A Liberty County Guide to Keeping Your Ride Clean During Lovebug Season

For most people, the first signs of fall include shorter days, cooler weather and football season. In Liberty County, the beginning of fall is also announced by the arrival of lovebugs! But don’t let the name fool you; these insects don’t always leave residents with a warm, fuzzy feeling. Lovebugs are black and orange and they fill the sky, as well as windshields and car grilles, at least twice a year: early spring and early fall.

To the chagrin of most of us in the South, it is inevitable that the front of any vehicle will be covered with these doomed couples. To make matters worse, the lovebug season can last about four to five weeks!

Photo courtesy of Steve Beger

Although the lovebugs themselves are non-biting, non-stinging pests, their reputation as a public nuisance is due to their slightly acidic body chemistry, which causes them to stick very well to surfaces, including cars. The aftermath of these flying pests is not only gross to look at but can also be damaging to the car’s paint, especially since the insects become more acidic as they dry and decay on your grille! Some residents find the time each week to take care of the bug residue, while others decide to wait until the end of the season to clean them all away at once. However, the longer you wait, the harder it will be to remove them.

So what can you do to keep these amorous insects from wrecking your ride? Below we’ve compiled a list of easy tips and tricks to help prevent and remove lovebugs and keep your car looking great all autumn long.

Cooking Spray—Once you start noticing the first few love bugs floating around, spray your bumper, hood and side mirrors with non-stick cooking spray to help prevent the bugs from sticking.

Degreaser—If you’ve already begun to see the pests sticking to your car, spray the bugs with a degreaser, let it sit for a few minutes and then use a microfiber cloth to wipe all of your love bug problems away.

Baking Soda—Mix warm water with baking soda and watch the bugs melt from your sight.

Dryer Sheets—Not only is this a great smelling option, but also an easy one to accomplish as this is a product most people have at home. Water, dryer sheets and elbow grease make this a quick fix to your love bug blues.

Last, but not least, you can let someone else do the hard work for you during lovebug season—visit Tidal Wave Auto Spa! They have monthly and yearly packages to fit your automobile cleaning needs!