Cleaning under the car

[HaveaCuppa]

How is everyone else cleaning under there car in the winter?
I usually get it up on axle stands, use the hose and APC with a load of brushes but it’s Baltic outside and rolling around on the floor soaked soon gets tiresome haha.

I’ve seen these mentioned a few times and would love to know if they are actually decent.

Anyone with experience of the above? The Karcher one is pretty pricey but the eBay special looks cheap enough for a punt.

 

[Louis]

How is everyone else cleaning under there car in the winter?
I usually get it up on axle stands, use the hose and APC with a load of brushes but it’s Baltic outside and rolling around on the floor soaked soon gets tiresome haha.

I’ve seen these mentioned a few times and would love to know if they are actually decent.
View attachment 1576687
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Anyone with experience of the above? The Karcher one is pretty pricey but the eBay special looks cheap enough for a punt.

I drive through nice big puddles. Works a dream.

 

[SharpyClio]

I use the cheaper rolling one, it’s pretty good. Ive looked under out cars a few times and they’re pretty clean and I’d say probably less rusty that other of the same age.

This time of year use mine every time I was the cars which is once a week. Loads quicker than trying to do it with the pressure washer Lance.


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[DomP182]

Would that even fit under a 172 or 182? On standard suspension maybe but few are now

 

[SharpyClio]

Would that even fit under a 172 or 182? On standard suspension maybe but few are now

mine lowered and it fits, just. The karcher one might not though.

 

[plenty]

Never used one but reckon you'd need a more than usually powerful PW for those roller types to work (plus possible clearance issues as above). I use a 90 degree curved lance and even that is fairly tight under (my not overly lowered) 182.

 

[Stefan.]

Never used one

Usually take the wheels off and clean the wheels and arches.

 

[HaveaCuppa]

I’ll take a punt on the cheap eBay special and hope it fits. I’ve got a small set of ramps if needed to getting it a little higher.

 

[andy_coops]

Once a year I back mine onto ramps and foam underneath. Ditto whipping the wheels off to clean out the arches.

It rarely gets used when there’s salt on the roads and a chassis refresh is the next big project.

 

[gez 172]

I can’t see that getting into vital areas. I think it’s good as a rinse down while giving the car a once over. But I think wheels off and a proper scrub is always the best idea - but impossible to do every week.

 

[andy_coops]

I can’t see that getting into vital areas. I think it’s good as a rinse down while giving the car a once over. But I think wheels off and a proper scrub is always the best idea - but impossible to do every week.

True. I only bother now and again as it’s not a daily. Once it’s been sorted everything will be coated in as much anti rust treatment as possible.

Years ago I cleaned my Dad’s Meriva before he traded it in. Hadn’t been touched under the arches in 3 years. I literally pressure washed without any chemicals and the arch liners were like new. Lots of crud came out but the arches were mint. Did make me wonder why I spend so much on car washing stuff!

 

[Pegasaurus Rex]

Biggest problems with the clio are how poorly thought out the underside is! Areas which allow crud, salt and crap to sit and fester. I’m just at the early stages of a back underside refurb. It’s the same as my last clio. Little shelves which are unnecessary, but obviously finished in a way to suit, what was, a car designed to be cheap and last 10 years. Luckily like Andy, my 182 gets SORN’d at this time of year. In fact the ridiculous RFL rate, probably will help the little car live longer!

I would genuinely say, regardless of the top side condition of peoples Clio’s, get underneath and have a good prod around. Rust will be the biggest killer of these cars over the next couple of years. Less money on snow foam and more money on Rust removal & treatment

 

[frayz]

My cars my daily driver so does about 250-300miles a week in all weathers Inc all this salty shite. I clean the car once/twice a week time dependant and use one of the eBay specials for the underside. Put the rear up on a Jack and snow lance underneath and a wash down.
it’s not a thorough job as I’d like but goes some way to preserving what I have left. Lol.

 

[Danith]

I've got a 90 degree attachment for my Nilfisk. Just a 90 deg angled nozzle.

 

[Daniel]

There’s a guy on Facebook (detail geek) that uses those underbody hose attachments. Seems to rate them quite highly.

 

[SharpyClio]

Honestly I really like mine, used it in the Clio and the van today, you can see all the muck coming off as you use it. Its defo getting a lot of the rubbish off and the salt for that matter.

 

[Gus]

Anyone tried using the patio cleaner attachment for doing the underside, just sliding it on the ground upside down. Not sure how well it would work though.

 

[JamesBryan]

Anyone tried using the patio cleaner attachment for doing the underside, just sliding it on the ground upside down. Not sure how well it would work though.

I've seen someone do that, but can't remember where 😅

Possibly a YT video.

 

[VenomUK]

Anyone tried using the patio cleaner attachment for doing the underside, just sliding it on the ground upside down. Not sure how well it would work though.

Yes, worked a treat

 

[frayz]

Anyone tried using the patio cleaner attachment for doing the underside, just sliding it on the ground upside down. Not sure how well it would work though.

Thats all the Karcher one is except it has wheels.

 

[Mr Underhill]

Try some Bilt Hamber Atom-Mac. Mix 2% with water in a sprayer. You can also add it to your jet washer mixer bottle (if applicable).

I spray it on my brakes/wheels prior to jet washing. Disperses water and leaves a nice thin coating. No more rusty discs after a wash.

Picture below is from the rear discs off my RB resto which had new discs and pads in October. It’s sat outside my garage since then while I do the front end. As you can see, no rust. I spray it underneath my BG which is an all season car. It’s magic stuff.

 

[Crayola]

I have one of the underbody cleaners, it works wonders for getting salt off. A quick blast underneath with some Bilt Hamber AutoFoam and then a spray off. It even fits under a pretty low Megane

Have to keep the arches clean too

 

[Big Toe]

I’ve got the 90 degree Karcher attachment. Well, I haven’t really. I’ve got a cheap one from eBay but it’s still going 7 year later.

Obviously you can’t snow foam with it but you can give it a rinse down whenever you wash the car.

I wouldn’t say it’s to be used alone. I still foam, brush and scrub under the car after jacking it up every now and then. But as a weekly accessory it works well.

 

[imprezaworks]

If you don't have one just drive through a large puddle really fast

 

[Big Toe]

I take one of the cars through the car wash because it’s just so easy. One of the options they have is for an under chassis clean. I often wonder if they’d get some business offering just that part, without the body wash. Then I think there can’t be many people who would go for it apart from me

 

[imprezaworks]

To be dramatic. Guess you have to be careful what chemical is used to clean too.