How to Get Bugs Off Your Windshield

If you love to take long highway road trips in the spring and summer, you're probably all too familiar with the unsightly mess of bugs stuck to your windshield, grille, and hood. The worst part is that they're not easy to remove after many miles of being stuck with the sun beating down on your vehicle.

The reason squashed bugs are so sticky is due to the blood-like substance in bugs that is transparent and quickly dries. The quick drying is compounded by the sun and rapid airflow generated by your speed on the highway. You may find to your dismay that simply using wiper fluid and your wipers isn't enough and might even make the bug soup worse.

The Most Common Method for Cleaning Bugs Off Your Windshield

There are various ways to get bugs off your windshield and paint, but the standard way to remove bugs is to start with a clean car. Wash your vehicle or take it through a car wash after a road trip. Then, arm yourself with a quality glass cleaner that says it removes bugs. For example, Weathertech TechCare Exterior Glass Cleaner.

You'll also need a bug sponge and a microfiber towel. Spray the cleaner directly onto the bug splats on your glass and paint. Use the bug sponge to scrub any remaining debris. Rinse the cleaner off and any suds that remain. Dry the area with a microfiber towel.

In most cases, the above method should work every time. But there are also some other ways to remove bugs from your vehicle.

Pressure Washing

If you have a pressure washer and you want to get your car washed and the bugs off all in one go, then this might be a solution. The main thing to know is that your washer shouldn't have a higher pressure than 1,500 psi or you could damage your paint. As you wash your vehicle, simply angle the nozzle down and out to spray off bugs from your hood and windshield.

Anti-Bug Wiper Formula

As previously mentioned, using your regular wiper fluid and wipers can cause a big mess on your windshield when you try to remove bug splats.

However, you can get windshield washer tablets that dissolve into water and make a cleaning solution formulated to remove bug guts. They can also be added to clean water in your windshield washer fluid reservoir. Combine this with the squeegee-like surface of silicone wiper blades and you can generally make short work of bug splats on your windshield.

Wet Dryer Sheets

Another interesting method if you want something to work in a pinch is a dryer sheet or two. Simply wet the sheet and scrub your hood, bumper, grille, and windshield with it. Why does this work? Mainly because dryer sheets contain a soapy formula within and when it's wet, it works like a wet wipe. Dryer sheets are also soft enough to use on your paint job.

Use WD-40

If you don't have any bug remover or exterior cleaner on hand, you can use WD-40 to grease up any area that has bug guts stuck to it. Spray it on the area with bug remnants, then wipe it up with a microfiber cloth. For a more thorough clean, make sure to rinse the area and dry it off again with a microfiber cloth.

Use a Sponge

Windshields are one thing, but what happens when you have a bunch of bugs stuck to your grille? In this case, you might want to use a sponge with one soft side and one stiffer side. Use an exterior cleaner or bug removal formula and scrub the remains off your grille.

Wet Wipes

Similar to the dryer sheet method above, you can also potentially use wet wipes to remove bug stains from your hood and windshield. It's probably not abrasive enough to work on your grille, but it is soft enough for glass and paint. Usually, soap, moisture, and some scrubbing are enough to remove most stains.

How To Prevent Bugs Sticking To Your Car

The best way to not have a tiring bug removal job in your future is to prevent as much of it from happening as possible. If you drive a lot on the highway, you can keep your car from having baked-on bug remains by washing it regularly. You should also remember to wax your car as this will at least prevent the acidic remains from soaking into your paint.

Another tried and true method is installing a bug deflector on your hood. These simple add-ons are easy to install and affordable for any vehicle. They channel airflow around your vehicle to lift bugs and small debris over and around your hood and windshield.

When it comes to quality accessories and parts for your truck or SUV, H&H Truck Accessories has you covered. Get prepared for bug season by investing in professional cleaning products and bug and hood shields for your rig.