bug cleanup

vealessi · 07-26-2021, 07:10 PM

Hi,

Whenever I get back from a trip, I find that cleaning the bug moosh off of the front of the coach and windshield can be very time-intensive.

Do any of you have cleaning/maintenance tips to make this chore easier? For example - does waxing or other coating help? any great products out there to be aware of?

Thanks!

rynosback · 07-26-2021, 07:30 PM

Water and a used drier sheet.

rynosback · 07-26-2021, 07:31 PM

The more wax you have on there the better as it is a smoother surface.

lwmcguire · 07-26-2021, 07:53 PM

I usually travel the Midwest during grasshopper and green bug seasons

They are very difficult and I have never found any of the miracle products that work without about the same amount of effort

The special bug sponges help as do a few of the cleaners but none work without some serious scrubbing

Starting off with a clean polished surface with wax and protectant of some type certainly helps

Some of the enzyme based products seem to work better than most of the big box items

Wet and scrub and repeat is all I have ever found to work on the splattered ones that have baked on for most of a day in hot dry windy conditions

Lt Keefer · 07-26-2021, 09:15 PM

I use bug and tar spray and a dish scrubber. Squirt the stuff on the bug spots and let it sit for a couple minutes. Rub the scrubber over the spot. Repeat if neccessary. Then I wash the coach with with a wash/wax concentrate.

HMCSW · 07-26-2021, 10:14 PM

Our Aria came with the 3M clear shield. It makes for cleaning without scratching the paint. Still have to power wash, soak and scrub. We use the 3M Scothbrite scrubbers.

chunker21 · 07-27-2021, 01:35 PM

For glass surfaces I previously used Rain-X and bugs would easily come off. For painted surfaces a good wax helps. If possible clean the surfaces during the trip to prevent excessive buildup and bugs from getting too dry and set. When you get home, if possible aim a sprinkler at the front for a couple hours of more to start the softening. But pre-trip prep of wax is the best starting point.

yukongrant · 07-27-2021, 04:48 PM

We were covered with bugs this summer. I was dreading the cleaning chore. But then we went through a day of very heavy rain driving at 60 mph. Amazing. Probably 99% of the carcasses were washed away. (But we covered the rig again with bugs on the way home. Spent a couple of days washing them off. Doubt I got them all off. But most. Next time, I may wait for a good rain. Then go for a couple hours drive.)

lwmcguire · 07-27-2021, 05:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chunker21

For glass surfaces I previously used Rain-X and bugs would easily come off. For painted surfaces a good wax helps. If possible clean the surfaces during the trip to prevent excessive buildup and bugs from getting too dry and set. When you get home, if possible aim a sprinkler at the front for a couple hours of more to start the softening. But pre-trip prep of wax is the best starting point.

I use Rain X as well, paste first, and tough up with the spray

Wax for sure and I usually use spray wax between the full body wax

Both certainly do help, otherwise across Western KS and Eastern CO during hopper season is miserable

Judge · 07-27-2021, 06:10 PM

No more wax for me....... I use Turtle Wax Ceramic Car Wash and Turtle Wax Ceramic Spray Coating. If I sit my cell phone on the hood, it will slide right off.

Then I take my extension brush and spray a little Bugs-n-All on it and work it into the bugs on the front cap. Then a good blast of water and and a regular wash with the Ceramic Car Wash Soap and they come right off.

I also use windshied washer bug cleaning fluid and some Rain-X in it.

bigtimeflyfishing · 08-04-2021, 06:07 PM

If you can find a truck wash that has a bug removing setting, those seem to work great. I tried one for the first time not long ago, it was unbelievable how well it worked.

And I only use it for the bug-covered front so it's not as expensive as washing the whole rig...

Parne · 08-04-2021, 06:35 PM

303 Marine/Recreational Speed Detailer applied after bug removal, and the bugs come off very quickly the next time.

MLP · 08-04-2021, 07:07 PM

Bugs-N-All dissolves them away. It is am emzine product that really works.

Retired16 · 08-04-2021, 07:30 PM

Dryer sheets like Bounce will desolve the bugs and not hurt the finish. I been using these on rv and cars for over 20 years.

ACEroad · 08-04-2021, 07:32 PM

Many people on IRV2 claim that hydrogen peroxide will immediately dissolve those bugs.

jr_nicholson · 08-04-2021, 08:01 PM

Chemical Guy’s bug and tar remover. Great stuff. Once all removed and cleaned place a coat of there Butter Wax

knucklehead · 08-05-2021, 09:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vealessi

Hi,

Whenever I get back from a trip, I find that cleaning the bug moosh off of the front of the coach and windshield can be very time-intensive.

Do any of you have cleaning/maintenance tips to make this chore easier? For example - does waxing or other coating help? any great products out there to be aware of?

Thanks!

I friend of mine just a couple hours ago told me he got some BUG-BE-GONE at a local auto parts store. He said it worked great. I'm gonna get some and see. Elbow grease is what I used a while ago and I ran out of grease---LOL Bob Trice

njwandrr · 08-06-2021, 02:31 PM

I just started using Clorox Clean-up to remove the black streaks on the sides of the RV and thought I would try it to clean the windshield. Well, it worked great. Removed all the bug splatter completely without hard scrubbing. I just used a regular glass cleaner to re move the water spots.

lwmcguire · 08-06-2021, 08:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by njwandrr

I just started using Clorox Clean-up to remove the black streaks on the sides of the RV and thought I would try it to clean the windshield. Well, it worked great. Removed all the bug splatter completely without hard scrubbing. I just used a regular glass cleaner to re move the water spots.

Be extremely careful when using an oxidizer on painted surfaces. You make body and paint men pay attention right away.

I am going to try a couple of recommended products but so far nothing I have found takes off grasshoppers easily

dkoldman · 08-06-2021, 10:18 PM

Wow lots of ideas and opinions, but OP said "Labor Intensive" has anyone defined what that really is?

i.e. it is given Bugs and splatter will be a part of every trip; given when you want to clean how long do you expect to take and be okay?

It takes me 15 minutes, but I never bother to remove them unless I have plenty of time (that may be the next day (morning) after arriving at a Campsite, or maybe a a few days after I get home.

In my case the come off quite easily with my normal bristle brush used to wash RV.

My Prep: The RV is always heavily wax
My Process: Hose the front down with regular water with nozzle set to jet trying to get as many of the bugs off. Then I take 1 cap of the RV Wash & Wax Solution Concentrate in a bucket of water and just brush the entire front of coach starting at the cap above windshield. Takes about 10 minutes and I rinse it off and I am done.

The hard part for me may be when I am not home and I have to pull out the water hose from RV and hook it up and then roll it back it up.

Note: I have never used the Ceramic Sprays, but I have some on order to test out on my Roof, but I am sure it serves the same purpose of my Meguiar Pure RV/Marine wax if not better for Bugs. Even so, I still think it will take 15 minutes, and the effort as OP was trying to address would be the same.

You may also like: