Spring Cleaning Your Barn for Safety

With spring finally here, it's time for your annual stable spring cleaning session. Not only does a good spring cleaning leave your barn feeling more organized, but it can also make your barn safer. As you put together your cleaning to-do list, make sure that these safety-related items are on it. 

5 Barn Spring Cleaning Tips for a Safer Barn

Want a safer and cleaner barn? Then be sure to use these tips and address these areas as you clean. 

Hayloft

Start your spring cleaning with your hayloft. As your hay supply dwindles before you stock up after the first cut, you have the perfect opportunity to deep clean your loft. 

Start by removing any loose hay that you can still feed, then give the loft a thorough sweeping. Pull up any pallets that you're using and remove hay from beneath them. Be sure that your horses are outside when you're doing this dusty work. 

This is also a good time to check over your remaining hay. Look for mold or signs that the hay has gotten wet. Dust off any light fixtures and double-check that the fixture caps are still securely in place.

Feed Room

Next, focus on your feed room. Start by deep cleaning all of your feed storage bins as the supply declines. Scrub out removable bins, and use a vacuum to remove dust and old feed from any bins that you can't remove and dump. While you're at it, scrub out your feed scoops and buckets, too. 

Check all of your supplement containers to make sure that nothing has expired. If you pre-measure supplements for horses, clean out the containers you use or replace old plastic bags with new ones. Double-check that all of your supplement containers are rodent-proof. 

Sweep up your feed room and look for rodent droppings. If you find them, come up with a rodent control plan, whether that means laying traps or getting a barn cat. 

Medicine Cabinet

When was the last time you cleaned your medicine cabinet? A good cleaning at least once a year can help ensure the medications and supplies you use are safe. Check over all of your medications and verify that they're not expired. If they have expired, consult with your vet or local pharmacy to find out about how to safely dispose of them. 

This is also a good time to do a first aid supply inventory check. Look to see if you're running low on essential supplies like bandages or ointment, and then replenish those supplies so you have them when you need them. Change out the batteries in your thermometers, or at least purchase some backups. 

Cobwebs

Cobwebs aren't only unsightly, but they're also highly flammable and can be a fire hazard. Clean cobwebs out of your entire barn, including the stalls, barn aisle, and the hayloft. Pay particular attention to the areas where they're near light fixtures. 

While you're cleaning out the cobwebs, change out the batteries in your smoke or fire detectors. 

Barn Aisle

When you clean your barn aisle, focus on removing unnecessary clutter. If you're storing large items like tack boxes and wheelbarrows in the aisle, try to relocate them to another area to maximize aisle space. Make sure that any items like blankets and boots are hung up neatly so horses can't get caught in them. Keeping your barn aisle clean and free of clutter can help to prevent potential accidents as you're leading horses in and out. 

Spring cleaning your barn takes a little elbow grease, but it can leave you with a safer barn that's healthier for your horses. As you're putting together your spring cleaning to-do list, make sure that you add on these five tasks to keep your barn as safe as possible.