Why do you wash your car? Because its owner’s manual told you to? Because you know it is the right thing to do? Maybe. Chances are, you wash your car because you like to see it bright and clean and shiny. And you want to protect your paint. Or at least, you are tired of the dust and dirt coating the surface. But do you think about the parts of your car that you cannot see? What about the underside? How often do you clean that part of your car?

Out of sight-out of mind
Like the space on top of or behind the refrigerator, certain things do not immediately come to mind. They become neglected. The same is true with your vehicle. Over time, dirt and grime can build on the outside of your car, truck, or SUV. But they can accumulate on the underside as well.

Salt and sludge can get caked in all sorts of nooks and crannies. Moisture gets trapped and corrosion results. Drain holes under the car get clogged or restricted and water is unable to seep out. Lower panels laid bare of paint and rust-proofing materials from miles of rocks and sand pelting the surface become coated with corrosive compounds instead.

Those out-of-sight areas are just as important to keep clean as the topside ones. In fact, they are often more important because of their significance to the safety and driveability of your vehicle.