Driver against insects - how to get rid of insects from windows and body

Insects that have crashed on the body or windshield of a car disfigure its appearance. They also damage the paintwork. See how to remove them.

Especially in summer, even after a short trip out of town, we will find dozens of broken insects on the bumper, license plate, hood or windshield. This is the scourge of every driver who cares about the beautiful appearance of the car. Not bad if the body of the car is dark in color. On a white car, sticky mosquitoes, flies or wasps are most noticeable. On the other hand, insects that have not been removed from the glass limit visibility. At night, the spots break the headlights of oncoming cars, which blinds the driver.

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“In fact, there is no perfect way to prevent insects from sticking to the body of a car,” says Wojciech Jozefowicz, owner of a Carwash hand wash in Białystok. – However, it is imperative to remove insects from the paintwork. The sooner the better for its longevity. Moreover, after a long time it will be difficult, since the remnants of insects dry out, and when wiping the car body, there is a risk of scratching it.

Frequent washing and waxing is important

Insects broken on the paint dissolve in the rain. This creates an acidic reaction which then reacts with the varnish, burning through it, damaging its finish. This causes stains and discolorations that are difficult to remove afterwards. Insect stains quickly lead to paint damage, especially if they are additionally exposed to the sun.

The easiest way to get rid of insects from all over your car is to go to a car wash. After cleaning the car body, it is recommended to apply wax. Thanks to this, dirt or insects will not stick to it so easily, because its surface will be smooth. The remains of insects will also be easier to wash off later. In addition, wax creates a protective barrier on the varnish, thanks to which it does not directly react with it.

After washing the car, we can decide to apply an aerosol wax, i.e. polymer wax or hard wax. This - in the form of a paste - is applied to the car body by hand or machine, and then polished to a car's shine. Polymer wax provides protection for about a week. In turn, hard protects from one month to three months.

See also: Repair of paint loss - what and how you can do it yourself - a guide 

Insects must be removed quickly

However, no one will use the car wash every day. We can remove insects with special products designed for this purpose. It is best to use a microfiber cloth - this is a delicate material that will certainly not scratch the paintwork. Insect repellents, for example, in spray bottles, in 750 ml containers, can be bought at car washes, auto shops, sometimes in hypermarkets or gas stations. Usually they cost 20-25 zł.

“These are preparations with an alkaline pH, they even soften the old remains of insects, but do not react with the varnish and do not harm it,” explains Wojciech Yuzefovich. - I do not recommend removing insects with a dishwashing detergent that dissolves fats, and not the chitinous shells of insects. Thus, it is possible to damage the varnish, because we will rub it, after all, with a dried worm. These should not be large scratches, but so-called microcracks that are not visible at first glance.

See also: Corrosion, paint loss, scratches on the body - how to deal with them 

Do not remove insects from the car body with a sponge, as small pebbles or grains of sand can get stuck in it, which will scratch it after each pass over the paintwork. We also do not recommend using recycled paper because it is rough. Cellulose can eventually be used, but remember that it is harder than microfiber cloth anyway.

Clean windows are a guarantee of safety

There is no effective way to prevent insects from sticking to the windshield. To some extent, the so-called invisible doormat, ie. applying a hydrophobic coating to glass. This leads to the fact that when driving in the rain at a speed of several tens of km / h, water and dirt are automatically removed from the glass surface. The resistance to dirt adhesion is also higher. The coating is smooth, so it is easier to remove insects than from ordinary glass.

Such a service in the workshop costs about 50 PLN. There are also many nanotechnology-based drugs on the market that we can use ourselves. They cost about 20 zł. When applying the Invisible Wiper, proceed exactly as directed on the instructions on the package. It is important that the glass is pre-cleaned. The layer of the drug is kept for a year.

“However, it is best to regularly remove insects broken on the windshield with windshield wipers before the remains of the insects have dried well,” says Tomasz Krajewski from El-Lack in Bialystok, which specializes in auto glass repairs. – I recommend that you use a good washer fluid.

If we have bad fluid, we can add a drug to the tank to help drive out insects. We will pay a few PLN for a 250 ml package. Summer washer fluids cost about PLN 10 (five-liter containers). Regular replacement of wiper blades is also important. If they are damaged, stratified and worn, they will only smear the dirt. And even the best windshield washer fluid does little. 

See also: Replacing car wipers - when, why and for how much 

Gee from dirt in this way can not be removed, it remains to wipe the glass on a standing car.

“Window cleaner foams are best,” says Krajewski. Products in containers of 400 or 600 milliliters cost from a few to tens of zlotys.

Before cleaning the glass, be sure to remove all sand from it. Otherwise, there is a risk that we will scratch its surface. Regardless of how you clean glass, you should always wipe it dry. Otherwise, the stripes will remain.

When waxing a car after washing, be careful not to let the wax stick to the windshield. After using the wipers, streaks will form on it, greatly limiting visibility. Polymer waxes do not leave streaks, but after visiting the car wash, it is good to remove the wax from the glass with a damp cloth. They cost a few or a dozen zlotys.

Sample prices:

* preparation for removing insects from the car body, 750 ml – up to PLN 25;

* introduction of the so-called invisible rug - hydrophobic coating - maintenance - PLN 50;

* "Invisible mat" for self-application - PLN 20;

* washer fluid, 5 l - PLN 10;

* additive to the washer fluid, which helps to remove insects from the windows, 250 ml - PLN 7-8;

* foam for cleaning windows, 400 or 600 ml - from a few to several zlotys;

* Sponge to remove insects from windows - PLN 3;

* a microfiber cloth - an average of about a dozen zł.

Petr Valchak