How do you keep your garage clean?

[tarheeljim]

Hi guys. First post for me. I have gotten some great ideas here, and you've encouraged me to clean up and fix up my modest 2 car garage. My question is this.

How in the heck do you keep your garage clean? Mine isn't heated or cooled, and has gaps around the edges of the garage doors. It attracts spiders and spider webs, dirt, bugs/bees, and even an occasional snake (I live on a lake). Also, leaves and **** blow in every time I lift the door.

So, do you seal up the gaps around the door? How? And how do you go about keeping your castle fairly clean? Mine has accumulated so much dirt/spider webs/etc. seems like it will take me weeks to get it cleaned up and ready for installing cabinets, etc.

Any help would be appreciated.

BTW, anybody use ceiling fans instead of a/c to keep costs down? Thanks for all the help and ideas you guys have already given me.

Jim

 

[astroracer]

I have to deal with all of the same problems you just listed PLUS I do real work in my shop. Grinding, cutting, sanding, painting, etc., etc. It is a chore to keep things clean. If you are busy enough in your shop, keeping the spiders and bugs knocked down just becomes part of the routine. I have put everything in my shop on casters so it can be moved around. This is mostly for working and accessability but it helps for cleaning also.
I have been using a spider spray that has a latent quality. It will continue to kill the bugs for a while after you spray the infested areas. It seems to be working where I have used it as I see less spiders in those areas...
The Cottonwood season is just beginning here in Michigan so I will be sweeping up "snow" for a couple of weeks also.
Mark

 

[snorvet]

I have many of the same problems, but no snakes have come in yet

Everything is on casters or hung on the walls
I have a gasket on the bottom and weatherstripping on the sides of the garage door.
I drywalled the walls and am putting on 4" vinyl baseboard trim
I epoxyed the floor - this made it really easy to clean
I got a floor mat for the inside of the entrance door
Yesterday I bought a floor mop

I still get spiders and bugs but I vaccum them up. Mine was a real mess when I started fixing it up but now I vacuum 2 or 3 times a week

You should be able to find garage door trim/ weatherstripping for the gaps at the edges of your door

 

[tarheeljim]

I have to deal with all of the same problems you just listed PLUS I do real work in my shop. Grinding, cutting, sanding, painting, etc., etc. It is a chore to keep things clean. If you are busy enough in your shop, keeping the spiders and bugs knocked down just becomes part of the routine. I have put everything in my shop on casters so it can be moved around. This is mostly for working and accessability but it helps for cleaning also.
I have been using a spider spray that has a latent quality. It will continue to kill the bugs for a while after you spray the infested areas. It seems to be working where I have used it as I see less spiders in those areas...
The Cottonwood season is just beginning here in Michigan so I will be sweeping up "snow" for a couple of weeks also.
Mark

Mark, thanks for the info. Got a name for that spider spray, or source?

And Snorvet, I assume that weatherstripping can be had at Lowes or Home Depot?

Thanks for your answers, guys. Good stuff there.

Jim

 

[Vincent Vega]

I sweep about twice a week. In the winter I use a floor squeegee. I don't get rid of spiders. They keep the flies under control around the windows. It is actually much easier to keep clean since I drywalled/painted.

 

[AndrewM]

I have geckos. They poop everywhere. I find their eggs and nests in boxes. Uggh. They poop on the painted walls in the main garage, and I have 'em out in my shop as well.

At least my 7 year old son has fun with them when I catch 'em.

 

[snorvet]

Jim,

Here's lowes http://www.lowes.com/lowes/lkn?action=howTo&p=BuyGuide/ChooseHomeSealing.html

My side weatherstripping is different than what loewes shows on this page - mine is attached to a small trim piece that nails to the door jamb outside the door

 

[Steve_S]

Seal any cracks you can see through, and also that you can feel a draft through. Drywall the garage and paint it with something tough. Insulation will greatly help maintain a desired temperature, especially in the rafters. Buy garage door stripping and seal that sucker up tight around all four sides. Seal between the drywall and floor and install molding over that. You should now have a virtually critter-free garage.

If you can fork out the money, coat the floor with epoxy paint. Be sure to prep VERY well for maximum durability. Prep is more important than the paint itself! Once the floor is coated, it is easy to simply wipe up spills or to sweep / vaccuum dirt and grindings.

Good luck!

 

[rickas]

This http://www.lowes.com/lowes/lkn?action=productDetail&productId=61601-81-87700&lpage=none

is what you want for the garage doors, sides & top. I have it on my underconstruction garage and it is a much better seal than the tapes or tube type which I will soon replace on my attached garage.. It will nail to the door trim. It is located in the trim products aisle, NOT with other weatherstripping, It is with the other man made trim items. Probably the item snorvet has on his doors also.

 

[astroracer]

Mark, thanks for the info. Got a name for that spider spray, or source?
And Snorvet, I assume that weatherstripping can be had at Lowes or Home Depot?

Thanks for your answers, guys. Good stuff there.

Jim

Hey Jim, I had to look last night. The spray is called Hot Shot... It's an off brand but it works. You can probably find something similar most anywhere. It says it will continue to kill bugs for up to 4 months...
Mark

 

[PatrickW]

I epoxied the floor and painted the drywall.

Every so often I use a leaf blower to "sweep"...

Works great.

- Patrick

 

[Paradise Ridge]

Jim,
Here is a link to a previous discussion on door sealing. It includes a pic of my doors with the HD strips installed. http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=2542&&showall=1

HTH,

Scott