How do you clean your wooden stalls?

[dressagegirl123]

I just bought some wooden stalls, and they need a good cleaning. If we pressure wash, we will raise the grain, ruining the wood, so that’s out. I don’t use bleach.

What are your non toxic methods for this, especially around the feed buckets, where it gets so yucky?

Thanks!

[GoForAGallop]

You just have to pressure wash with the right level of pressure, that’s all. Pressure washed both my wood-sided house and my horse stalls, dozens of times, without ruining anything.

As for cleaner, you can use something like Simple Green, or just plain white vinegar.

If you’re really panicked about even a gentle pressure washing, then time to grab a bucket and a scrubby brush, 'cause that’s the alternative.

[Tornado_Run_Farm]

[QUOTE=GoForAGallop;8609179]
You just have to pressure wash with the right level of pressure, that’s all… As for cleaner, you can use something like Simple Green, or just plain white vinegar. [/QUOTE]

Yep.

[Alagirl]

Well, bleach does sanitize a good deal. Not to mention you don’t use it full strength.

But by all means, go all out on other detergents.

[BuddyRoo]

Confused by why bleach is out but other detergents would be okay given that bleach will actually kill stuff.

Anyway, agree with others. You just adjust the pressure on your power washer and even with water alone, can do a pretty good job.

[Simkie]

When I bought some used Priefert stalls with the Priefert wood inserts, I just scrubbed everything down with some Murphy’s Oil soap. Big bucket of warm water, glug of MOS, scrub brush and a rag. Worked fine.

If you’d like more than that, and don’t want bleach, how about some Simple Green?

[Hulk]

I scrub my stalls down with Dawn dish soap and warm water and a dandy brush. It seems to break down the grime. If things need disinfected I use bleach. However they say Pinesol deters flies, and I have tried it but didn’t notice any difference. As a side note I scrub my stall walls no less than once yearly, and prefer twice yearly. Or more if a stall is in need of it. I would NEVER use a pressure washer as they cause to much damage. I absolutely HATE it when someone suggests it to me.

[trubandloki]

Does the pressure washer get the dried on manure streaks off? Or do they take lots of manual labor?

[TrueColours]

My new preferred method is the Vileda scrub brushes - sponge on the one side and either soft, medium or hard abrasive pads on the other side
AND - with a wide paint scraper in my other hand! Get the sponge and wet down the wall debris, let is soak in for a minute or 2 and then get the paint scraper and everything comes off in one fell swoop!

I can then lightly scrub any remaining bits with the abrasive pad, wipe it all clean with the sponge part and I’m done

The paint scraper has been a Godsend - you never have to scrub any heavy parts - you just “peel” it off in one easy go

Good luck!

[SonnysMom]

I personally avoid bleach because I HATE the smell and seem to ruin whatever clothes I am wearing when I use it. I am willing to use Oxyclean in my wash. The smell isn’t as overpowering and I don’t kill my clothes.

I like PineSol myself. I have used Simple Green on my trailer.

Powerwash on a lower setting and you can spot scrub with a brush or green scrubby pad as necessary. We powerwash our wood deck and it does not raise the grain.

[Guilherme]

[QUOTE=dressagegirl123;8608817]
I just bought some wooden stalls, and they need a good cleaning. If we pressure wash, we will raise the grain, ruining the wood, so that’s out. I don’t use bleach.

What are your non toxic methods for this, especially around the feed buckets, where it gets so yucky?

Thanks![/QUOTE]

I presume these were used before and you are “recycling them?” This suggests that they are “disassembled.” How disassembled are they? If at all? That offers some strategies for cleaning that are not always present in assembled units.

Pressure washing does not do any damage to good quality wood if done correctly. A good pressure washer has a variable power setting. If you buy a really good one you might even get hot water washing capability (I’ve never had quite that much money to spend on one ). It’s also OK wash a couple of times on a lower pressure and then, if necessary, hand scrape tough residue while it’s wet. If you do use “elbow grease” then be careful because you CAN damage wood with a metal or even a plastic scraper.

What you use to clean with can be influenced by where you’re cleaning. If it’s cleaning pieces out in the open you can use pretty much anything you want as long as you rinse the pieces well. Sunlight is also a wonderful “disinfectant.” If they are in place then what’s the drainage like in the stall? If it’s good (a real drain to carry away residue) then you can also use powerful cleaners and just rinse well. If you’ve go a dirt floor then whatever you use is going to live for a while in that dirt floor. Frankly, that limits you do not much more that a simple soap, bleach, and elbow grease.

The pressure washer is one of the Greatest Inventions Ever for barn cleaning and maintenance. You an get low power ones from Lowes or Home Depot (under $150) or get a “real” one from someplace like Northern Tool (start at around $300 for a good one). They are also great for cleaning equipment, cars, houses, porches, etc.

G.