Cleaning off fly squat

Johnny W

Guest
I have never been one for car cleaning a lot, and my old caravan never suffered from this, being the towed vehicle, but how the hell do you clean off squashed flies more quickly!?

I have washed the van in Fenwicks, then have been scrubbing the usual black streaks with neat stuff, but have resorted to serious elbow grease and some TurtleWax car cleaner on the front fly graveyard. Jeeps it's hard work.

Any tips out there? I use the van several times a week, and drive 2-300 miles each time, so this is going to be a big problem during the summer.
 
My motorhome is polished to within an inch of it`s life including the section above the windscreen.

I spent 5-10 minutes every night we are out in it cleaning the front end to get rid the flies and bugs it`s collected during the days drive.

All i use is clean water and a dishcloth, that`s all it needs if done regular.
 
Iso-propyl alcohol is very good for removing all the sticky flies and won't harm the bodywork. (about £12 for 5 litres which you can mix 50/50 with water) much cheaper than brand names which are the same product.

My tip is to do it first thing in the morning while (if) it is still covered in dew before the sun gets on it.
 
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Couple of coats of something like Autoglym polish once you have got them off will help with the problem next time. Then clean regularly. The sun really bakes them on. Don't do what I did in France some years ago with the windscreen on the car. Been driving all day in really hot weather. Flies were welded to the screen when I realised that those little pan scourers you get for the washing up are really good at getting rid of fly debris. Wondered why no one else had thought of it until the following morning when everything was nice and dry and sunny. You could see where the flies had been as the screen was very badly scratched all over. Finished up having a new screen fitted .. :idea-007:

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My motorhome is polished to within an inch of it`s life including the section above the windscreen.

I spent 5-10 minutes every night we are out in it cleaning the front end to get rid the flies and bugs it`s collected during the days drive.

All i use is clean water and a dishcloth, that`s all it needs if done regular.
Great BUT I cant reach ,
 
Get an old pair of tights and cut the feet off ....... Pop socks are ideal as well.

Stuff a cleaning cloth inside and then clean the screen (and paintwork) with it using hot soapy water.

You still need plenty of elbow grease but it works better.

I like the idea that Alf posted, I have one and will try it next time.
 
Biological washing liquid mixed with water either sponge on or use a squirty bottle and spray on leave a few minutes then they will just rinse off
 
Get a couple of old towels wet them and lay over the flies, leave for 10 mins and they should just wipe off.
 
Great BUT I cant reach ,



Even at 6`5" i can`t reach the top either so i bought one of these Vileda 1.jpgVileda 2.jpg

It`s a Vileda Mop bought when on offer at Makro ( ( £2.99 ) and i lay the dishcloth on it to do the top / over the cab.

Because it has a foam pad you can press quite firmly without doing any damage then i rinse the cloth regular :wave:
 
Some great ideas here. The squeegee mop and the bug mitt look my faves.

Will let you know how I get on.........

Ta
 
Just took 6 weeks of french flies(no, not chips) and 3 days of scottish ones off the front of my van including the unreachable bits with no effort whatsoever. I use
G 101 as a cleaner and degreaser on my bikes, I have a strong mix of this, about 6/1 in a garden sprayer. I spray it on the flysplat, wait a minute or two, then wash as normal with Aldi caravan cleaner, fairy liquid or whatever you use, in hot water. I use an extending brush without the hose connected and then rinse with the hose. It,s a doddle, flies gone. Tompa.
 

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