My barn is about 10 years old now and while I do regular cleaning, I think it’s about time for a more intense, top-to-bottom clean. Any good tips or tricks on how you clean your barn? I’m really looking for the magic “easy button” of barn cleaning, which I know doesn’t exist, but figured it can’t hurt to ask! 
The center aisle is about 30’ tall, so I’m trying to think of possible ways to clean all the way up without having to deal with tall ladders or rent a scissor lift…
Do you have one of those cobweb dusters on an extension handle?
I only do this twice a year if the weather conditions are dry and hot --I bring the power washer into the barn, hook it up, add deck washing soap and spray the entire 40x30 structure inside (avoiding outlets). After it has a good foam of soap, I change heads and rinse the entire place, finishing with the concrete floor. I’ve done rafters, mow, stall walls, stall fronts, inside the big doors --basically the entire inside. Since we bed on pellets (which are sprayed anyway) no loss there. When everything is rinsed, I turn on the fans and leave the doors open. Usually dries by feeding time.
Never do it when it’s humid out --takes too long to dry --but when it’s hot and dry, it’s (almost) like a day at the beach!
Foxglove
1 Like
Thanks for the suggestions - humidity is pretty much a way of life here in southern Texas, but I think I’ll bite the bullet and give the power washing a try!
I second the power washing. Take everything out and go to town. I promise it will take less time than any other method.
30ft tall… be sure to wear a safety harness
Power wash the whole place. It will be worth it…it is amazing afterwards!
COVER YOUR HEAD (I put a shower cap on!), and wear safety goggles and maybe a bunny suit. You will become filthy.
But again, it’s worth it!
We also use a pressure-washer, although we don’t have anywhere near a 30 ft. interior height.
The first thing we do is turn off electrical power to the barn, then we strip the stalls (pelleted bedding over mats, so it doesn’t take that long), next, one person sprays surfaces while the other goes over the yucky areas (scum on the walls near the feeders, for example) with a scrub brush and a cleaner such as Simple Green or Fabulosa. Let it soak for a bit, then rinse; probably have to re-treat the yucky areas.
Pick a hot, dry day and it dries within hours, although I usually leave the horses out overnight to make sure, as we are in an area of relatively high humidity. We also take this opportunity to peel back the mats and do any necessary leveling (which is always little to none).
However, this year, I’m thinking of renting a wall-paper steamer, for the scummy bits. I tried my little, portable handheld unit on a localized spot and it took that stuff off without scrubbing, so I have visions of being able to use it around the feeders, the automatic waterers, and on that stripe down the sides of the stalls which gets grimey.
Power washers, good as they are (and I use one, too) do not get the cobwebs. Nature made those things really tough. So you will have to take a Webster (for cobwebs and it has an extending handle) to get all the cobwebs within your reach.
I agree with what everyone else has said on all the other stuff. Especially taking a stiff brush to all the grotty areas that will not get clean with just the pressure washer.
I have so much ‘fun’ doing the inside (it is so rewarding to see the barn get clean) that I do the outside the next day. Then I feel like I have to give all the horses soap baths too. Otherwise, it is like getting into a bed with clean sheets while wearing a previously worn nightgown and having dirty hair. 
)
1 Like
