How Do You Deep Clean a Garage 2
Removing everything from your garage will allow you to assess its level of tidiness. Moving all that stuff outside (or onto the driveway) allows for easy sorting into piles of stuff you should keep, sell, donate or dispose of.
Use a shop vac to sweep and vacuum the floor, avoiding blowing dust onto walls and ceilings that might stir up dirt in areas that have already been cleared of it. Doing this will prevent dirt from being stirred into areas you have previously cleaned up.
Floor
Start by clearing away all items you intend to keep and disposing of those you no longer require or can’t sell on Craigslist. Next, sweep the floor using either a large push broom or one with short bristles using an electric push broom or similar for dust, cobwebs and oily residue.
Once the floor has been swept clean, spray an acidic degreasing compound on it and mix according to instructions before working it into the surface. Some products require several minutes for penetration deep into concrete structures in order to “lift” any stain that remains. These products often produce strong odors and contain toxic materials; ensure you wear protective eyewear, rubber gloves and face masks when handling these toxic solutions.
Scrub the floor using a deck brush, bucket of warm water, soapy solution or degreasing detergent (one-third cup per gallon of water) mixed together for best results. A good scrubber should easily dislodge oil and grease marks from most floors, although for tough oil stains you may require acid-based products like Simple Green Oxy Solve Concrete and Driveway Cleaner to dissolve these. Referring to manufacturer instructions will ensure success.
Acidic compounds can emit strong fumes, so make sure your garage door remains open while scrubbng acidic compounds. Chemical strippers like acetone or methyl ethyl ketone (MEK), can also be a helpful method of stripping away paint and sealers from garage floors; however, such products must be used carefully as they produce toxic fumes and are highly corrosive.
Once your floor is clean, use a garden hose set at low pressure to rinse it with. A rubber squeegee may come in handy to clear away puddled water.
If your floor has any leftover paint stains, try lifting them with a poultice such as Chomp Pull It Out. Poultices are pastes applied directly onto concrete surfaces that act like an absorbent material to absorb any remaining stain particles and lift them away. Or try scrubbing with trisodium phosphate (TSP), followed by detergent washing and rinsing for other methods of stain removal.
Walls
As with death and taxes, garage cleaning is an unavoidable responsibility that must be addressed. An organized garage can help maintain better car condition as well as making it easier for you to locate projects for completion.
If you don’t have much time, start by using a shop vacuum to clear away larger debris in your garage, this will prevent dust from being stirred up and spreading across walls and shelves.
Take this opportunity to reorganize and dispose of items no longer useful to you. Plastic storage bins may prove more suitable than cardboard ones for the weighty items such as sporting equipment and holiday decor – plus they’re easy to label without inviting pests like mice or rats into your garage!
Once your junk has been cleared away, it’s time to tackle those dirty walls. If you have a pressure washer, use it but be mindful that its force may be too powerful for interior concrete or drywall surfaces. Otherwise, fill up a bucket with warm water and soap before using a sponge or brush to do the job.
Once you’ve cleaned the walls, allow them to fully dry for at least 24 hours (and possibly longer if your garage is located in a humid environment). Additionally, it would be wise to touch up any areas where paint has chipped off or is otherwise compromised before repainting, in case any of those chips or scratches turn into repainting projects in future.
If there’s evidence of mold on your walls, diluting bleach with warm water could help eliminate it (though if the mold has penetrated deeply it might require professional assistance). Simply mix a bucket of warm water with 6-8 ounces of oxygen bleach in it and apply using a sponge; leave for half an hour then scrub off using a brush (make sure you wear protective gear including face mask and rubber gloves!) If this doesn’t do the trick then professional mold removal services might be required for proper removal.
Ceiling
Your garage should be kept neat and organized if it serves as storage for cars, tools, sports equipment or furniture – the overall aesthetics of a home relying on having a clean garage can change significantly. To start cleaning out your garage properly, the first step should be emptying out everything to take outside for sorting and reorganizing later. As you work your way through each item, set up a donate/sell pile – ask yourself whether old rollerblades that your children no longer wear are really necessary, or put up for sale online if consignment to earn some extra cash from consignment sales if possible – giving away unwanted or consigning them up will only add space!
Once all clutter has been cleared away, it is time to tackle the walls and ceiling. Starting with walls can help avoid spillover of dirt onto other areas when cleaning them – plus it makes it much simpler than picking off individual sections at a time! Depending on the height of your garage walls, using a ladder may be necessary in reaching certain spots.
Before organizing your garage, the floors, walls and ceilings must first be cleaned. A warm water solution mixed with laundry detergent or degreaser oil should help to get rid of most dirt and stains on concrete flooring; for more stubborn spots try pre-treating with kitty litter which absorbs oil so it can easily be swept off later.
After this step is complete, use a broom or vacuum with an extended handle to sweep away any dust that has settled on the ceiling and reduce any allergy symptoms. If desired, disinfectant spray or wipes can also be used on surfaces which have become grimy over time, including tables, shelving, work benches and outdoor furniture. It’s essential that surfaces in your garage be disinfected as mold or mildew growth could develop on dirty surfaces that haven’t been kept clean. Also ensure you wipe down exposed electrical outlets and switches as well as any windows or doors within.
Doors
With a broom or vacuum cleaner, clean away dust, dirt, and debris from walls, ceilings, windows, and garage doors. For stubborn grime removal use either a shop vac or rent a power washer; just remember that any abrasive tools like brushes or sponges which scratch or damage materials should be avoided as part of your garage door cleaning regimen.
If your garage door becomes stained, bile soap and hot water can be used to wash them away. Alternatively, soak the stained area in degreasing solution or ammonia before scrubbing to fully eliminate it – for particularly stubborn oil stains this process may need repeated.
Once you’ve swept away dirt and grime from your garage floor, take time to carefully wipe down its walls and ceiling. Wear a mask when cleaning this space as rodent droppings, bugs, chemicals and other toxic materials could be lurking here.
Once the walls and ceiling have been thoroughly scrubbed, you can turn your attention to cleaning the garage doors. A cloudy day would be best as this prevents soapy water from drying on the door and leaving marks. Now is also an opportune moment to inspect weatherstripping for signs of wear that might hinder its ability to keep out air and moisture effectively.
As part of your garage door cleaning routine, take time to inspect its tracks, hinges, and photo-eye sensors as well. This will ensure they are operating as designed without loose or rusty parts that could cause your doors to jam or fail to open as planned.
Regular garage door cleaning can help reduce rust risk and extend its life, as well as spot potential problems early to address them before they escalate into larger issues. Making time to keep up with regular garage door maintenance could save money in the long run as less likely are you to need replacement doors or repairs on them in future years.
