Car WashHow to get bugs off your car with Tommy’s Express
Every spring, our communities nationwide face a fresh wave of springtime bugs smeared all over our cars. Whether you’re up against Florida Lovebugs or your neighborhood moths and mosquitos, Tommy’s Express is here to help you clean bugs off your car.
So, what’s the problem with bug splats anyway?
Bug splats will eat at your car’s paint
It turns out that liquified insects and the bacteria that try to decompose them are quite acidic. This means that over time, bug splats will begin to chemically cut into your car’s clearcoat, dulling your car’s appearance and putting your paint job at risk.
Bug splatter messes with your vision
When you’re behind the wheel, anything that gets in the way or increases the risk of an accident is a problem. Bug guts can obscure your vision, diffusing light across your windshield at night. They can also smear when you turn your windshield wipers on in the rain or build up, becoming a distraction.
Keeping it clean with science
Unfortunately, bug splats are hard to wipe away, even relatively fresh. As a natural, organic material, bug guts are naturally oily and sticky and won’t easily mix with water. Even high-quality automotive soap might not cut it without some elbow grease.
If they bake on your windshield or hood in the sun and harden up, they can be even harder to get off.
Tommy’s Express has you covered with a variety of wash services specifically designed to break down and remove stubborn grime like lovebug splats and other insect splats.
These include:
- Detox PreWash: Ever notice that Tommy’s Express doesn’t have a team member spraying down cars before the wash? Our washes use a specially engineered presoak arch right at the front of the tunnel, which applies an even, targeted coat of concentrated detergent with warm water to each highly-bugged area on your car without wastage. Our Detox PreWash detergent is alkaline-based, and during bug season, we adjust our concentrations to make sure it cuts through layers of bug guts more efficiently, along with other common car soils like road tar, dirt, and dust.
- Friction & pressure: After the Detox PreWash, we have stages of high-pressure body soap applications and repeated contact with soft cloth brushes to help agitate, scrub, and lift bug guts away. Because our body soap is mildly acidic, it does a good job getting rid of the bug slime first loosened up by the Detox PreWash application.
- Ceramic Body Wax®: One of the best ways to prevent bug splats on your car is to add a protective layer between future splats and your clear coat. We do this with our high-quality Tommy’s Express Ceramic Body Wax® service, which helps give your car extra sheen and, with repeated visits, can build up to provide a slick protective coating that makes removing bug splats noticeably easier in the future.
Please mind the “fingernail rule”
If you can rub bug guts off with the pad of your finger, our wash will probably be able to get them off as well. And if we don’t completely get rid of loose bug splats on your car, please let our cashiers know so we can send you through the wash again at no charge.
However, if it is difficult to remove bug splats with your finger, and you need to use a fingernail to chip or scrape it off, then our wash system probably won’t be able to remove it.
In this case, you can remove dead bugs with a microfiber cloth or other automotive-safe cleaning tools. A variety of specialized bug and tar remover products are on the market.
You can also try laundry pads, WD-40 (not safe on plastic elements!), and even cola to help break down and loosen stubborn splats.
Why washing your car frequently during bug season helps
The easiest way to deal with bug splatter is not letting it sit on your car too long. Frequent washing helps prevent bug residue from bonding to your vehicle’s paint and clear coat.
Best practices during bug season:
- Wash your car every 1–2 weeks
- Wash after long highway drives
- Remove bug splatter before it bakes in the sun
Keeping your car clean makes future washes faster and easier.
Keep your car protected with Tommy‘s Express
For drivers who want to keep their vehicles consistently clean, a TommyClub unlimited membership makes regular washing simple.
Benefits include:
- Unlimited washes at your chosen package level
- Express entry using license plate recognition
- Access to members-only app lanes
- Easy account management through the Tommy’s Express app
With unlimited washes, bug splatter never has time to build up.
FAQ: Bug season and car washing
Why do bugs stick to cars so easily?
Bugs contain organic compounds and oils that become sticky when crushed. When combined with heat and airflow, they bond tightly to vehicle surfaces.
Can bug splatter damage car paint?
Yes. The acidic compounds in bug residue can begin breaking down your car’s clear coat if left on the surface too long.
How often should you wash your car during bug season?
Most experts recommend washing your car every one to two weeks, especially if you drive frequently on highways.
Does wax help prevent bug splatter?
Yes. Protective coatings like Ceramic Body Wax® create a slick surface that makes bug residue easier to remove during washes.
What is the fastest way to remove bugs from a car?
The most effective method is using a car wash that includes presoak treatment, agitation, and protective wax, which helps break down and lift stubborn residue safely.
Keep bug splatter from ruining your shine
Bug season doesn’t have to mean a dirty car.
With regular washes and protective treatments, you can prevent bug splatter from damaging your vehicle’s paint and keep your car looking its best all season long.
Stop by your local Tommy’s Express and see how easy it is to keep your car clean, protected, and bug-free.