Taking on some evil bugs

[mc2hill]

We took a trip last weekend and the love bugs found us . Upon our arrival at the hotel I cleaned them off with Waterless Car Wash and the WCW towel. It didn't look great, but the 'evil' bugs (the acid in their bodies will eat through the clearcoat if left for too long) were gone. Luckily on the trip home we hit rain twice and that cut down on the number of bugs we met.

Today was the first chance I had to clean the car again and decided to try a different routine to remove the few love bugs that were on the car.

 

Our heros - Adam's Trim & Lug Nut Brush and Adam's Car Wash Shampoo pre-mixed in foaming sprayer

 

The villains:

 

up close

 

First I hosed off the car and used a strong stream on the bugs. Next I foamed the bugs:

 

After letting it set for a few minutes I attacked with the brush

 

And after some minimal brushing they have been vanquished!

 

All hail the conquering heros!

 

This method worked well and did not take long. By using Adam's pH neutral car wash, the MSW is still there to protect the paint.

[Chris@Adams]

Good tip!

[RedexInLA]

We have love bugs here as well, they smell awful when they hit the radiator.

I wash mine off daily because they can damage your clear.

[mc2hill]

That's the one I have Brendon - it's made by Tolco.

[3PedalMINI]

Here you go guys, sorry to bring up an old thread but looking for a foaming sprayer i ran across this site, pretty cheap and they look identical to the "auto" versions..

 

http://www.parish-supply.com/trigger_sprayers_and_bottles.htm

[BrianT]

Those bugs are BIG!!!!!!!!!

[mc2hill]

Where did you get that "foaming" spray bottle?

 

From another detailing site. Sometimes you can 're-purpose' one from household cleaning products.

[Carolinaboy]

What you did there, I see it

[MAYBEN]

Love Bugs love your bumpers

[Carolinaboy]

The dreaded love bugs

 

Nice save, Michael!

 

Where did you get that "foaming" spray bottle?

[Sizzle Chest]

Good deal Mike. I had to deal with them as well from our road trip to NC. Darn love bugs!

[MAYBEN]

wow

[mc2hill]

Well I started this thread by cleaning off a few love bugs from my wife's car, but after cleaning those bugs, I wished I had a better test area. Well my son granted my wish for me.

 

Here is what we are dealing with: the dreaded love bug

 

In this picture the white splatter at the top is a new bug. The spots below it are voids in the paint where the previous owner did not clean off the love bugs and they ate through the clear coat.

 

The front

 

and some closeups

 

I soaked the bugs with foamed Adam's Car Wash, let it dwell for 5 minutes, rinsed with a strong spray, then foamed the area again.

 

Here are some bugs on the windshield trim:

 

foamed

 

Cleaning with the Lug Nut Brush

 

Trim cleaned

 

Same technique on the front bumper and side mirrors.

No more bugs and the protection is still there!

(FYI the black spots left on the bumper are scratches not bugs)

[MAYBEN]

so you have to be overly thorough with cleaning it..

[mc2hill]

yeah but exterior, meaning paint, not wheels? I've used it on the lugs already, and the wheels itself..

 

It is safe for paint (if it's clean) according to Dylan and Mario:

http://www.adamsforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=8534&highlight=brush

 

http://www.adamsforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=9180

[BlueGenCoupe]

No I'll only be using it on my wheels and engine.

[MAYBEN]

yeah but exterior, meaning paint, not wheels? I've used it on the lugs already, and the wheels itself..

[BlueGenCoupe]

I actually bought one for the interior and one for the exterior. So far on the exterior its great. I haven't tried it on the interior yet

[MAYBEN]

gotcha.. I used mine on my Wife's wheels as I didn't receive my wheel brush at that time, was on backorder..

 

I imagine if its still safe being that I cleaned it..

[mc2hill]

do you use the same brush on your wheels?

Yes. I didn't use it on this car, as the wheels were not that dirty and the Boar's Hair Wheel Brush will get inside the lugs well enough.

 

I rinsed out the brush often when I was cleaning (there were lots of other bugs, but I didn't take pictures of them). Had I used it on the wheels, I would have cleaned the brush with with APC and rinsed it very feel before using it on the paint.

[MAYBEN]

do you use the same brush on your wheels?

[mc2hill]

Any reason Y you put the red tape on the brush? I just started using the lug nut brushes.

 

A 'just in case' thing. Plus now it Adam's red!

[BlueGenCoupe]

Good to know. Thanks!

 

Any reason Y you put the red tape on the brush? I just started using the lug nut brushes.