Tell Insect Residue to Bug Off

Get the Right Cleaning Combination for Your Car Wash 

by Chipper New, Chemical Sales Manager / Howco Inc. 

In the United States alone, there are thousands of species of flying insects. These range from various bees and butterflies to moths, roaches, beetles, dragonflies, mosquitoes, and more, including the notorious lovebugs if you live in certain Southern states. Many of these insects, or “bugs” as they’re all colloquially called, meet their fate getting smashed on vehicle windshields, lodged in grilles, and splattered on headlights, bumpers, mirrors, and hoods. Yep, that’s bug season, and while it certainly means extra business for car washes, it also means extra effort to effectively remove insect residue from various areas of automobiles. It may sometimes seem there are as many solutions to bug carcass eradication as there are bug species. 

The Bug Removal Process

Bug removal is one of our industry’s greatest challenges, because there really is no “one solution fits all.” It can be frustrating, complicated, and different for each car wash. Removing insect residue from vehicles as soon as possible should be a priority for car owners because the typically acidic nature of many bug carcasses can harm paint quickly and cause irreversible damage. Additionally, bugs that have accumulated on headlight lenses and windshields can significantly hinder the effectiveness of both. 

Prompt bug removal is therefore quite important. There are several different chemicals, brushes, sponges, techniques, and strategies specially formulated and available to address every scenario. Chemical type, friction, labor, and wash time vary by car and should be based on factors like bug type, climate, and how long residue has been on the vehicle. Some insect carcasses react differently in warmer weather, and the correct chemical application (acidic or alkaline pH levels) and brush friction are vital to determining the best bug removal formula for each wash. 

More bugs can also mean more labor to remove them. Calculating the best high-pH presoak and surfactant applications to minimize or omit labor is optimal. Labor can usually be reduced if three other components are working in conjunction. Proper, effective chemical application, strength of brush friction, and how long the vehicle is exposed to each in the wash. 

Howco Can Help

To research and calculate the unique equation for effective bug removal at your wash, contact us! To contact Howco for guidance on bug removal, fill out our online form.