We all seem to have a love-hate relationship with our sheds. We love to dump endless amounts of things we don’t want to keep around the house in the shed and then hate to adequately organise it. The end result is an unpleasant and overstuffed shed, which is not being utilised effectively. It doesn’t have to be this way.
Your shed has huge potential to be your ultimate storage sanctuary. This can only be achieved by cleaning your shed and its much easier than you think. Here at London Cleaning System we have made an insightful step by step guide to cleaning your shed.
First Phase – Sorting All the Cluster of ‘Clutter’ Out
As with anything in life, starting any job can feel like the most daunting thing in the world. If your shed has tons of ‘things’ scattered all over the place, procrastination can easily creep in. Your mind is reinforcing thoughts of “there is way too much to do, I will start next week when I have more time”. Next week never comes and your shed still remains in the sad state that it’s always been in. To avoid this you can either clean it yourself or hire cleaning services to assist with a clear out. Here’s what to do next:
- Take everything from inside the shed and bring it outside (check the forecast in advance to avoid rain). It makes life much easier as you can visually see what needs to be done.
- Sort each item into three distinct groups: keep, bin and donate. Always aim to bin any damaged or broken items.
- After removing all the elected items for binning and donation, focus on the things you wish to keep.
- Sufficiently wipe or hose down each item you wish to keep – to remove dust, grime and any cobwebs that have formed.
- Once every item is clean, categorize them into relevant piles. Different piles such as Christmas decorations, gardening, DIY tools and equipment etc.
Second Phase – Cleaning The Inside and Outside of the Shed
With every item outside and sorted categorically, your attention should shift to the inside of the shed. This is probably the first time in years that you have (properly) seen the inside and now you are truly appreciating its capacity. Before rushing to put your items back in, you must do the following:
Inside
- Sweep or hoover the floor, this is essential in getting rid of all layers of dust that have accumulated over the years.
- Brush or hoover any cobwebs away. Don’t forget to this especially for the roof, where cobweb formation is most prevalent and also frequently forgotten about.
- Use a dry cloth to wipe down the walls as well as the windows (if your shed has any).
- You may also want consider mopping the floor, to get rid of any sticky substances or stains.
Outside
- Use a pressure washer, with the correct nozzle and tools, to blast away any green moss or mud off the outside of the shed.
- Use a damp cloth or sponge to wipe the door clean.
Other Considerations
- When cleaning the inside as well as the outside make sure you check for any structural damage, such as mould or rotting wood. In the case of any of these, make sure you contact the appropriate professional or specialist to deal with them.
Third Phase – Figuring Out The Best Ways To Utilise Shed Space
All the items inside the shed are now immaculately clean. Instead of straightaway putting all the items back in, take the opportunity to visualise and plan how you can properly maximise the space available.
- You preferably want everything off the floor, you want to able to walk freely without the risk of falling over or bumping into anything. Additionally, it makes it considerably easier to sweep or hoover therefore you are able to continually maintain a clean floor.
- Shelving – They could be wall shelves or shelving units which run across the length of an entire wall or single free-standing units. Shelves not only allow you to maximise on the square footage but you can also store plenty of medium to small sized items.
- Hooks – Some items are too large or heavy to store on shelves. Garden tools especially, such as forks and spades, are more accessible and more convenient when hanging from the walls.
- Boxes and Containers – Storing small and medium items in boxes or containers is massively beneficial as it protects them from dust and any potential damage. Ideally you should buy boxes and containers which are not only sturdy but have the ability to be stackable.
- Pegboards – Most of us have plenty of DIY tools, these usually end up being scattered everywhere. Pegboards allow you to place DIY basics such as drills, hammers and screwdrivers comfortably and safely in one location.
- Labels – You have organised your shed really well but you can’t remember where everything is. Instead of moving or going through everything each time you need something, why not use labels. Labels are inexpensive and allow you to find desired items quickly and efficiently without causing any mess or stress.
Photo credit: Ed Samuel/Shutterstock
Some Important Tips On How to Continually Maintain a Clean Shed
- Set-up a date each month to clean your shed. This doesn’t mean having to re-organise everything every time – just simply sweep or hoover the inside, wipe the shelves and wash the outside with a pressure washer.
- Aim to annually have a ‘clean-out’. Go through everything and decide what you are going to keep, bin or donate. This will prevent the build of unnecessary items taking up valuable storage space.
- There are bulky items such as bicycles, lawnmowers and sports equipment that you will have no option but to keep on the floor. Use a thin blanket or spare bed sheet to protect them from the formation of dust and any bugs.
- Seek to occasionally check the expiry dates of products such as pesticides and DIY sprays to make sure they are still viable to use.
Photo credit: Julia700702/Shutterstock
Photo credit: Artazum/Shutterstock
