A bumpy veneer of ex-invertebrates is never a good look on your car, and you'll quickly come to realise that they don't like leaving your car without a fight. CAR has curated a whole list of what we believe are the best car cleaning products - or you can remove the bugs now, and clean later.
First off, you could try and wipe them away with a standard drying towel and you'll quickly see how stubborn former insects can be.
These insect removers will gently lift the insect away from your car's paintwork without doing any damage. We've selected our favourites, looking at price, life-span, the environment and how much of a faff they are to use.
The best insect removers
Best insect remover spray
We've tested 26JPN's Bug & Grime spray and it was impressive for lifting embedded insects. It's alkaline-based which means it won't damage your paint, and amazingly good at lifting insects, grime and other embedded deposits that can be a real pain in the neck to remove. It has a lovely citrus scent and is wax and sealant safe which makes it our top pick for insect removal.
Pros
- Very powerful
- Wax and sealant safe
Cons
- Hard to find at this price point
Best reusable insect remover
A step beyond a spray, this special sponge is specifically designed to lift dead insects without harming your car's paintwork. The sponge is reusable and will keep your car better protected, you do however need to use it with an insect remover spray for it to be properly effective.
Pros
- Easy to reuse
Cons
- Must be used in conjunction with an insect spray
Best med-range insect remover spray
A simple-to-use option from Turtle Wax, this 500ml spray should have enough product to remove an apiary worth of insects with ease. This spray is also effective at lifting tree sap and bird poo away from your car's paintwork with no damage. The product won't run either, it simply needs wiping away.
Pros
- Easy to use
Cons
- More powerful alternatives in this price range
Best insect remover for pressure washers
No longer just the purveyor of pressurised water, Kärcher now sells a range of car cleaning products, including this Insect Remover. If you're washing your car with a pressure washer it makes sense to remove absolutely everything you can, including insects. You simply spray this product onto the ex insect, wait a couple of minutes and wash away with a pressure washer. It's not the best for heavy-duty cleaning, but for the odd one, it's really good.
Pros
- Easy to use with a pressure washer
Cons
- Better products for heavy-duty cleaning
Save yourself endless scrubbing with this powerful bug remover from Gtechniq. The non-caustic formula of this product lifts dirt and bugs with ease so you needn't worry about surface abrasion when attempting to remove the most stubborn subjects. The spray is easy to apply and works within just a few minutes.
Pros
- Fast working
- Non-abrasive
Cons
- Small bottle
Best on-the-go option
These wipes may not be the most eco-minded choice for insect removal, but in a pinch, they're an effective way to lift embedded insects from paintwork. Each pack has 30 wipes that can be used for removing embedded insects, tree sap and even brake dust. The wipes are also designed to keep them moist for longer.
Pros
- Effective way to remove insects
Cons
- Not very eco-friendly
FAQs
Can't I just snow foam my car?
In previous tests, we've found snow foam to be very effective at dislodging embedded insects, but it's a real pain in the neck trudging the pressure washer out every time a bee runs into your license plate. And while most of these require washing off with water, a hose or even a bucket should suffice, as opposed to a full treatment with a pressure washer.