How To Clean Bugs Off Front Of RV? [Plus 5 of the Best Bug Cleaners]

Traveling in an RV can be exciting. But driving at around 60 mph on highways can squash bugs at the front of the camping vehicle. So how can you clean bug splatter from your RV? We researched and consulted with experts for you, and here's what we found.

Different commercial bug removers are available for use to clean insects from the front of an RV. Five reasonably reliable products in this category are:

  1. Aero Cosmetics Wash Wax ALL
  2. CarPro Tar X
  3. Chemical Guys Concentrated Bug and Tar Remover
  4. Duragloss Bug Remover
  5. Griot’s Garage Bug and Smudge Remover

Proper product usage is important to avoid expensive errors during application. Also, you might be thinking about how to prevent bugs from splattering on your RV’s windshield. Keep reading as we talk about these cleaning products and insect prevention methods in greater detail.

Motor home and sunset during springtime, How To Clean Bugs Off Front Of RV? [Plus 5 of the Best Bug Cleaners]

How To Remove Bugs From Front Of RV?

Removing dead insect carcasses from the front of RVs often requires good cleaning products. But take note that different commercially prepared bug removers don’t work the same since some solutions give better results than others.

Additionally, the various options may have different application procedures. Make sure to read the label or manufacturer’s instructions before applying the product. That way, you can avoid costly mishaps, like accidentally removing your RV’s paint job.

Dead bugs cover a windshield with a highway in the background.

Moving forward, some of the RV bug removers that may help with this cause are:

1. Aero Cosmetics Wash Wax ALL

You can purchase this product as a standalone spray-on solution or as a complete RV cleaning kit. This biodegradable bug remover is a good solution if a tap isn’t nearby for your hose. It also leaves a smooth and static-free surface, which may help prevent insects from sticking to the front of the RV.

Check out this product on Amazon.

2. CarPro Tar X

This product has a reasonably fast reaction time, which means you don’t have to wait for extended periods for it to remove bug splatters on your RV. It also comes from orange peel extract, which minimizes or prevents damage to the vehicle’s surface.

Check out this product on Amazon.

3. Chemical Guys Concentrated Bug and Tar Remover

This bug remover for different automobiles can be an economical choice for many RV users. It has a concentrated mixture that only requires a capful of the solution mixed with a gallon of water. However, make sure to pre-wash the surface before applying this product. Putting this insect remover directly onto your RV may ruin the paint.

Check out this product on Amazon.

4. Duragloss Bug Remover

You can dissolve insect remains, along with oil and tar, on your RV’s surface with this product. It also often works well on different RV materials, including chrome, fiberglass, and glass. Moreover, it doesn’t harm the clear coat commonly used to protect vehicle paints.

Check out this product on Amazon.

5. Griot’s Garage Bug and Smudge Remover

This bug remover often does easy work in removing bug carcasses from different insect species on an RV’s surface. It also provides many rig owners with a convenient application guide, seeing that it is usable with or without water to clean the residue. Plus, it only takes about 30 seconds to dry before you can scrub or rinse it off.

Check out this product on Amazon.

How Do I Keep Bugs Off My RV Windshield?

A messy windshield covered with bug guts and road dirt.

Preventing bugs from sticking to an RV windshield may need a concoction of different automobile cleaning products to work. Here, you’ll learn about the things needed for this project and how to apply the solution to your camping vehicle’s windshield.

What You’ll Need

  • 1 oz. Rain-X Glass Water Repellent Treatment
  • 1 oz. Lithium Auto Elixirs Color Crush
  • 5 oz. Rain-X White Washer Fluid Additive
  • Microfiber cloth
  • Disposable latex gloves

Step-by-Step Guide

  1. Mix all the liquid ingredients in a clean spray bottle. Then, spray the mixture onto the RV windshield.
  2. Spread the solution with your hands while wearing latex gloves. You may need a stepladder for this step if your RV’s windshield is out of your reach.
  3. Let the mixture sit on the windshield for about an hour.
  4. Wipe the residue with a microfiber cloth.

You can also watch the video below to see how to do the steps mentioned above:

Check out this water-repelling solution for windshields on Amazon.

Can I Wash My RV With Dawn Dish Soap?

Dawn dish soap may help clean your RV. But be careful since this dishwashing liquid has ingredients that can strip off an RV’s wax. On the other hand, this cleaning product, particularly the regular formula, might help remove some of the loose dirt and dust from an RV’s body casing.

Do a spot check if you’re unsure if Dawn dish soap can harm your RV. Take a pea-sized amount of the dishwashing liquid and place it on an inconspicuous spot in the vehicle’s body casing.

Make sure to keep a close eye on any adverse reactions, if any. Stop using the product if you see paint or wax stripping off because of the cleaning solution. Otherwise, continue using it but maintain caution to avoid harming the RV's graphics. 

If you want to know the right cleaning tools for your RV, read this post: 12 Best RV Brushes & Cleaning Accessories.

How Do Dryer Sheets Get Rid Of Love Bugs?

Dryer sheets can help eliminate love bugs (Plecia nearctica). Take note that these insects generally move about between 10:00 AM and 4:00 PM or when temperatures reach about 68 degrees Fahrenheit. Therefore, these bugs may enjoy living in spaces if locations meet these conditions.

With dryer sheets, you only need to place a piece on top of a place where love bugs usually gather. Then, spray water on the sheet to remove the insects from the surface. Take away the dryer sheet, and the bug residue should go along with the fabric.

Check out these dryer sheets on Amazon.

How Do I Protect My RV From Bugs?

Bugs can enter your RV on the road or at a camping site. The methods to prevent these critters from infesting the camping vehicle often differ depending on your current situation.

Here are some tips to ensure bugs and other pests don’t find your RV appealing:

Clean the Campsite

Make sure to keep your RV parking site as pristine and tidy as possible, regardless of the time you’re going to spend on that location. Keep in mind that ants, flies, cockroaches, and even rats often see leftover garbage as all-you-can-eat buffets.

Follow good cleaning etiquette while you're staying in those camping sites. For example, don't leave the cores, crumbs, and peels of food in random places. Instead, place them in garbage bags immediately. Then, throw the trash bags in designated areas to prevent some insects from munching through the material.

Check out these eco-friendly trash bags on Amazon.

Diffuse Essential Oils

You can repel certain bugs by diffusing essential oil in and around your RV. Take note that mosquitoes are small enough to enter tiny crevices in your RV. If you’re not paying attention, these bugs can make your camping vehicle their new breeding ground.

Disperse essential oils like citronella, geranium, and peppermint oils to deter mosquitoes away from your RV and the campground. You may also combine oils like citronella and geranium to enhance their bug-repelling properties.

Check out this essential oil diffuser on Amazon.

Turn Off the Lights

Certain species of moths and flies find light sources alluring. These insects have positive phototaxis, which means they often have natural affinities to light and other bright sources. Therefore, turning off the interior and exterior lights in and around your RV, particularly at night, may help prevent these bugs from invading your motorhome.

Does Car Wax Protect From Bugs?

Car wax can help protect vehicles from bug splatters, albeit some types usually do better than others. For instance, spray-on waxes might provide less protection against insect stains than liquid or paste options.

Moreover, make sure to use products that are safe for your car’s body casing. Some choices may supply excellent protection against bugs, but they might also have abrasives that can scratch or even dent an automobile's surface.

But if you're dealing with sewer flies, you can read this post to eliminate them: "How To Get Rid Of Sewer Flies In RV Toilets?"

Check out this car wax on Amazon.

Final Words

Motorized home parked in rest area in British Columbia with Rocky mountains behind

Different cleaning products are available for use to remove bugs from the front of RVs. Some of these commercially prepared solutions use fairly mild ingredients to reduce the risks of ruining RV graphics and paint. Make sure to read the products’ instructions to ensure you use them properly.

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