Fall Garage Cleanup Tips

Many people have a garage, barn, or outbuilding that gets neglected most of the year. But with the weather turning cool, now is a great time to head out and get this building under control. Cleaning these buildings can be a little daunting, but there are some easy tips to help make the project a little more manageable.

This post includes affiliate links. Some products were received to facilitate this post.

Fall Garage/Barn Cleanup Tips

Plan for Safety

Since the garage or barn is often left unattended for most of the year, you should do a few things to make sure you stay safe when you start the clean-up process.

• Wear gloves in case of metal screws, mouse droppings or rusty nails.
• If you are doing heavy sweeping that stirs up dust, wood shavings or debris use a face mask to minimize trouble breathing.
• Keep your hands clean after cleaning out troublesome corners or areas of the building.

Recently we received the handy hand washing station called Suds2Go. This water bottle has a soap dispenser on one side and water on the other. A simple pump of soap and water and you are ready to tackle the next project.

How it works:

• Simply fill the side canister with foaming soap
• Pour out a little water to wet your hands
• Pump some of the foaming soap into your hands
• Wash
• Rinse again
• Dry with the towel that attaches easily to the side of the handwashing station

Not only is the Suds2Go a great option for keeping clean when you are knee-deep into cleaning the garage but it is also perfect for outdoor picnics or s’mores by the fire.

Be Realistic

Are you really going to use the roller blades or tennis rackets that you have saved for 20 years? Are the flower pots that have cracks and leaks good for any future projects or should they go in the trash? As you clean through the building, be realistic about the items you are storing. If you haven’t used them for years, then maybe it’s time to let them go.

Have a Yard Sale

Sure, it’s late fall and yard sale season may be considered done for the year. But you might just be surprised at who would love to buy some things out of your barn/garage. You could advertise it and make it an official sale, or just post on social media that you are doing a clean-out sale. As you find things you don’t want, line them up in the driveway and see who comes by. If things don’t sell, then you can take them to the thrift store at the end of the day.

Be Smart about Disposal

If you have old paint cans and need to get rid of them, be smart about the process. There are ways to minimize the impact of disposing of paint and chemicals. If you don’t know the best way to dispose of something in your garage, do a quick internet search and see what you find.

• Lowes.com has some great tips on how to properly throw away paint.
• The EPA website lists ways to get rid of household wastes.

Stop for a Snack

It’s easy to get carried away in a big project like this and forget to eat. Take a minute throughout the process and eat a snack. Grab a granola bar or meat stick so you can refuel and yet not lose motivation.

Apex BackCountry Sticks are made with wild game meats, no filler ingredients, and zero sugar, Apex BackCountry Sticks are conveniently packaged in individual units so you can easily grab one on the go or refuel while you are out working hard.

Cleaning out the barn/garage is a big job but can yield even bigger results. The satisfaction of knowing the job is done and the hidden treasures you find are a great payoff.

What tips do you have for cleaning out the barn/garage? I’d love to hear!