By Jennifer Roberts
The birds are singing and the flowers are blooming. But does your barn still feel like it has the winter blues? If your barn is in need of an overhaul, but you’d rather spend time in saddle; you have come to the right place. Here are a few tips and tricks to freshen up your barn in no time at all.
Clear the Clutter
When it comes to spring cleaning, one of the highest impact jobs is taming the excess “stuff” that has accumulated. Take a look at any broken tack and either repair it or get rid of it. Sort through the tack room, and remove any empty containers or expired products. Many items may be sent to the recycle bin! If you find tack that you no longer have a use for, consider bringing it to a tack sale or donating it to your favorite equine charity.
It’s time to tidy the barn aisle, too. A clear, wide aisle without a lot of clutter is far safer for your horses.
Hay Now
Chances are your hay supply is getting low. Now is a great time to clean out your hay storage area. Sweep up the excess hay and dust that has accumulated in your hay loft or hay shed, and prepare it to store this year’s clean fresh hay. Check for wet spots on the floor, which could indicate a leak in the roof.
Clean Your Room
Strip away all of the bedding in the stalls and inspect them thoroughly. Check for uneven floors, rotting boards and protruding nails. Neutralize any noxious ammonia odor that can pose a real health threat to your horse, by putting down a healthy layer of stall freshener, such as Sweet PDZ, before re-bedding the stall.
Wash Your Clothes
Remove the heavy blankets from your horses’ stall doors (or blanket storage area), and wash them or have them professionally cleaned and repaired before you pack them away. They’ll be clean and ready to use next winter.
Clean Out the Cobwebs
Cobwebs tend to accumulate quicker than you imagine. When the horses are turned out, take a broom, a leaf blower, or duster and remove the webs from the ceilings and walls of your stalls, tack room and barn aisle. For some barns, a pressure washer may do the trick faster and easier.
See Clearly
Cleaning the windows in your barn only takes a few minutes, and makes a big impact. Grab a bottle of glass cleaner and use old newspapers to clean the windows inside and out. Clean windows allow more light into the barn.
Barn cleaning doesn’t need to be a big ordeal. Whether you tackle it all in one day or chip away it each time you visit the barn, simple steps can help your barn sparkle – and be healthier for your horses.
The birds are singing and the flowers are blooming. But does your barn still feel like it has the winter blues? If your barn is in need of an overhaul, but you’d rather spend time in saddle; you have come to the right place. Here are a few tips and tricks to freshen up your barn in no time at all.
Clear the Clutter
When it comes to spring cleaning, one of the highest impact jobs is taming the excess “stuff” that has accumulated. Take a look at any broken tack and either repair it or get rid of it. Sort through the tack room, and remove any empty containers or expired products. Many items may be sent to the recycle bin! If you find tack that you no longer have a use for, consider bringing it to a tack sale or donating it to your favorite equine charity.
It’s time to tidy the barn aisle, too. A clear, wide aisle without a lot of clutter is far safer for your horses.
Hay Now
Chances are your hay supply is getting low. Now is a great time to clean out your hay storage area. Sweep up the excess hay and dust that has accumulated in your hay loft or hay shed, and prepare it to store this year’s clean fresh hay. Check for wet spots on the floor, which could indicate a leak in the roof.
Clean Your Room
Strip away all of the bedding in the stalls and inspect them thoroughly. Check for uneven floors, rotting boards and protruding nails. Neutralize any noxious ammonia odor that can pose a real health threat to your horse, by putting down a healthy layer of stall freshener, such as Sweet PDZ, before re-bedding the stall.
Wash Your Clothes
Remove the heavy blankets from your horses’ stall doors (or blanket storage area), and wash them or have them professionally cleaned and repaired before you pack them away. They’ll be clean and ready to use next winter.
Clean Out the Cobwebs
Cobwebs tend to accumulate quicker than you imagine. When the horses are turned out, take a broom, a leaf blower, or duster and remove the webs from the ceilings and walls of your stalls, tack room and barn aisle. For some barns, a pressure washer may do the trick faster and easier.
See Clearly
Cleaning the windows in your barn only takes a few minutes, and makes a big impact. Grab a bottle of glass cleaner and use old newspapers to clean the windows inside and out. Clean windows allow more light into the barn.
Barn cleaning doesn’t need to be a big ordeal. Whether you tackle it all in one day or chip away it each time you visit the barn, simple steps can help your barn sparkle – and be healthier for your horses.
