I don't know about the rest of the state but love bugs are out in full force in Clearwater.

I wanted to start a thread about everyone's tricks for cleaning them off your car.

I just use my regular sponge and scrub a little harder. I have a friend who wets down a dryer sheet and wipes them off. Haven't tried that one myself.

greese

 

I've been using the idea i stole from Raz---Put paper towel on the love bugged spots..then put water on it..let it sit for about 10-15 min, and they wipe right off!!!!!!!!!!! I didn't believe it until i did it myself yesterday--I had the whole fron end covered in PT and when i took it off--i ran the PT across the section and BAM it was all gone...i was so happy

 

i will have to give that one a try. Sounds easy. I made trips in my 8 last week to Leesburg and Port Charlotte and did not get a chance to wash it yet. It is just sitting out in the sun baking the love bugs in. It's driving me nuts not being able to get it washed.

 

I've been doing the wet paper towels for years because it works and doesn't ruin your wax job. Now that I have gone the Zaino route, I just light spray with Z6 and wipe them off.

 

For the paint (mostly the bumper) I just use a wet sponge to wipe them off (Zaino protected paint), the some Z6. For the windshield I spray on Stoners invisible glass and let it 'sit' for a minute or so, and then just wipe off.

Keep an eye on the oil coolers and radiator, these pesky bugs can clog them.

 

i always just shoot by the spray and wash every other day and hit them with some pressure....they come off pretty easily when they are fresh....

usually have the "scrubber sponge" (sponge with that white netting around it) to wipe off the couple that dont come right off..

also...keep a good wax coat on there!

 

i've got it Zaino'd up but it has a few months on it and is due for a few more coats.

I took a couple dragon flies to the front grill. Those were a pain to clean off. My son thought it was pretty cool that I was taking the bugs for a ride. He's three. It doesn't take much.

 

I don't mean to sound like an idiot, but what is Zaino? Btw, I 've just been using one of those sponges with the soft white netting around it. I've also heard dish soap and windex mixed together works well, but I don't know how good that would be for the paint.

 

Zaino = really awesome car wax (it's actually not a wax, its a polymer)

www.zainobros.com

Do a search here for Zaino and you will probably find out more than you want to know. It's good stuff. I have found it holds up to the Florida sun pretty well.

 

I like the paper towel idea and will try it next time. What I try to do is wash the car frequently so they don't dry on there, or should I say so they don't BAKE on there. I use Zaino brand car-wash detergent and I generally start by soaping up the glass, hood and front and just let the suds sit while I do the wheels (different water of course) and then do the rest of the car. By letting the suds soak, it loosens most of em up. I apply a bit of elbow grease to the stubborn ones and then when I'm done, I coat the whole thing down with Z6 during and after the drying process. Oh, didn't mention the fact that most of the buggers are sticking to the clear-bra and not to the paint itself. Not sure that makes any difference one way or the other except that even worst case, if they were left on for days, they still aren't touching the paint (or the Zaino).

 

I tried the paper towel gimmick, and I was quite surprised to find it worked pretty well. With the exception of a couple of thick blobs, the bugs came right off without scrubbing. I'm going to have to try it on my six year old ALtima, with the six year old dead bugs on it.

 

I think by laying out the paper towels and giving my 3 year old a squirt bottle of water I am by able to keep him occupied while I wash the car. I looked over one day and he was scrubbing the door with the tire brush. The more occupied I can keep him, the better.

 

Oh Sweet Jesus....

 

I use RejeX. It too is a polymer and the bugs will hose off. The ones that won't come off with the hose wipe off with a sponge.