The garage isn't a skip. Time to fix it.

Garage floor swept, HEPA-vacuumed (removes fine dust that mopping just spreads), then degreased with alkaline chemistry. Oil stains from car (typically near the engine bay and where wheels sit) pre-treated with concentrated degreaser, contact time 10-15 minutes, agitated with a deck brush. Tyre marks agitated. Antifreeze stains treated with absorbent granules first, then degreased. Whole floor scrubbed with deck brush and degreaser solution. Squeegee-dried to floor drain (if present) or out the garage door. Result: floor visibly cleaner, oil stains reduced or eliminated, slip risk reduced.

Shelves and workbench emptied one at a time, items placed on a clean tarpaulin. Shelf surfaces wiped with low-VOC chemistry (removes dust, grease, and grime). Underside of shelves (cobweb zone) wiped. Workbench top degreased (solvent-based chemistry for oil and grease, alkaline for general grime). Workbench drawers emptied, wiped, replaced. Pegboard wiped (front and back where accessible). Items wiped before replacement (greasy tools, dusty paint tins, gardening chemical bottles). Items grouped logically (tools with tools, paint with paint, gardening with gardening).

Hand tools (spanners, screwdrivers, pliers, hammers) degreased with solvent-based chemistry, wiped dry, light coating of food-safe oil applied to carbon steel to prevent rust. Power tool exteriors wiped (never spray liquid near vents or motors — damp cloth only). Power tool cords wiped, inspected for damage (we'll flag any frayed cord — electrical risk). Tool chest drawers emptied, wiped, replaced. Tool chest exterior wiped and polished. Gardening tools (spades, forks, secateurs) cleaned of soil, blades wiped with oily cloth to prevent rust. Bicycles wiped down (frame, chain lightly re-lubed if requested).

Garage door tracks (the metal channels the door rolls in) vacuumed with a soft brush attachment — dust and debris in tracks causes jerky door operation. Tracks wiped with dry cloth. Rollers wiped. Hinges wiped. Light silicone-based lubricant applied to rollers and hinges (not oil — oil attracts dust and goes tacky). Torsion spring (above the door) inspected — we'll flag any visible wear but never touch the spring itself (torsion springs are under extreme tension and only a qualified garage door engineer should adjust them). Manual up-and-over door mechanism wiped. Electric door opener exterior wiped (never touch the electrics).

Cobwebs removed from every corner, ceiling, light fixture, top of shelves, behind stored items. We use a telescopic cobweb brush (extends to 4m) for high corners. Ceiling wiped where accessible (especially around light fixtures — fly and moth debris accumulates). Light fixtures wiped (switch off at the consumer unit first — never clean a live light fixture). Window (if present) cleaned streak-free — inside and outside where accessible. Window sills wiped. Air vents (if present) vacuumed and wiped. The corners are where the spiders live — we get them all.

As we work, we'll flag expired or damaged items for your decision: expired paint (oil-based paint is hazardous waste — we'll tell you where the nearest hazardous waste drop-off is), broken tools (recyclable at scrap metal), expired gardening chemicals (hazardous waste), broken bikes (recyclable), mouse-damaged cardboard (general waste). We don't dispose of items ourselves (you decide what to bin) — but we'll bag up what you flag and leave it by the bin. Hazardous waste (paint, chemicals, batteries) we'll bag separately and tell you where to take it. We never put hazardous waste in general waste — that's a criminal offence.