Cleaning old garage?

[brasian]

I tried searching and couldn't find what I was looking for. I recently purchased a home with a detached 1 stall garage (12x20) and another separate lawn shed (10x16). I have found a few 1 stall builds (dubbers especially) on here that are amazing and I hope to get there one day.

First order of business is just cleaning them out. Both are unfinished with frame and wood siding visible. They are in good condition, but there is a ton of dust, spider webs, etc. Is it safe to power wash the inside to knock all the dust down from the walls and ceiling and then shop vac from there? Or do I need to take a shop vac to every inch?

Thanks!

Sorry for the poor lighting...
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[aptdweller]

Is there any exposed electrical? If you are just talking about concrete, wood framing and the off window, a pressure washer shouldn't do any damage. Do you have a photo you could post?

At my last place, I took at broom to the walls and rafters, and then used a shop vac. It seemed to work pretty well.

 

[CN Spots]

Have you tried a leaf blower?

 

[foolange]

My opinion, you could probably just spray it all down with a hose & spray nozzle....may not need the high pressure of the washer. Open any windows & doors and set up a fan or two to get airflow. If you have any electrical to the buildings be sure to turn off the breaker and leave it off until everything dries out.

 

[brasian]

Wow, thanks for the quick replies!

I can post some pics tonight after work. There are a few lights switches and a junction box that I would cover before I sprayed any water.

Leaf blower would be a good idea as well. Probably do that first to get all the loose stuff off then go back with a hose?

 

[920kip]

I would shop vac first. Get all the big loose stuff out of there and contained in the vac. Then go back with a pressure washer and get the more stubborn dirt

 

[Leaflessshadetree]

I'd start by sweeping it down. A regular broom will quickly get most of the dirt, webs etc. to the floor. (Then pick it up before it gets redistributed).
If you are going to finish the inside you can probably stop here.

A wet broom or sponge mop should get most of the remaining dirt. (and that that settled after the first brooming)
A shop vac would to get dirt out of the small corners.

I wouldn't use a pressure washer or hose on anything except the floor.
A leaf blower will do a good job of redistributing dust/dirt.

 

[Al Bundy]

If nothing else, get some of the disposable dust masks. Your sinuses and lungs will thank you.

 

[Zeke]

My opinion, you could probably just spray it all down with a hose & spray nozzle....may not need the high pressure of the washer. Open any windows & doors and set up a fan or two to get airflow. If you have any electrical to the buildings be sure to turn off the breaker and leave it off until everything dries out.

I've done this. Works great.

 

[toolmiser]

How about compressed air? You could get one of those real long nozzles from harbor freight. At least it will "shake" it loose, then got after it with the leaf blower or vac.

 

[buddyboy]

I take everything out weekly and then use a leaf blower in my finished garage,

then once a month I use one of those harbor freight electric power washers to knock down cobwebs and bugs.

don't get too close with the powerwasher it can mess up finishes real quick, it really doesn't put out a lot of water like a hose.

my walls are drywalled so I hit it with the powerwasher VERY lightly. work from the top down then the floor back to out the doors.

leaf blower and oscillating fans to dry, then move everything back in

amazing how much dust collects in the garage and how much cleaner it is when i am done

takes about 2 hours for me to empty, blow, wash, dry and put it all back.

 

[brasian]

Thanks again for all the suggestions. I added an imgur album link to some images. I couldn't figure out how to embed the images direct.

 

[HOTFR8]

Imgur will not permit hot linking to the GJ as we have a classified section. I suggest you host your photos on the GJ and link to them that way.

For more information > http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=324287
and > http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=326137