Published
Should you wash your car's underbody in summer too?
The most important time to wash your car's underbody is after winter, when months of road salt have built up underneath. In summer the need is much smaller, because there is no salt. The exception is gravel and cottage roads, which pack mud into the wheel arches. You can ask us to wash the underbody as an extra with your wash. Below we explain when it helps and what you can do yourself.
After winter: get the salt off
In winter, salty slush sprays under the car, into the wheel arches and onto the inside of the sills. There it dries into seams and crevices that an ordinary wash cannot reach, and it gets wet again whenever the weather is damp. Salt and moisture together speed up rust.
That is why the underbody is worth washing in spring, once the roads are no longer salted. Wash it any earlier and the salt soon builds up again.
In summer the need is smaller
When the roads are not salted, the dirt that collects under the car is mostly dust and sand. It does not speed up rust the way salt does, so in summer there is no need to wash the underbody regularly.
The exception is mud. If you drive a lot on gravel or forest roads, a layer of mud can pack into the wheel arches and the inside of the sills. It holds moisture against the metal for a long time, so it is worth rinsing off before autumn.
How to check for yourself
- Shine a torch inside the wheel arches. If there is a thick layer of dried mud, a wash is in order.
- Look at the lower edges of the sills and underneath the rear bumper.
- If you see brown surface rust underneath, have a garage look at it. Washing does not remove rust.
If you wash it yourself
Rinse the wheel arches and the inside of the sills with plenty of water. Do not aim a pressure washer at rubber covers, seals or electrical connectors from close range, because the high pressure can damage them or force water where it should not go.
What we can do
Underbody washing is not a separate service in our price list, and you cannot choose it when booking online. You can, however, ask for it as an extra with your wash for an additional €11. Book a wash and mention the underbody wash in the Message to the shop field of your booking, or tell us when you arrive.
We wash the outside of the car by hand. Basic wash (€34–47) includes a hand wash, the door frames and the rubber mats, and the tyres are washed with every wash. After winter, Premium wash (€39–52) also uses a solvent wash to lift the greasy film that builds up on the paintwork. There is more about winter washing in our article on washing your car in winter.
Underbody wash with your car wash
Basic wash €34–47, plus an underbody wash as an extra for €11. Mention the underbody wash in the Message to the shop field when you book.