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Dried mud on my paint after a bug bath disaster

Last weekend I sprayed some bug remover on a really dirty truck before washing it. Left it on for maybe 3 minutes like the bottle said. When I hit it with the pressure washer the dried mud just baked on harder. Had to clay bar the whole front end to get it off. Lesson learned: always rinse heavy dirt off first before spraying chemicals on. Has anyone else screwed up their wash order like this?
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3 Comments
felix414
felix4141mo ago
Bet that bug spray turned mud into cement on the paint.
3
lunah12
lunah121mo ago
That "turned mud into cement" line got me thinking. People always focus on how hard the drying mud is to get off, but nobody mentions what that sticky spray residue does to your clear coat if you don't wash it off fast enough.
3
leehall
leehall1mo ago
lunah12 makes a good point about that spray residue. It's not just the mud turning to cement, the chemicals in those bug removers can be pretty harsh if they sit too long. I've seen spots where the clear coat actually got hazy from letting bug spray dry on the surface. That's why I always rinse the truck down with plain water first now, even if it's just a quick hose off. Gets the loose dirt out of the way and gives the chemicals less to react with. Between the mud and the spray, it's a real double whammy for your paint if you get the order wrong.
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