How to Remove Bug Residue from your Car Front and Grille

Some grilles have smaller grooves and channels, which can be quite cumbersome to clean.

Driving your vehicle can cause bugs and road debris to build up on the front of the vehicle. Whether you have a simple daily driver or a pristine hot rod that you use in shows, these bugs and road debris are not only an eyesore, but can damage paint and chrome. Some bugs leave behind a nasty amount of grime on vehicles. If you are working on a vehicle with metal or chrome-plated materials, make sure you purchase a chemical that is safe to use on metal surfaces and won't scratch the surface of your vehicle.

Things You'll Need

• Soft-bristle dishwashing brush
• Soft-bristle tooth brush
• Wash rag
• 2 gallon bucket
• Car-washing soap
• 1 bottle bug and tar remover
• Water hose and spigot
• Water hose nozzle (optional)

Instructions

1. Fill the bucket with luke warm to hot water. Warmer water tends to remove the grime and bugs from the vehicle better than cold water does. Add about 1/4 cup of liquid dish soap or car washing detergent to the bucket, when the bucket is almost full. Keep the water running to allow the soap to thoroughly mix with the water.

2. Wet the front of the grille down with a water hose. Apply a small portion of bug and tar remover to the affected areas on the front of the car and the grille. Rub the bug and tar remover into the bug stained area with a wash rag. Let the bug and tar remover set for two to three minutes.

3. Dip a soft bristle scrub brush into the soap and water mixture in your bucket. Thoroughly scrub the larger areas of the front of the car and grille with the brush. Keep the brush wet with soapy water. Use a soft-bristle toothbrush to reach narrow passages in your grille, or crevices that the larger brush cannot reach. Make sure the toothbrush stays wet with soapy water as well.

4. Rinse the entire front of the car with the hose and water from the spigot. Use the narrow jet stream on the hose nozzle if available. You can place your thumb over the end of the open hose and create a more powerful stream to rinse the car, if you do not have a nozzle.

5. Repeat Steps 3 and 4 as needed, until you have completely removed all of the bugs from the front and grille of the vehicle. Make sure you rinse after each application of bug and tar remover, and soapy water.

Tips & Warnings

• Adding a cover or bug deflector to the front of your vehicle is a great way to deter bug and tar build up. Aftermarket companies make complete covers and bug deflectors for nearly every vehicle on the road today.

• The detergent and scrubbing will remove the wax from the painted areas. Apply a fresh coat of wax.

• Bug and tar remover solution can cause a slight discoloration on your vehicle, due to the chemicals it is made from. You may notice small dark spots where you applied the bug and tar remover, even after you scrub and rinse the areas. Applying clay bar on the discolored areas of the vehicle, can remove the residue from the bug and tar remover. Clay bar is available where most car wash and wax products are sold.

References

• AutoZone: Bug Deflector Information and Operation