8 Ways to Keep Your Garage Clean

Your life can become simpler with built-in storage, but your garage might become your worst nightmare if you don’t take care of it. Dumpy garages can turn into a chaotic mess. A condition known as “cluttered garage syndrome” affects many households.

The syndrome has several symptoms, including dust, bacteria, and accidents. The risk of slip and fall is greater when you have smooth flooring. Liquids that are not cleaned up, like motor oil or water, can lead to injuries.

Additionally, your car parked in the garage takes the heat from the environment. Surface dust can enter the vehicle’s internal mechanics, creating problems for the engine and making maintenance more difficult. Your garage can be the most spacious room you have to store your belongings. Tidying up can give you that extra space to reorganize your stuff. Therefore, taking care of your garage is important.

Let’s find out how you can clean your garage to organize it better.

Clear your garage of any clutter before you begin cleaning. Accessing every nook and corner will be challenging if several boxes and other miscellaneous items are lying around.

Instead, consider adding some shelves in your garage if you don’t feel like you have enough room to get everything off the ground. This will help get all the clutter tucked away, and you can reorganize it later.

Sweep and Degrease

Use a brush or leaf blower to clear cobwebs from the walls and rafters of the garage while it is empty. Concrete degreasers are specially made to clean oil stains on the floor. You can also use lemon juice and vinegar to degrease your floor and remove stains.

You can find rust marks when you move metal lockers and standing cabinets. Rust can be frustrating to remove but don’t worry. Directly apply lemon juice or pure white vinegar to the stain. Before using some elbow grease, let it settle for about five minutes. To remove the stain, clean and scour with a firm brush.

If the stain is permanent, you can also use muriatic acid. This substance, commonly referred to as hydrochloric acid, is very acidic. Because it is so severely caustic, you should handle it carefully. It is recommended to mix 1 part muriatic acid with 10 parts water.

Pressure Wash

To protect the walls from overspray, hang plastic sheeting along them before using a power washer on the garage floor. The plastic can best be hung with painter’s tape. Cover the items (furniture, cars, bikes) you don’t want to get wet before you start pressure washing.

Spray outwards toward the door so that all of the unclean water may readily escape and is not pushed in the direction of your house. Start with lesser water pressure and gradually raise it to effectively pressure-wash the garage.

Keep the cleaning wand about two feet from the floor and use a spray pattern with a broad angle. Spray back and forth over the floor of the garage. Do not remain in one place for too long since this might harm a concrete floor. Remove any residual dirty water or degreaser by rinsing. Several passes may be required to ensure that all soap and debris have been removed. Turn off the pressure washer and unhook any hoses and power wires when finished.

Remove sealer and Old Paint

To treat your concrete floor with epoxy, you must first remove any sealer and existing paint. Chemical strippers may be used to remove seals and paint. Use your preferred chemical according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Ideally, you can use a solvent to eliminate the stains. These are quick but may produce significant smells; thus, the garage door should be left open.

Additionally, a floor grinder is good for removing sealants and old paint. Wear a mask and goggles to protect yourself from the dust generated by the floor grinder. This procedure involves far less physical effort than using chemicals. However, if you lack experience with a grinder, begin with a tiny area until you get used to the equipment.

Kitty Litter

If you often notice oil marks in your garage as a cat owner, you may find another purpose for cat litter. Cat litter is extremely absorbent and may help in the removal of oil stains without the use of chemicals. For this method to work, however, clay-based litter is required. Spread a liberal quantity overnight to hide the stain. The next day, remove the trash and check the stain.

The following day there may still be remains of the stain. If so, replace the filthy litter with a fresh pile and let it sit overnight again. It may take many days, but cat litter successfully removes fresh and old stains.

Wall Storage

A wall storage solution is particularly best for small garages and can be a good option for organizing your garage. Although it may seem more convenient in the near term to store objects on the floor, storing them above the ground has several advantages.

It provides enough space to park your car and roam around, items can be saved from getting wet, and items are easier to organize on shelves than on the floor. Consider going green by repurposing old crates into box shelves, or consult your local hardware shop for assistance. Installing corner shelves is a wonderful method to maximize space.

Storage Tubes for Bigger Tools

Similarly, to how you may keep odd-shaped cooking items in a pot to avoid them from getting caught in drawers, you can store bigger hand tools in concrete forming tubes. These tubes make it easy to slide rakes, shovels, brushes, and hockey sticks in and out — no more tangled piles of equipment on the floor or placed carelessly in a corner.

Fresh Paint

If you own your house, consider giving the garage a new coat of paint, but only after cleaning it. Unless you are rebuilding the garage to use it for a new purpose, which needs specific paint or decorative elements, painting a garage is often a simple task.

Apply an acid wash to the walls, patch holes, and seal any cracks. Following this, sand the walls before putting in the fresh latex paint. This recommendation applies to the walls. If you prefer to paint the floors additionally, you must consider the sort of flooring material. This can also help you determine how to clean your concrete garage floor and whether to put an inexpensive floor protection or an epoxy finish.

Garage Door and Windows

While drying the floor, use a brush and sponge to wipe both sides of your garage door. Examine for trouble areas, such as cracks, corrosion, and rust. Touch up paint or stain and ensure everything is in optimum condition. If your garage door is old or exhibiting signs of wear, you may consider replacing it.

Inspect your garage windows thoroughly while you clean them. Ensure that there are no gaps through which the elements and moisture might enter your area. And do the same with any garage door insert windows.

Your garage needs extra care, just like other rooms in your house. Garage cleaning provides several benefits like providing space, reducing the risk of injuries and accidents, eliminating dust and pests, and making your garage look more organized.

That’s why Danley’s Garages is #1 in Chicagoland for detached garage construction. Speak to a specialist and get a free quote today.