Cleaning your garage/shop

[James-W]

My wife and my oldest daughter quite often do projects in the garage/shop, mostly painting or some type of crafts. Occasionally the daughter will bring over something she wants fixed, like a lamp or a dresser drawer, things like that. The last project was her scooter, but that's another thread.

The wife and daughter don't really make a mess or anything, the things they do like painting they put down the "paint tarp" and if they do spill anything, it just goes on the tarp. They are always willing to help me clean up the garage/shop because they use it too, but to be quite honest, I prefer they DON'T help me. I know where things are (most of the time at least) and if they were to help me clean up, I doubt I would be able to find anything.

 

[James-W]

My garage, my mess, I'm cleaning.

Although, the wife has mentioned cleaning the toilet in the garage bathroom but never has.

That's one thing I wish I had in the garage. I had checked with a plumber about putting a bathroom in the garage/shop and the cost to run the water and sewer line was ridiculously high. Having to go into the house to go to the bathroom isn't really a big deal I guess, but it would be really nice not to track snow into the house in the Winter months every time I need to go to the bathroom.

 

[Kev442]

I looked around after pulling the filthy drivetrain out of the parts car today, but a maid was nowhere to be found. It ended up being me who had to scrub the floor of all the fluids and globs of grease.

 

[NUTTSGT]

That's one thing I wish I had in the garage. I had checked with a plumber about putting a bathroom in the garage/shop and the cost to run the water and sewer line was ridiculously high. Having to go into the house to go to the bathroom isn't really a big deal I guess, but it would be really nice not to track snow into the house in the Winter months every time I need to go to the bathroom.

Luckily for me, the line was there for the septic tie in as my place had "modern restrooms" when it was built in '37. I merely used a fernco and some PVC to replumb. The neighbor rented a trencher and brought it over saving me some time and money to get a new water line out there.

 

[black00lightning]

My wife does most of the cleaning and putting tools away. Sometimes before I'm finished using the tools. Anytime I'm in the shop, she's there helping with whatever project in working on. She's really my partner in the shop.

 

[FullRaceMerc]

Until seeing this thread, I had not ever even considered the possibility of someone else cleaning my garage. It never crossed my mind.

The garage is the one safe place where stuff stays where I put it. So the answer is No! No one else ever.

 

[James-W]

Until seeing this thread, I had not ever even considered the possibility of someone else cleaning my garage. It never crossed my mind.

The garage is the one safe place where stuff stays where I put it. So the answer is No! No one else ever.

I think it sort of depends on what you mean by "cleaning" the garage. If someone wants to sweep the floor and maybe run the shop vac, I wouldn't have a problem with that. But putting the tools away is something I prefer to do myself because I know where I want them to go.

 

[Empty Pockets]

I know where everything is in MY workshop.

When my wife calls me at work, telling me that she needs this tool or that, I can direct her to my 2 26" triple stacked tool boxes, tell her which box, which drawer and where in the drawer the tool is. After decades, she is no longer amazed at that feat. When she's finished, there is a small plastic shoe box on my bench that the tool(s) are returned to. I replace the tools in the box after work.

From time to time, one of my sons will need to borrow a tool, while he doesn't need directions to the tool, he knows that they go in the plastic box, when he's done.

I have a large investment in tools, and would NEVER even consider allowing someone to "help" organize my shop.

When I finish a project, I always clean up the work bench and sweep the floor (as needed). It never gets out of control, so I would never need help.

 

[Bennylava]

I think it sort of depends on what you mean by "cleaning" the garage. If someone wants to sweep the floor and maybe run the shop vac, I wouldn't have a problem with that. But putting the tools away is something I prefer to do myself because I know where I want them to go.

Thats probably something I should have mentioned. I mean how long does it take to put away tools? 10 minutes? Maybe 20? I was actually referring to all the grease, dust, grime and trash. You know, the stuff nobody here really enjoys doing or cares about who did it. I mean if you keep a messy shop, and they'd have to move stuff around just to be able to clean, I can see where you wouldn't want that. But if you keep a clean and organized shop, it really doesn't matter who comes in and sweeps and scrubs grease and throws away fast food trash. So I think that was the gist of my question.

 

[wagzilla]

I have inmates at work help me and sometime I can waste 30 minutes looking for something they put away for me. I would never let my loving wife help me. that's what keeps us married.


James