Summer is full of fun and sun—but also tar and bugs. Help protect your car before your next road trip. Learn how to remove and prevent bugs, tar, and other sticky surface contaminants.

Summer’s Sticky Situation

The warm weather brings out all sorts of culprits that could tarnish your car’s surface. More bugs end up dotted along your front bumper, hood, and windshield. More birds pelt your hood with their droppings. More heated tar gets kicked up and splattered around the wheels. And if you try to park under a shady tree, sap can drip from the branches and coat your car.

All of these elements lead to unsightly spots. But the real worry is that they also contain destructive properties that break down the paint finish and cause surface damage.

• When bug remains break down, acidic substances can etch into the car’s clear coat, leading to permanent damage if left untreated.
• Tar can harden and bond with your car’s surface, making it difficult to remove without damaging the paint.
• Bird droppings contain uric acid, which can damage your car’s paint if left untreated.
• Sap can cause discoloration and even be corrosive to your car’s finish.

This is why it’s important to deal with the remnants of bugs, tar, and other pollutants as soon as possible.

How to Remove Bugs and Tar from Your Car

Luckily, there are easy ways to quickly remove sticky stains from your vehicle’s exterior.

1. If the spot is fresh, wipe it clean with a soft towel.
2. If it’s dried, there are a number of products formulated to soften the remains and safely remove it without scratching the surface.
3. Stubborn stains may require a product that works to dissolve the contaminant. Any wax sealant or paint protectant would need to be reapplied after using a stronger formula.

If your car is covered in unsightly spots, the most effective way to clean and protect the surface is to wash the entire car with a textured cloth or sponge instead of using a spot treatment. Pay extra attention to the problem areas while you gently work in the soap.

How to Protect Your Car’s Surface

Once your car is clean and clear of any sticky contamination, help protect the surface from future damage with a quality wax or paint sealant. This makes it harder for bugs, tar, and sap to stick, and if they do the bond will be weaker and easier to wipe off.

By properly maintaining your car’s appearance on a regular basis, not only will the surface be clean and shiny, but it will be better protected from sticky substances. Using the right techniques and products help you shield your car and keep it looking pristine.

When you bring your car to SPA for one of our premium soft cloth washes, you can trust our team to get all surfaces as clean as possible. Our expert detailing services also help protect the paint finish with high quality wax and sealants. Call us for more information about any of our car wash or detailing packages. Then you can focus more on fun this summer instead of damaging insects and car surface contaminants.