Bug cleaning

[SHIPCHIEF]

3 recommended cloths are Microfiber, cotton Terry cloth, and Cheese Cloth.
I use Cheese cloth on plexiglas, it's open weave takes the grit and dead bugs and reduces scratching.
I buy Cheese cloth at Walmart and cut it to size. I wash it in the clothes washer and re-use it.
I buy Terry Cloth bar towels at Costco in a bundle. When they look too gross for use in the house, they go to the hangar for bug removal and any other job as they get worse until I throw them out.
I start removing bugs with water, right now I'm using Lemon Pledge, but I also use McGuires spray cleaner detail-er, car wash soap etc.
I try to avoid caustic cleaners which are hard on aluminum.

[Mel]

Bugs are fairly easy to remove with plain (plane) water if removed immediately.

NEVER let a dead bug spent the night on your airplane!

[ReidVaitor]

Windshield- Plexus- terry cloth to wipe it down after 30sec-1 min
leading edge- I used water, soap, wash and wax and pledge, in the end sure they work but Turtle wax "bug and tar" remover works so much faster and a whole lot easier. I painted my plane with California worthy paint (aka water based paint that doesnt cause cancer in the state of California) I figured 2 years and I would need to repaint, going on 6 and the home latex still looks great- my point- even with lousy paint the bug and tar remover doesnt effect the paint in any way. Oh and I use paper towels to wipe it all down, THAN use a cloth to put a layer of pledge on the leading edge.
Pascal

[mturnerb]

Bounce or similar dryer sheets in a spray bottle of water - spray the mixture onto the bugs, let it sit a bit then wipe clean with wet towel. The stuff than softens clothes softens the bugs. I've done enough A/B comparisons with this vs other methods to be convinced it works. The sheets themselves can be used (very wet) to remove stubborn bugs.

[Robert Anglin]

Have used the McGuires #8 plastic clean and shine with a soft blue shop roll towel to clean the canopy. Every couple of months, I will use the McGuires clean and wax to coat the wind-screen and canopy so the bugs come off and the plastic has a little wax coat on it. The wings, VS, HS, and wheel pants, soap and water or a aluminum safe spray cleaner. I find that a half gallon of water and a small squirt of Joy soap in it and a soft towel will do 90% of all clean-up jobs. Just what we do. Yours, R.E.A. III #80888

[KatanaPilot]

Originally Posted by bkilby

The best product I have found for getting the bugs off is Simple Green Aviation. Doesn't need to be full strength either. I usually just top off the spray bottle with water when half the bottle is used. I spray down the leading edge of both wings, then go back and wipe down with a microfiber cloth. Bugs come right off. Plexus or Brillianize or similar for canopy with an old t-shirt.

Killer Bee is that you? I thought you were in Defuniak Springs.

I buy Aviation Simple Green by the 5 gallon jug. Only downside for use on wings is it strips the Rejex or Zaino polish off. So I generally don't use it for bugs unless they are really stubborn.

Go Jackets!

[Dubuque RV]

I apply Rejex once or twice a year to the whole plane. When back from flying i walk once around the plane spraying(I use a pump up sprayer) water on the leading edges, wheel pants, nose, spinner and windshield to soften bugs. Then on second trip around I use a bug sponge(soft mesh wrapped about sponge) to wipe off bugs and dry with an old clean towel. The windshield I use Plexus with a clean microfiber cloth.

[Dbro172]

I think I read it here on VAF 4-5 years ago, came from a Helicopter guy; Use water and a dryer sheet (Bounce, etc.) This will take off the worst of of the worst. This was the ONLY thing that would work for taking dried, hard, cooked bugs off the paint and chrome of my Harley. I have not, would not try it on plexi, stick to plexus for that and I have not tried it on my plane yet because its never got that bad but this did not touch the paint or chrome on the Harley. The dryer sheet turns soapy when it gets wet so you will need to wipe or rinse afterward.

[Zero4Zulu]

I recently heard of using an old microwave to heat a wet towel. Just water. Bugs come right off.

[RicoB]

I use pledge before and after flights and they come off very easily! I even use pledge on my car when I travel on areas with a lot of bugs.