How To Clean Bugs Off Car With WD40 in 4 Easy Steps

WD40 can help you to kill and remove bugs from your car. You just need some domestic items like dishwashing soap, fresh water, hot water, lemon, vinegar, hose, vacuum, broom, sponge, and WD40. Use water and dishwashing soap solution to clean the car. Then apply WD40. To clean the interior use lemon, vinegar, and hot water solution to clean and then WD40 to kill bugs. Use a vacuum for thorough cleaning.

Bugs are irritating especially when they are inside your car. Usually, they do not leave no matter how many types of pest sprays or related products you use.

Bugs can be risky for a night driver. To get rid of this problem, you have to clean the car with a solid solution, something like WD40. The good news is, wd40 for bug removal works like a champ.

You need to learn how to clean bugs off car with WD40. Basically, you have to spray the exterior and interior of your car with the WD40. Leave it for 8 – 10 minutes and then wipe the surfaces with a microfiber cloth.

Clean Bugs Off Car With WD40 In 4 Steps:

If you are thinking ‘can I use WD40 to remove bugs from car’ or ‘is wd40 bug remover?’, then the answer is yes you can do it because WD40 can work like a bug remover. But, using the wd40 to clean bugs off car and wiping isn’t enough to keep the bugs away from the car surface.

Instead, follow the given directions to use wd40 for bugs from the car and to make sure they come not any time sooner!

Step 1: Gather The Materials & Tools.

To use wd 40 bug removal, you need to have the following materials and tools ready at the start of the process. After that, we’ll discuss how to remove bugs from car.

MaterialTool
Fresh water sourceGarden hose
Liquid dish soapVacuum cleaner
A pot filled with hot waterBroom
WD40 SprayMicrofiber rag or tissue
Lemon & vinegar spraySponge

Step 2: Wash Your Car From Outside.

The main task regarding how to get bugs off car begins here.

  • Take the garden hose with the water line.
  • Turn on the tap to simply wash the car from the outside.
  • Focus on the windshield, windows, and light areas of both the back and front side (as bugs usually stay on these places).
  • Grab the hot water pot and add liquid dish soap to make a mixture.
  • Dip the sponge into the mixture and scrub the car properly.
  • Rinse the car exterior using the same garden hose.

Reminder: If your car is clean with no dust or stubborn stains, then skip this step.

Step 3: Use The WD40 On The Outside.

Apply the WD40 spray as car bug remover on the car’s exterior windshield, doors, lights, front, and rear areas where you see the bugs. 

In case you are looking for one, try the WD-40 Multi-Use Cleaner as it has a flexible straw to reach the hidden areas.

Wait for around 8 – 10 minutes to allow moisture to get into the surfaces. Then, grab a tissue or microfiber rag to wipe out the surface to remove the stubborn bugs.

Step 4: Clean The Car Interior Area.  

  • Take the broom and remove all the debris which is dusty in the seat.
  • Make a mixture using 1 tablespoon of lemon juice and 1/2 tablespoon of vinegar in the leftover hot water. Fill the mixture into the spray bottle.
  • Spray the homemade mixture on the seat, steering wheel, upper frame, screen, floor mat, and dashboard.
  • Let it be there for 20 seconds.
  • Use dish soap and hot water mixture (that you make earlier) with the sponge on the seat. Don’t forget to squeeze the sponge to wipe other parts (window, screen, steer, and so on).
  • Grab the vacuum cleaner and run it inside the car to remove all the insects.
  • Apply the WD40 spray as car bug remover on the car’s interior like below the seats, brake paddle area and anywhere you see a bug
  • Wait for a few seconds and then clean any spray you see on any surface.

Now, you got the answer to the question ‘does wd 40 remove bugs from car?’.

How to Remove Bug Stains From Car

Once you can remove the bugs from your car, you may ask how to get bug stains off car. Here’s what you can use.

Baby Shampoo

  • To use baby shampoo to get bugs off car, mix the shampoo with vinegar and warm water. It’s better to mix the ingredients in a bucket or a spray bottle.
  • Shake the spray bottle before use.
  • Spray the mixture on the stains.
  • Now, gently scrub the bug residue with a sponge.
  • Finally, wipe clean the area.

This is the best way to get bugs off your car if you don’t want to damage the car paint.

Baby Oil

Baby oil can effectively plus gently break down the stains of dead bugs and insects from your car. Using cooking oil or cooking spray can also do the job.

  • Get a rag and pour 2 tablespoons of baby oil on it.
  • Wipe the rag over the stains and wait for a couple of minutes.
  • Once the stains are broken down, wipe clean the residue using a rag.
  • Finally, use fresh water and baby shampoo mixture to clean the baby oil residue.

Dryer Sheets

Another answer to the question ‘how to remove bug stains from car paint’ is using dryer sheets. Yes, we’re talking about the dryer sheets you usually use for doing laundry. Here’s what you can do to get the job done.

  • Take a spray bottle in the first place and place a dryer sheet inside it.
  • Pour warm water into the bottle and leave it alone for around 15 minutes.
  • After that, spray the liquid on the stains and wait for the last couple of minutes.
  • Finally, just wipe off the dryer sheet and that’s it!

Now, you know some effective tips for removing bug stains from car paint.

How to Prevent Bugs from Sticking to The Front of A Vehicle

To prevent bugs from sticking to bumper, it’s a must to clean the grill and the backs of the mirrors of your car because these are usually not cleaned off regularly. Also, the summer heat can trigger bug issues. In that case, dark cars are more vulnerable because they generate more surface heat.

Clean your car regularly, especially during bug season. It’s better to wash your vehicle every two weeks. Also, waxing is a great idea because this protective layer of the paint will protect the paint from damage by bugs and insects.

Clean Bugs Off Car With WD 40 Infographic

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Will WD-40 damage the paint on my car?

No, there’s no record of damage! It’ll simply stick on the car paint which is washable and won’t harm the skin. This will work the same as you use soap.

2. What does WD-40 do to bugs?

In its ingredient list, you’ll find 50% – 60% of naphtha (petroleum) which is a great repellant to kill bugs when contacted. FYI, its main ingredient is the same as the aerosol spray. That means if you aim at little insects or bugs, it’ll simply kill the bugs.

3. What cleans bugs off cars?

The best way to clean bugs off car is by washing it. Other than this technique, using the bug deflector will work well too. And if you want an easy solution to get rid of bugs, apply WD40 spray as it works great for this purpose.

4. Will Vinegar Remove Bugs From Car?

Yes, vinegar works for removing bugs from cars. However, it may repel some specific bugs but it can attract other insects. I mean, vinegar attracts some insects like fruit flies while it repels ants and spiders. However, you can take advantage of such a situation.

You can make a trap for fruit flies by filling a bowl with vinegar and placing it near the fruit flies. The flies will get attracted to the sweetness of the vinegar so they’ll crawl into the bowl but can’t escape when they’re inside.

Wrap Up

That’s how you can use wd 40 for bug removal. You are basically inviting insects and bugs to stay in your car by neglecting cleaning and maintenance for a long time.  

I would suggest you take care of your car once in 2 to 3 weeks. This way you will never face such issues as bugs, insects, or other tiny nasty creatures that cause hassles.

Hope you like this step-by-step guide and find it handy. Have A Nice Day Ahead!

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William Baldwin

This Is William Baldwin, The Founder & Managing Editor of this website. Me and my team share automotive tips, tricks, and news

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Talha

Talha Atta

Talha Atta, a Mechanical Engineer and experienced technical content writer and editor at Autoglobes.com with a passion for the automotive industry.