Cleaning the Grille

What are the detailing fanatics here using to keep their grilles clean? As in the terrible honeycomb mesh that collects bugs nicely.

Naturally, high pressure water spray usually gets it done in the usual sense, but here's the thing - my car has only been washed once, when I took delivery. Mine is a fair weather toy and sees dusting and detail sprays only. But cleaning that damn grille is a PITA.

Curious if there are some odd brushes or something out there that I haven't run across....

Water pressure, whatever cleaning mitt/pad you use, to get in the little non drilled out parts use a lug nut brush/paint brush or maybe even a little wheel whoolie could work.

I just use a pressure washer and blower to dry it out.

Oh you meant GRILL...for a minute I thought you had some old Wehrmacht artillery

Strokerswild said:

my car has only been washed once, when I took delivery. Mine is a fair weather toy and sees dusting and detail sprays only.

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That's how to keep the swirl marks to a minimum and I do the same (actually think it was washed 2 maybe 3 times in almost a year now) ... will occasionally use a waterless spray cleaner as required if spot cleaning is required.

Your bugs may be worse than mine but I remove what dead ones i can first with a brush and then just spray them with a bug spray (or even detail spray works too), let it soak for a minute or 2 and then take an old toothbrush to them. Wipe down afterwards.

If you've got no choice but to use water (as I do with my rims) then just be careful and clean any overspray once dry on the paint with the waterless spray and then a detail spray.

Yeah, I've done the old toothbrush and spray trick, but it's less than great since the handle is parallel with the brush and it's tough to contort.

Ideally I need a stiffer version of a BBQ sauce brush.

^ Good point on the angle. Try the dollar store for a dish washing type of brush. Will be bigger than a toothbrush but that's ok. Bristles will be stiffer though too but again don't think it'll be a problem.

I use the small wheel woolie (Wheel Woolies 3-Piece Kit) or this (Wheel Woolies Boars Hair Detail Brush 1 inch)

Yup, as mentioned, the smallest wheel woollies works great for the small grill cut-outs.

I have the same problems, I use these bug sponges I got from Amazon. (Viking Microfiber Bug Scrubbing Mitt). What I do is spray some ONR on the grill itself, let it sit for a minute, then I dip my clean bug sponge into my ONR wash and then ring out the excess. Seems to work quite well.

Mustang_Lou said:

That's how to keep the swirl marks to a minimum and I do the same (actually think it was washed 2 maybe 3 times in almost a year now) ... will occasionally use a waterless spray cleaner as required if spot cleaning is required.

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Actually sounds like a great way to destroy your paint job.

Labradog said:

Actually sounds like a great way to destroy your paint job.

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My paint job is fine thank you. Best of any car I've owned so far. Which part do you not agree with?