I drive 120 miles every day round trip back and forth to work...60 there and 60 back. And being in south Texas, the love bugs are destroying my front end. I dont have time to wash my truck or spray it off everyday, and the accumulation over a week is almost unbearable. So I wash my truck every weekend, and i scrub and scrub to get the bugs off the front bumber, upper and lower valance, grill shell, and front windshield, but its starting to show. Paint is starting to peel and the bugs just are getting harder and harder to get off...I hate the look of the front end 'bra'. So is there anyone else having this problem also? What do i do? My truck is getting ruined!!

 

One word...Zaino. It's a polish that lasts for at least 6 months, and sometimes longer. You can get it here. zainobros.com

Here's something that will make the bugs alot easier to clean off! http://www.zainostore.com/Merchant2/...oduct_Code=Z-2

 

havent heard of it, i may have to try

 

I haven't run into Texas Love Bugs yet, but since I travel Nebraska/So. Dakota/Iowa to the tune of 1800 mile sper week, it is a reasonable assumption that I also see plenty of bugs. Grasshoppers the size of hummingbirds, butteryflies, even scored a sparrow last week.

My solution is a 30% Simple Green, 70% water solution in a spray bottle. Hose it down real good, let it soak for about 10 minutes (usually while getting the buckets, soap, etc. out) and the bug goo will slide off with just the spray from the garden hose.

The 30% solution appears to be just the right balance between cleaining and taking the wax off, although I have been known to throw a little extra wax on the leading edge of the hood between full details.

If you are going to be waxing anyway, spraying it all down with Windex really gets it clean, but it takes the wax with it.

I also find that keeping a fresh weekly coat of Rain-X on the windshield makes the bugs slide off more and there is less to clean up there, too.

 

Yep the love bug season is here in MS too, those little black bugs flying everywhere as two.

I use Meg's Spray Detailer.....it gets em off good too.

Just spray and let it sit for about 5 minutes and then wipe off and then spray off.

 

Or you can try this...
Take two of those fabric softener towel things that your wife puts in the drier and soak them in a little water.
Slop them all over the front of your truck where the bugs are...Wait 5-10 minutes and then spray your troubles away with the hose.

It's a miracle I tell ya

 

Prevention is the key to easy removal. Put a coat of your favorite wax on the front of your truck and leading edge of your hood every week during love bug season. It makes them much easier to remove.

 

Hey fellow beaumont deweller. I use turtle wax "bug,tar & sap " remover. After that I use Meg cleaner, then Meg polish, and then top it off with two coats of meg nxt. If they get real bad and the cleaners can't get it off I'll use a clay bar. If you keep a good wax on the front it makes a big difference. I did see a produst that Solar Specialites dose that protectes the front end. Its like tint but it is clear. You have to replace it every three or four years.

 

To save the paint, I'd go for something like Paintsheild

http://www.xpeleu.com/

 

If you keep a good coat of wax on the vehicle, you will find the bugs will just spray right off at a local car wash or a pressure washer at home.

 

hey, if you can find it, try armor all multipurpose cleaner. i work on an ambulance and part of the ritual here in good ole sc is cleaning the bugs from the front of the e-350 rig. spray on, let it sit a coouple of minutes and you will actually start to see the bugs run off. i'm telling you it works good for those annoying critters. also helps if you keep a good coat of good grade wax on the frt end too......give it a try!

 

Thanks for all the input guys, im sure with all these methods i can find something to help me

 

Just add a step, do this before you wash the truck. I tried it once after washing and ended up rewashing a bit after. It did remove bugs as advertised but left a soapy like film. Not sure but it may be better to use a used up sheet after all the good smelly stuff has expired.

I haven't tried it on paint yet, just the headlights, bugshield, bumper, etc. Anyone know if there are any caveats to be aware of using dryer sheets on paint? Such as it strips wax, etc.

 

Dang, I'm from Beaumont too. I hate love-bugs!! From now on, I'm calling them hate-bugs. Best way to get them off is to get them off early. I had an '01 Ford and let the hood get ruined from them one time. Won't let it happen with my new red '06 Screw. My wife thinks I wash it too much! But, I'm just getting the bugs off.

 

Get a bucket and a bug sponge, keep the bucket full of water and keep it in your driveway. When you get home, scrub off the front end. It only takes about a minute. I would just catch the painted surfaces because you can get the windows when actually wash the truck. Change the water every other day or so and you are good to go. That's what I do down here in south MS and it seems to work pretty well. Also make sure to put a few good coats of wax on the front end as often as possible. That will help keep some of the bugs from sticking and make cleanup much easier. My wife thinks I wash my truck to much but her car looks like it got shot with a shotgun because of all the bugs that sat on here hood for 6 months straight.