With summer almost here, there’s no better time to clean out your shed. Make the most of the clear weather and take a weekend to ensure that your shed is neat and tidy. Of course, if you’ve neglected your shed for a while and allowed it to become dusty and cluttered, it can be hard to know where to start. That’s why we’ve put together this list of tips to get your shed clean in no time at all.
Remove everything from the shed
To make this job as simple as possible, you need to be working with a clean slate. Therefore, you need to take everything out of the shed. While this can be a time-consuming process, it will actually save you time in the long run. For instance, you’ll be able to better organise your shed so in future you can always find what you’re looking for. Additionally, it’s much easier to thoroughly clean your shed if you aren’t having to work around piles of clutter.
To get this task done quickly, you can ask friends and family to help. This is especially helpful if you’re lifting and moving heavy or large objects. Make sure to carefully move everything and put it somewhere safe for the meantime.
Separate into ‘keep’ and ‘get rid of’ piles
Once everything is out of the shed, you can then sort it into two piles. One pile should be for things you want to keep and the other will be for anything you want to throw out. Within the ‘give away’ category, you may like to have separate piles for objects that can be donated or recycled.
While you can do this categorising as you move everything out of the shed, it’s better to be able to focus your attention solely on the task at hand. You need to be practical and logical about what you’re keeping or getting rid of. Ask yourself if the item still has a purpose or if you’re just keeping it for sentimental reasons or on the off chance you need it. Try and limit items kept for sentimentality or for rare circumstances.
Dispose of unwanted items
When you have everything separated into categories, you need to start working through your ‘get rid of’ pile. Look into skip bin hire to see if you can easily dispose of the majority of the clutter without having to leave your home. Make sure you only put accepted materials into the bin, otherwise you may have to pay an extra fee.
Hiring a skip bin can mean you don’t have to make multiple trips to the tip or fill up your household rubbish bin with junk.
Some items, however, you may need to drop off at appropriate recycling centres or donation points. Do your research and call and speak to the facility if you’re unsure if your item is suitable to be sent there. Other items, like paints and chemicals, may need to be disposed of at special facilities to help protect the environment and local community.
Thoroughly clean out the shed while it’s empty
Before you start moving anything back into the shed, you need to give it a good spring clean. Depending on your shed, this may include sweeping and even power-washing the floors, and cleaning windows and work surfaces.
Take your time to get the job done properly so that your shed is sparkling clean.
Make any minor repairs while everything is easily accessible
If there are any parts of your shed that need repairs, like stiff hinges, loose handles or stuck drawers, now is the time to fix them. You’ll find it much easier to get the job done when you don’t have to work around clutter. Make sure everything is in working order. If a task is beyond your DIY skills, like fixing wiring, call in a professional.
Plan your new shed layout
With the shed still empty, you can start to visualise an improved layout for all your items. Think about where everything should sit to allow for easy access and visibility. Keep items you use frequently within easy reach. Be prepared to try a few different layouts before settling on one that works for you.
It can help to categorise your shed into zones. For instance, you may like to have one spot to keep all your garden tools and another for car maintenance.
Clean everything before returning it to shed
To ensure your shed stays clean for as long as possible, clean everything before you return it to space. This often just means quick dust but be prepared to tackle trickier things like leaking oil or leftover garden trimmings. You can then put them where they belong in your shed.
Final thoughts
Use the tips above to give your shed its most thorough clean ever. Then you can always be confident that you can find what you need in your shed in a matter of minutes
