Just want to get an opinion on how to get those bug splatters on my windshield and front hood. They seem hard to get rid of. For my hood, do I need to clay and wax to get rid of it?

TIA
Glenn

RainX does it good for the windscreen.
I wax the remainder on the hood with fantastic results.

I would do what ymsin suggests for the windshield and keep up a fresh coat every 3-4 months.

For the hood, get some "Clay Magic" brand clay and then go with a good coat of wax such as Meguiar's. :)

When washing the car I take the following steps to remove heavy bug splats.

1. Hose the car down as normal.

2. Take some cheap, ph neutral hair shampoo and pour great globs of it direct onto the windshield, the leading edge of the bonnet, the lights, the bumper &c. Rub it in with your hand.

3. Wash the car as normal, allowing the hair shampoo to soften up the bugs before washing off. Usually a hard rub with the sponge is enough to get them off; you can get a sponge in a fishnet bag which is a bit rougher but still not abrasive, these are quite good.

4. Hose off. You have to use loads of rinse water on the areas where you applied shampoo directly.

If the car is regularly waxed, the flies come off more easily using this method. This is the lowest effort method I have yet found.

Clay and wax for the hood, and "0000" or more "0's" steel wool with window cleaner for the window bugs, followed by rain-x.

Thanks guys for the response. I did wash the car this weekend and manage to get most of the bugs out. There are still some leftovers on the windshield and just a couple on the hood. For RainX, once I start using it, I have to use keep on applying it every 3 or so months, right? What happens if you don't? I'll do another cleaning in the next few days and maybe then clay then wax the car.

Good to know most bugs have been de-bugged.

I think its a misconception that you have to keep using or applying it every 3 months or so. You apply when you think the waters not coming off as smooth as it should.

Nothing will happen if you stop the application. It reverts back to status quo.

There has been some discussion on Rain-X here. Do a search for a more thorough discussion and revert with your findings.

I don't know if any of you has ever heard of a cleaning product named HARA?
This manufacturer produces al kind of cleaning and polishing products of which one is very suitable for washing your car. They have a washing glove especially for cars and the only thing you need to go with that glove is warm water; no other additives. This easy to work with washing glove gets rid of every single bug that got killed by the car (even the ones I catch while driving 200+ km/h).

greetingz,

Havent' heard of HARA.

If MBenz says its good (from one who rarely washes his MB), it must be good. :)

Where can you get more info on this HARA product?

Do they have a web site that we can check?

...wow...cool, they actually have a web site!
http://www.hara.nl

The page is set in Dutch and you will probably need a translation program, but the item I use for washing my car can be found by:

1) push the arrow on the right to enter the site
2) push the blue towels/gloves in the top at the right of the money ( http://www.hara.nl/doeken )
3) under Handschoenen is the Groene handschoen and this is the item to use for washing your car ( http://www.hara.nl/doeken/groenehandschoen.html )

It costs only (?) 17 euro (approx 15USD) and the one I use already lasts 4 years and is still doing great.
The instructions say you have to use two drops of their cleaning fluid, but I have never used that at all.

Washing the car in general and removing high-speed-bugs especially is really easy with this product.

greetingz,

It must be summer: the bug problem got a lot worse over the last week. I used Porsche's Insect Remover this weekend, and it is excellent. It is supplied in a spray bottle with a rough sponge. Spray on, leave to soak for a minute, then rub with the rough sponge. Use before washing the car. This is the best product I have used, very low effort, very good results.

For bug removal, there is nothing like good old household Bicarbonate of Soda (you know, baking soda - Arm & Hammer brand, the stuff you mix with water and drink to settle your stomach). Just sprinkle some on a damp rag to make a paste and rub the bug off. Works like a charm and won't harm the finish, although it will remove wax as it is a very mild abrasive. This stuff has many uses around the house and garage. Great for neutralizing acid spills or cleaning up corrosion around battery terminals. Can't beat it for $0.79/pound box.

The Killer Windshield...
 

A bug horror movie title, if I ever saw one!

I was driving along my local federal highway the other day, after having JUST WASHED my car, and I hit a flight of about 8 or 10 huge bugs flying in formation.

When I got home, I usede P&S detailer's spray, which is the equivalent of the Meguiar's brand, to remove the evidence.

It worked really well...

The secret is to get the bugs off of the finish as soon as possible after their demise.