weeks. All kinds of weather - baking hot sun, torrential rain and practically everything in between. I've tried several options - Autoglym bug remover, Carpro Tar-X and Bilt Hamber medium clay. Nothing seems to be working, although I only had a small amount of the Tar-X left and it did seem to be making some progress.

I'm not worried about removing wax / polish, as I plan to do the whole car once I've managed to get all of the crap off the paint.


Kuwahara

1,461 posts

44 months

Yesterday (18:52)
quotequote all
Many years ago I’ve seen people use flat coke , not the stuff that goes up the nose.


LightweightLouisDanvers

2,822 posts

69 months

Yesterday (19:16)
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Citrus pre wash sprayed on, even diluted seems to do a decent job of softening even the stubborn ones which then come off with either pressure washer or a little effort with a wash mitt.

cliffords

3,904 posts

49 months

Yesterday (20:02)
quotequote all
Slice an orange in half rub the dried up bugs .
Leave just a few mins and they will come off with warm water.

Bezerk

474 posts

185 months

Yesterday (21:25)
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Any bug remover should work fine on these and baked on bird ste.

You need to leave it to dwell though. If in a hot climate do this early or late in the day. Don't let it dry.

Spray on and leave it for at least 5 mins.
When you return you should see them starting to kind of melt off.
Gently wipe these away with a wet microfiber and apply again if needed.

Once clean they will come off much easier in future if you apply some ceramic detailer every few days.

Richtea1970

1,816 posts

86 months

Yesterday (23:16)
quotequote all
Had the same problem travelling 200 motorway miles most weeks in summer. The car would be covered in squashed bugs, so asked the same question on here.
Someone recommended this [url] https://www.halfords.com/motoring/car-cleaning/car... [url]

It's excellent. I keep a little spray bottle of it in the car along with a microfiber cloth. Spray it on, leave it for a minute or so then just wipe the bugs off, it works really well.

Belle427

11,590 posts

259 months

If tar remover etc is struggling then I would think a polish is needed.

archie456

515 posts

248 months

Use a wet towel and leave it on to soak for an hour or so, it will soften them and they'll wipe off.

Wills2

28,754 posts

201 months


Better to post a photo of the issue, given what you've said you have used the residue should have come off but your clear coat maybe etched.


_Hoppers

1,625 posts

91 months

Belle427 said:
If tar remover etc is struggling then I would think a polish is needed.
Do bugs etch paintwork like bird poop does?

T_S_M

1,266 posts

209 months

Hands down the best bug remover I've ever used. If this doesn't remove it then it'll need polishing off.

https://stjarnagloss.com/products/forst-citrus-pre...

Wills2

28,754 posts

201 months

_Hoppers said:
Belle427 said:
If tar remover etc is struggling then I would think a polish is needed.
Do bugs etch paintwork like bird poop does?
They do indeed.


NDA

25,215 posts

251 months

Would a clay bar do it?

_Hoppers

1,625 posts

91 months

Wills2 said:
_Hoppers said:
Belle427 said:
If tar remover etc is struggling then I would think a polish is needed.
Do bugs etch paintwork like bird poop does?
They do indeed.

That explains why none of the products the OP has tried works then! A cutting polish it is then?!