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How do you clean under the hood of a car?

Since I don’t have a garage, my car is parked outside year-round. I’m starting to notice under the hood is getting pretty filled with leaves and other debris. How do you properly clean under the hood of a car?

avatar
Melanie Mergen · Updated on
Reviewed by Shannon Martin, Licensed Insurance Agent.
It’s definitely important to keep the hood of your car free from debris! Too much debris buildup can cause problems with many parts under the hood of your car. You can clear debris and clean parts of your car under the hood yourself, or you can have it
detailed
, which could cost a few hundred dollars. Some parts will be sensitive to water damage, though, so this is often better left to a professional.
You should easily be able to clear a good amount of the debris with a leaf blower or air compressor on your own.
Since electronics and other car parts under your hood are
vulnerable to water
, you don’t want to spray them directly with a hose.
If you’re going to
clean
under your car’s hood yourself, you’ll want to know what parts should avoid getting wet and where they’re located. These include electronics, sensors, the fuse box, and spark plug holes, to name a few. While you’re cleaning, you can seal these parts with plastic bags to help protect them.
You’ll have to completely remove others, like air filters and battery cables.
Best of luck! While you’re taking care of your car, make sure it’s also taken care of by the right car insurance policy. The
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