5 ways to minimize bugs on your RV windshield
Published May 31, 2024
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Oh, the glamor of pest control! We have touched on this oh-so-appealing topic a few times in the past, but not specific to windshields.
Just picture it: You’re cruising down the highway in your brand-new class A coach headed to your favorite national park with your road trip playlist jamming in the background when you suddenly run through a swarm of gnats. Your windshield is now covered in bug guts (gross), and it’s increasingly difficult to see the road between them!
As this scene describes, keeping bugs away and off your windshield isn’t just for looks: excessive bugs on your windshield can become hazardous if they build up while you’re driving. For that reason, we’ve taken the time to research five ways to keep your RV pristine and your view out the front unobstructed by bugs.
1. Try warm water and dish soap
It’s the most straightforward tip with the lowest barrier to entry to try first. We recommend Dawn dish soap, which dissolves almost anything, including bug guts. That said, if you use Dawn on the front cap of your RV or it gets anywhere else other than the windshield, be sure to re-wax it right away because Dawn is also famous for removing wax buildup.
2. Avoid cleaning in direct sunlight or on hot days
When it’s hot or sunny, cleaners and other products may evaporate quickly, leaving spots or streaks. This makes it easy for you to miss spots! To avoid this, try washing your RV on a cloudy day, or pulling into a shady parking spot for the washing.
3. Try repellent products
These products have great reviews, but that doesn’t mean they will all work great for every RV every time. It might help you to try them out and see what works best for you.
Liqui-Tech Finish First to slow the bugs
Liqui-Tech’s Finish First is a synthetic polymer wax. This product enhances the color and shine of your RV, but it has the added bonus of providing your vehicle with a smooth and durable surface. Apply Finish First using a foam applicator pad or a microfiber cloth to get a beautiful, polished shine that also resists bugs, dirt, water, and UV rays.
Try Rejex as a barrier
This polymer coating bonds with the RV’s surface, creating a barrier that keeps bugs from sticking to the RV or windshield. Best used on any exterior surface of the RV, from rubber to plastic, metal, paint, and glass, Rejex also helps keep your RV clean by repelling oil, grease, water, exhaust, and more.
The aptly-named BugSlide might do the trick
Since bugs are a big enough problem to require bespoke solutions for all kinds of vehicles, enter BugSlide. Touted as “the cleaner, polish, and bug remover with attitude for all your vehicles,” this spray-on cleaner and bug remover can be applied to any surface of your RV to remove bugs, fingerprints, dirt, dust, and more with a single wipe.
Give Rain-X Bug & Tar a whirl
Rain-X Bug & Tar is a pre-wash gel that loosens bug residue and tar from your windshield, making it easier to remove when washing. This product may also help prevent new bugs from accumulating on your windshield by creating a water-repellent layer.
4. Use a designated bug scrubber
One of the challenges of removing bugs from an RV or windshield is removing the sticky bugs without scratching or taking the paint or other finishes off your RV. Squeegees, mesh sponges, or products with other textured surfaces gently remove bug residue without scratching your RV.
5. Try a used dryer sheet
Simple, easy to come by, and effective. A used dryer sheet may do the trick to get stubborn bug guts off your RV windshield! Simply wet the dryer sheet with water to gently remove any leftover bug guts and rinse with water afterward.
When should you address bugs on your windshield?
It can’t hurt to keep your windshield clean and working to repel bugs no matter where or how you travel, but some destinations and circumstances may require more frequent application of repellent products. For instance, humid, buggy climates like the Southeastern USA, may necessitate frequent windshield cleaning. You may also find that the quality and age of your windshield wiper blades affect the success of your bug removal efforts. And finally, some of this is personal preference: everyone has a different threshold for when the windshield is too bug-ridden or otherwise dirty to see out!
A general rule to follow is to apply bug repellent about every month or every 1000 miles of driving, although circumstances, locations, and personal preferences may require more frequent application. Regular maintenance and trying to remove bug splatter as soon as possible can help prevent it from sticking and make the process considerably easier.
Want to remove bug guts from an RV of your own?
Not afraid of a little bit of bug guts? Ready to hit the road in your own RV? We would love to help! Transwest’s friendly and knowledgeable staff is always available to help you choose from the highest quality RVs (and more) from top manufacturers. Find a location near you, or shop our online inventory to find the perfect new or used RV for you.
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