Cleaning Out Your Building

Investing a little time in sorting out your shed can be beneficial, no matter how time-consuming the cleaning process is.

And, depending on the current state of your shed, you should be willing to dedicate a whole day to this. The good news is that, if done well, this step may be something you don’t have to worry about again until next summer!

In our previous posts, we’ve already talked about cleaning out a garden building for fall and winter. But to piece it all together for year-round cleanliness, take note of these important points:

• Sort out all your stored items and group them into categories. From gardening tools and outdoor furniture to holiday decorations.
• Check your belongings and identify what you regularly use.
• Feel free to dispose of anything that’s broken or that you rarely use.
• Consider storage options. Organise items with hooks and bins and put them in their respective places.

By taking these steps, it allows you to utilise more space while avoiding mess and clutter, which can be a nuisance and stressful. 

And stress is something we don’t want when coupled with the hot weather, right?

Maintenance and Repair

Once your garden building is cleared out, take the opportunity to examine the structure. Use this opportunity to undertake any repairs and maintenance that may be required.

Spend a little more time assessing the interior as well. Look for any defects (e.g. cracks, holes, or stains) from the roof, ceiling, on the walls, floors, windows, and doors.

Signs of damp areas and discolourations might highlight leakage. Whereas, insect infestations might suggest holes in the walls. Should there be any traces of damaged areas that need attention, act right away before it’s too late!

The milder weather conditions also make it ideal for you to touch up the exterior with re-treating or re-painting. This is something you’ll want to consider if you haven’t done this since last summer.

Failure to do so can result in wood preservatives or paint flaking away. This, in turn, can cause your building not only to look unkempt but can result in potential issues like damp and rot if not treated properly.

Remember what we said earlier? Your garden building can be the highlight of your outdoor space this season – so make sure it is. 

Do yourself a favour and keep up with the upkeep!

Deep Cleaning

You’re still not too late to do a bit of spring cleaning in your outdoor shed. And, once you’ve spent some time on repairs, maintenance, and organisation, we can talk about deep cleaning.

Start by sweeping to clean the floor of unsightly and unhygienic dust and debris. Use a dustpan and brush to finish and avoid dragging your dirt piles across the clean floor. 

Keep an eye on any cobwebs and get rid of them on both the inside and outside of the building. It’s only summer and not even close to Halloween! Try removing them with a vacuum in hard-to-reach spots.

Once everything’s clean, you can wash down the area with a warm soap solution. Mop the floor, clean the windows, and polish anything that needs to really sparkle! 

Any items you deem worthy of keeping, e.g. your tools and equipment (duh!), should be wiped down before you place them back. 

Take this time to sand down any handles and get rakes and shovels into shape.

If your garden building is still showing dirt and grime residue on the exterior, maybe it’s time to give it a wash with a hose or pressure washer. For example, if your shed has vinyl siding, a power washer makes a huge difference in blasting away stains and caked-on dust. 

And if your shed has a painted smart side, a garden hose might be your best bet. Either way, make sure to stand back to limit water pressure. Then you won’t end up blasting a hole in the siding! 

Scrub off any remaining dirt, and use vinegar to wipe away mould and mildew. We know, spring cleaning can be tiring but it’s not all bad. And a shiny shed can put you in a fantastic frame of mind.

And there you have it! We hope these ideas will help you transform your garden building into a brand spanking new one and get it ready for the summer ahead.

If you think it’s time for you to say goodbye to your old structure and buy a new one, we can help you find the building that meets your style, needs and your budget. See all our garden building options here.