# Bugs!

**URL:** <https://community.cartalk.com/t/bugs/14014>\
**Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\
**Created:** [May 14, 2008, 3:03pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/bugs/14014 "2008-05-14T15:03:20Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 7\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![jmood\_us](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/7ba0ec/32.png) [@jmood\_us](https://community.cartalk.com/u/jmood_us)\
**Post date:** [May 14, 2008, 3:03pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/bugs/14014/1 "2008-05-14T15:03:20Z")

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I’m having a heck of a time removing bugs from my truck’s grill, hood, mirrors, etc. I have tried all bug removal products I can find. Any suggestions? I heard on the show a while back about using muriatic acid as a cleaner. Will this work or will it harm the finish?

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**Author:** ![jtsanders](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c2a13f/32.png) [@jtsanders](https://community.cartalk.com/u/jtsanders)\
**Post date:** [May 14, 2008, 3:53pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/bugs/14014/2 "2008-05-14T15:53:49Z")

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If you want to try a mild acid, use vinegar (acetic acid).

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**Author:** ![admitted\_amateur](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/94ad74/32.png) [@admitted\_amateur](https://community.cartalk.com/u/admitted_amateur)\
**Post date:** [May 14, 2008, 3:57pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/bugs/14014/3 "2008-05-14T15:57:18Z")

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Have you tried WD40? It isn’t touted as a bug remover, but it does take care of a lot of things

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**Author:** ![the\_same\_mountainbike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c89c15/32.png) [@the\_same\_mountainbike](https://community.cartalk.com/u/the_same_mountainbike)\
**Post date:** [May 14, 2008, 5:21pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/bugs/14014/4 "2008-05-14T17:21:10Z")

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Do not try muriatic acid. It will destroy the finish.

Perhaps a steam cleaner would work.

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**Author:** ![SteveF](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/stevef/32/2_2.png) [@SteveF](https://community.cartalk.com/u/SteveF)\
**Post date:** [May 14, 2008, 6:11pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/bugs/14014/5 "2008-05-14T18:11:43Z")

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Do not use muriatic acid (hydrochloric acid, HCl) on any metallic finish. It eats metal. It doesn’t do any good for plastic either. Try rubbing with a coarse plastic sponge.

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**Author:** ![MikeInNH](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a587f6/32.png) [@MikeInNH](https://community.cartalk.com/u/MikeInNH)\
**Post date:** [May 14, 2008, 9:37pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/bugs/14014/6 "2008-05-14T21:37:16Z")

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Some of the bug cleaners need to be applied liberally. Try putting liberal amounts on a rag…and hold the rag on the bugs for about a minute…then wipe.

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**Author:** ![jmood\_us](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/7ba0ec/32.png) [@jmood\_us](https://community.cartalk.com/u/jmood_us)\
**Post date:** [May 19, 2008, 3:21pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/bugs/14014/7 "2008-05-19T15:21:01Z")

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Thanks to everyone for your help. I’ll let you know.