Not able to get Poorboy`s Bug Squash in time ...will this work??

Don

Don

Darth Camaro 12/27/15
I tried to order the PB Bug Squash, but an unexpected expense came up and killed that idea. I have heard that putting fabric softener sheets in a bottle with warm/hot water will create a solution that will soften stuck on bugs and make them easier to remove.

So I was wondering if I made a solution of say a cap full of liquid fabric softener in a 32 oz bottle with hot water would that works as a bug remover, I mean if wet fabric softener sheets work, why wouldn`t a stronger liquid solution work?

I am supposed to be going back to the "bug zone" to detail a few cars again tomorrow and am looking for some opinions. After this, maybe I`ll be able to buy the actual Bug Squash with the profits from tomorrow`s details.
 
Don said:
I tried to order the PB Bug Squash, but an unexpected expense came up and killed that idea. I have heard that putting fabric softener sheets in a bottle with warm/hot water will create a solution that will soften stuck on bugs and make them easier to remove.

So I was wondering if I made a solution of say a cap full of liquid fabric softener in a 32 oz bottle with hot water would that works as a bug remover, I mean if wet fabric softener sheets work, why wouldn`t a stronger liquid solution work?

I am supposed to be going back to the "bug zone" to detail a few cars again tomorrow and am looking for some opinions. After this, maybe I`ll be able to buy the actual Bug Squash with the profits from tomorrow`s details.
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I`ve never heard of that one, interesting. Maybe try/bring a 1:14 solution of carsoap w/ a splash of degreaser for backup? Stoners Tarminator is an option, but you`d have to re-lsp.
 
TheMeanGreen said:
I`ve never heard of that one, interesting. Maybe try/bring a 1:14 solution of carsoap w/ a splash of degreaser for backup? Stoners Tarminator is an option, but you`d have to re-lsp.
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I`d already planned on reapplying a sealant to the area, so no big deal.
 
man I would just go buy a $5 bottle of Turtle wax bug and tar remover. that stuff works surprisingly well for me and I`ve had to use it in a pinch when I used to do mobile and forgot to bring my bug squash...it`s definitely not as good as bug squash but its a pretty decent product

also, for the future you should really consider buying a few Poorboys Bug Mesh Towels, a snice soapy bucket of Super Slick and Suds and one of those towels and you find yourself not really needing Bug Squash as much.
 
if you access to hot water, then take some cotton towels and get them nice and hot and lay them on the bugs .. this should at least loosen them to the point that they`ll come off easier :)
 
512detail said:
man I would just go buy a $5 bottle of Turtle wax bug and tar remover. that stuff works surprisingly well for me and I`ve had to use it in a pinch when I used to do mobile and forgot to bring my bug squash...it`s definitely not as good as bug squash but its a pretty decent product

also, for the future you should really consider buying a few Poorboys Bug Mesh Towels, a snice soapy bucket of Super Slick and Suds and one of those towels and you find yourself not really needing Bug Squash as much.
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ALL of the cars I`m called to detail have been neglected ... severely. No wax of any kind since the dealer applied slop and no regular washing and certainly no "in depth" washing to remove stuck bugs.

Poorboy said:
if you access to hot water, then take some cotton towels and get them nice and hot and lay them on the bugs .. this should at least loosen them to the point that they`ll come off easier :)
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Nope, no hot water ... not enough to wash a car with anyway. I was so sure that I`d have the PBBS by now that I didn`t think ahead to what if I didn`t have it, that`s why I researched and found the wet fabric softener sheet trick ... I`d rather have the Poorboy`s.
 
Don said:
ALL of the cars I`m called to detail have been neglected ... severely. No wax of any kind since the dealer applied slop and no regular washing and certainly no "in depth" washing to remove stuck bugs.



Nope, no hot water ... not enough to wash a car with anyway. I was so sure that I`d have the PBBS by now that I didn`t think ahead to what if I didn`t have it, that`s why I researched and found the wet fabric softener sheet trick ... I`d rather have the Poorboy`s.
Click to expand...

too bad you`re not closer.. I have two gallons unopened and one gallon already mixed RTU

maybe try to go to walmart or wherever and get one of those little bug mesh sponges, they aren`t the best but probably better than nothing
 
Don said:
Nope, no hot water ... not enough to wash a car with anyway. I was so sure that I`d have the PBBS by now that I didn`t think ahead to what if I didn`t have it, that`s why I researched and found the wet fabric softener sheet trick ... I`d rather have the Poorboy`s.
Click to expand...

ok i know you can get some winter window washing fluid in Ohio (meant for windshield wiper reservoir) this can work but don`t let it dry on paint as it sometime can stain (usually light ss colors)
 
512detail said:
too bad you`re not closer.. I have two gallons unopened and one gallon already mixed RTU

maybe try to go to walmart or wherever and get one of those little bug mesh sponges, they aren`t the best but probably better than nothing
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Already did :)

Poorboy said:
ok i know you can get some winter window washing fluid in Ohio (meant for windshield wiper reservoir) this can work but don`t let it dry on paint as it sometime can stain (usually light ss colors)
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I do have some "special" `bug cleaning` washer fluid in the garage, maybe I`ll try that too.
 
512Detail- At one time the TW Bug & Tar was, *apparently*, a bit abrasive. Is it still like that or is it just a straight solvent as one might reasonably expect?

I still remember the TW`s can and the scent of that stuff....and just FWIW, mine (from way back the late `70s!) wasn`t abrasive at all, just a regular solvent that worked fine. But I clearly remember hearing dire warnings from somebody here (whose name I forget, but I did consider him 100% reliable) about the abrasiveness.
 
PA DETAILER said:
Ok. I see DON needs something now. Here is info on his idea.......

https://youtu.be/P2AGzJjJViI
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Yes, I`ve seen that video. That`s what gave me the idea of using diluted liquid fabric softener and a microfiber cloth (or bug sponge). Because of course, we have a combination washer/dryer that performs both tasks in a single cycle and softener sheets are useless in this machine (plus, the wife prefers liquid fabric softener over the dryer sheets).
 
I had good results using a waterless wash (happened to be Griots) as a presoak. Let it dwell while getting the supplies, buckets, hoses ready then rinse the areas down with a strong stream of water or pressure washer.

Granted it was on my car, but it hadn`t be waxed since last fall (Collinite 845) and was after several long road trips/rain storms. Just need something to penetrate and soften the bugs so they can easily be rinsed or wiped away.
 
You can get Griot`s bug stuff at advanced auto usually.

Also glass cleaner works too just use common sense and not let dry and lsp after words


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One word of caution about using Stoner`s Tarminator on front ends of vehicles to remove bugs;
The solvents, while very good for removing/dissolving petroleum-based road tar and such, are NOT plastic-friendly IF left to dwell on certain types of grills. Maybe if you wash it off immediately it will not soften or discolor plastic, but I found that older vehicles with weathered-plastic grills to be susceptible to the solvents if left to dwell for a longer period of time (say 15 minutes like when washing the roofs and hoods of a vehicle first AFTER spraying Tarminator on a badly bugged front end to allow it to "work").

I used to use regular Coke-Cola on a bug pad WAY back in the late 70`s. The phosphoric acid in Coke (see the soda can/bottle label; it`s still used today) would literally eat (dissolve) bug splatter and then wash it off with soap-n-water. Also makes a good "Liquid Wrench" rust dissolver/penetrant in an emergency. Did that to rusted-on rims and lug nuts when changing flat tires. Good trick to remember when someone is stuck on the side of the road with a lug nut that will not budge or a rim that will not come off a rotor or drum face. (Disclaimer: does NOT work on REALLY badly rusted rims, so your "Good Samaritan" efforts may be in vain.)
 
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