If you have a property with an old storage shed that’s stuffed full with all sorts of things, you’re certainly not alone. Lawn equipment, old boxes of who knows what, rolled carpet, paint, and practically anything else can be found in the space. Sheds tend to start out as an organized space where you park your lawn mower, string trimmer, and fertilizer cart, but, over time, they are overrun by things you just don’t want to deal with. It’s unorganized and messy and you need to clean out your storage shed to make it useful once again.How to Cleanout a Storage Shed
Your once, well organized and functional storage shed is now a junkyard with walls and a roof. You want to reclaim that space and make it a go-to place where you can easily retrieve what you need, when you need it. The problem is, you really don’t know where to start and what’s worse, you’re unsure as to what’s in-store when you throw open the doors — the same doors which haven’t been opened for weeks or months on-end — just like that self storage unit you rent and rarely visit.With so many of us working in the garden every day the storage shed where we keep our supplies has gotten, shall we say a little “cluttered”. OK it’s a mess, but what better opportunity to show what a little planning and elbow grease can accomplish. —Home DepotThat presents the first obstacle of many, how to get into the storage space and what you might encounter. If you haven’t gone into the shed for some months, it’s best to proceed with caution because you might encounter some nasty critters who have taken-up residence inside. It’s not uncommon for roaches, rodents, and snakes to get in and nest, which can become a source of infestation in your home nearby. Here’s how to do storage shed cleanout right to retake the space:
- Knock and bang on the doors and walls. As mentioned, pests like to turn storage sheds into safety havens, and these can be very problematic. Besides, you don’t want to be surprised by a snake or have cockroaches falling when you fling open the doors. So, knock and bang on the doors and walls to send them scattering. Allow a few moments to pass, then open the doors slowly and carefully.
- Clear everything out. You’ll have to clear the entire shed out down to the last item. Leave nothing inside and when pulling things out, put like items together to make organizing and purging a bit more simple.
- Hose it down and scrub all surfaces. If you have the shed wired for electricity, be sure to turn it off at the breaker and don’t wet any outlets, switches, or, wiring. Hose the inside down, and, use a degreasing cleaner for best results. Be sure to scrub all surfaces and then let it dry out overnight.
- Sort everything to get organized. While it’s drying out, you should sort all the contents to get them organized and separate things into items you’ll keep, stuff to give away or sell, and, junk to throw out.
