Automatic car wash with undercarriage cleaning near me

Q: Is an undercarriage wash worth it?

Do You Need to Get the Undercarriage Wash? You dont need this option every time you hit the car wash. But its a good idea to opt for an undercarriage wash at least once a season, especially if you drive through mud or live in a part of the country where roads are salted in winter, CRs experts say.

Q: What is an undercarriage wash?

Its simply a means of washing a vehicles underside to remove anything that could cause rust or corrosion over the long term. GM has, for example, recommended for years that owners flush the underbody of their vehicle at least once a year to remove salt deposits, mud, dirt and other accumulated crud.

Regularly cleaning the undercarriage of your vehicle might seem like overkill to the average car owner. After all, who really notices things like wheel wells and suspension parts? And unless you’re regularly heading off road and sending splashes of mud under there, what could possibly get lodged in the undercarriage? You might be surprised. Not only are parts of the undercarriage visible to the naked eye, but this oft-neglected area is one of the first places where decay can occur. Because the undercarriage is constantly being hit with sand, pebbles, road grit, and worse, it takes quite a beating. Dirt that cakes on or isn’t removed can cause rusting and parts to break down.

Table of Contents Show

How to Clean the Undercarriage
Touchless Car Wash
Self- Serve Wash
Initial Rinse
Applying Soap
Removing Bugs and Bird Droppings
Drying Your Car
Contact Tom Webb’s Auto Body
Do car washes actually clean undercarriage?
How do automatic car washes clean the undercarriage?
Is an undercarriage wash worth it?
What is an undercarriage wash?

How to Clean the Undercarriage

Cleaning the undercarriage at home tends to be one of the most difficult DIY car wash options. Unless your vehicle is noticeably high off the ground or you own a set of ramps you can use to lift the car (or you’re willing to remove all the tires and get on your hands and knees), chances are you won’t be able to get to all those hard-to-reach places. That’s why we suggest you roll into a self-service car wash to get the job done. Quick, easy, and affordable, a car wash allows you to clean the undercarriage without getting too dirty.

Spray underneath the car. A high-pressure hose is going to be your best bet for getting under the car and loosening the larger chunks of dirt and debris. Start at the wheel wells and work back from there. This should always be the first step in your car washing process.
Go slow and be careful. Although the underside of your car is designed to take some damage, there are delicate parts that you don’t want to spray directly or for too long. By moving in careful, consistent strokes and never lingering too long in one place, you should be able to safely get rid of the dirt.
Use a long-handled scrubbing brush. Automatic car wash undercarriage cleaners tend to rely only on a spray to get things clean, but a good scrubbing is usually needed to do the job well. Long-handled brushes should reach all the way to the middle without requiring you to get on your hands on knees or climbing underneath the car.
Apply a final rinse at the very end of the wash. Much of the water and soap runoff from the rest of your wash will collect in the undercarriage, so save the final rinse for the very end of your car wash.
Consider applying a protective undercarriage seal. Just as the body of your car can be sealed against the worst damages, so too can the undercarriage. Since you have to get all the way underneath to do this, wait until you have to lift your car or have it professionally done.

If you work a quick undercarriage wash into your regular car wash routine, it should never take more than a few minutes. Detail work isn’t necessary in an area that doesn’t get a close inspection, so as long as you clear the mud, dirt, sand, and (in the winter) salt and chemicals, you should substantially improve the life and appearance of your vehicle.

A vehicle is a major investment. It’s important to keep it running smoothly and looking great. Tom Webb’s Auto Body, and now Car Wash, has been serving the Cincinnati area for over 32 years. Our customers have trusted us with their vehicle’s maintenance, and now we are proud to offer car wash services including self-serve and touchless options for your convenience.

Touchless Car Wash

In our touchless wash, sensors guide your vehicle into the correct position. An automated robot is then engaged to wet the surface, apply cleaning agents, and rinse the dirt and grime away. If our high-pressure water jets are not enough to clean off bugs or bird droppings, our touchless car washes have a thorough chemical process to finish up the cleaning.

Our touchless washes are great for maintenance cleaning in between more thorough handwashing. Our washes save time and money over your average car wash station or washing a vehicle at home. Before using our touchless car washes, we recommend lowering any exterior mounted antennas and tightly close all windows and sunroofs as the pressure jet can push water into very small spaces.

Self- Serve Wash

Handwashing delivers a much deeper clean and gives you the ability to wash small spaces and crevices that may be missed by a touchless wash. Washing by hand also gives you easier access to your vehicle’s undercarriage. If you own a high-end vehicle, handwashing is highly recommended for a gentler clean of your vehicle’s surface. Our bays are large to make washing any size vehicle a breeze.

You may wonder why it’s important to wash your car in a bay even if the weather is nice. Washing your vehicle in direct sunlight can cause the soap and water to dry too quickly and leave unsightly streaks and water spots.

Using specialized automotive soap is also recommended as other detergents can damage your car’s finish. A cleaning mitt or clean, soft towel and a scrubbing brush are also suggested. When washing your car by hand, always start at the top, and work your way to the bottom.

Initial Rinse

Give your car an initial rinse to loosen any dirt and debris. Work from the roof to the bottom edge of the chassis, and keep the hose pointed downward to force dirt to the ground.
Scrub your wheels next. This top to bottom approach will allow your wheel wells to be exposed to soap and water several times, which will get rid of any brake dust and other dirt.
Rinse the undercarriage well. This will remove any salt and other buildup to help prevent rusting.

Applying Soap

After the initial rinse it’s time for the soap and elbow grease to get to work. You will have smaller areas of dirt and debris that will need a good scrubbing to remove.

Divide your car into sections. This will make it easier to ensure all dirt is removed and prevent you from wasting time by accidentally washing the same area more than once.
Make sure to check your washing mitt or towel for any debris before using it on your vehicle. Even small pieces of hard debris can cause scratches.
Move the mitt or towel slowly over the vehicle’s surface to allow the soapy water to penetrate the dirt without having to apply a lot of force. Several passes may be needed on extra dirty areas. Resoak the mitt or towel as needed to keep its surface free of dirt buildup.
Rinse each section before the soap dries as it can leave stains on your car’s paint.

Removing Bugs and Bird Droppings

You will want to remove these messes separately, and carefully, as you can damage the paint when scrubbing them off. Try to address these problem areas as quickly as possible as they can damage paint if they sit on the surface for too long. Use a cleaner specifically made for removing bugs and other tough debris. Allow the cleaner to sit on the spots for a couple minutes to thoroughly loosen the grime. When you scrub, use a towel (not a brush) so you don’t scrape your car’s finish. Follow this up with a good rinse.

Drying Your Car

Allowing your car to air dry will leave it covered with unattractive streaks. Use clean microfiber towels and run a towel along the bottom edge of the car to take care of any runoff. At this point, you can apply a polish or wax to give your car a lovely shine and protect the paint. You can also apply a water-repellant to windows to improve your visibility during rain or snow conditions.

Contact Tom Webb’s Auto Body

Here at Tom Webb’s Auto Body, we love your car as much as you do. We’ve been providing exceptional service for more than 32 years. Check out a “Before & After” to see our work for yourself. Get in touch with us to schedule an estimate for your own car. In addition to our two car washes, we provide services such as full collision repair, glass replacement, framework, and more. We are located in Cincinnati, Ohio and are proud to serve the surrounding areas including Norwood, White Oak, and Reading, OH.

Do car washes actually clean undercarriage?

Do car washes clean the undercarriage? Yes. Car washes use high pressure sprays to clean the car's undercarriage and prevent rust. That said, not all car washes are equal, and some tend to clean car undercarriages better than others.

How do automatic car washes clean the undercarriage?

Those car washes that have undercarriage cleaning features will only wash and clean it by using a water shower. No automatic car wash uses detergents, scrubbers, or drying technology for undercarriage cleaning.

Is an undercarriage wash worth it?

Do You Need to Get the Undercarriage Wash? You don't need this option every time you hit the car wash. But it's a good idea to opt for an undercarriage wash at least once a season, especially if you drive through mud or live in a part of the country where roads are salted in winter, CR's experts say.

What is an undercarriage wash?

It's simply a means of washing a vehicle's underside to remove anything that could cause rust or corrosion over the long term. GM has, for example, recommended for years that owners flush the underbody of their vehicle at least once a year to remove salt deposits, mud, dirt and other accumulated crud.