Is Your Garage Ready for Summer?
When spring rolls around, many Midwesterners get to work deep-cleaning their homes. Your garage could probably use a little attention, too – it’s a space that can collect a lot of cobwebs, dust and debris in the winter months. So take advantage of warm weather, open your garage door and spend an hour or two tidying. Not sure where to begin? We’ve got a few tips for you.
Examine doors and windows
Many older garages have single-pane glass windows that can crack in extremely cold weather. If glass is cracked, replace it before it breaks. Examine wood window frames for peeling paint or signs of moisture damage, and make repairs as necessary.
Check all external doors to make sure they open, close and lock properly. And it’s a good idea to schedule annual maintenance for overhead garage doors, because over time, door tracks accumulate grime, and lubricants essential for the safe operation of doors may dry out.
Once you’re satisfied that the entrances to your garage are operating safely and your garage is secure, it’s time to start cleaning.
Dust, sweep and mop
If you store your lawnmower in the garage, roll it outside, spray the underside with a hose and clean the surface of the mower with soapy water and a scrub brush. Don’t skip this step, or you may end up with dirty mower tracks and grass clippings in your newly cleaned garage.
Always dust from the top down, using a broom to remove overhead dust and cobwebs. Use a lint-free cloth or static duster to clean up workbenches or tool storage areas, and sweep the floor last.
Most garage floors are either untreated concrete, or coated in a layer of epoxy. If you have a concrete floor, you can clean it with a long-handled deck brush and a grease-cutting detergent (some laundry and dish soaps are suitable for this task). To clean epoxy floors, use a sponge mop and a mild, non-abrasive liquid cleaner mixed with water.
Keeping it clean
After you’ve prepped your garage for summer, keeping it clean is relatively easy. Just wiping down your mower after each use, or making the kids hose off their muddy mountain bikes before putting them in the garage can reduce the time you’ll spend cleaning your garage next year.
