Frugal Bug & Tar Remover

by Mary Ann Romans | More from this Blogger

11 Sep 2007 11:29 AM

One of the most disgusting things has got to be the little bits of bug guts that can accumulate on cars and even on the windows of your home. Maybe this doesn't bother everyone the way it does me, but I have major issues when it comes to bug guts, bug parts, bug trails, etc. The situation gets worse when those bug guts get the opportunity to bake for a couple of days in the sun.

One of the first things you might be inclined to do is wash your car in one of the traditional methods, by hand or at a car wash. But you may find that the car doesn't come completely clean. In fact, there are several solutions on the market that are made specifically for bugs and tar. In a sense, you need to pre-treat or spot clean the worst areas. Otherwise, you may find that you have residue left on your car. You might not see it at first, depending on the amount of grime, but just run your hand over the surface and you will be able to feel it. Yuck.

I don't know if any of these commercial cleaners work or not, because I've never used them. Instead I turn to one of the staples of cleaning, which is baking soda. Make a thick paste of baking soda and water. Rub the paste on the car and then rinse it off. Best of all? It is really very safe to use on your car. There is no danger of damaging that expensive paint job.

You can apply the same treatment to the windows of your home. Here in our home, the bugs tend to congregate right outside our kitchen window, attracted to the kitchen light. They leave behind, well, stuff. The baking soda paste takes it right out. A good rinse is all I need to have clean windows.

Mary Ann Romans writes about everything related to saving money in the Frugal Blog, technology in the Computing Blog, and creating a home in the Home Blog. You can read more of her articles by clicking here.

Related Articles:

Frugal Cleaning: Using Lemons

The Cheap Way to Use Your Swiffer

Learn more about Mary Ann Romans

Mary Ann Romans is a freelance writer, wife and mother of three children. She lives in Pennsylvania with her husband, the kids and a 16-pound cat.

View Full Profile | More from this Blogger