Sometimes we take indispensable things for granted. So it is with the Arboretum shed: used every day and rarely acknowledged. The shed sits on the top of a hill in a nook formed by the tall brick retaining wall as it juts out from the western wall of Mickle Hall. Anyone who has worked in the arboretum has felt the burden of this hilltop location.
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Daily use results in wear and tear and an accumulation of dirt, dust, debris, leaf mulch, grass clippings, mold, spiderwebs, wasp nests, and oil leakages. This substance on the ceiling appears to be black mold. It covers all the inside surfaces of the shed to a greater or lesser degree. In addition to be being ugly, it may be unhealthy.
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Everything must be moved out in order to clean the shed.
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Wow! Look at all that stuff.
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A very modest pressure-washer, electricity, and water are all that is necessary
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A final view of the emptied-out shed before beginning the cleaning work.
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One pass with the pressure-washing wand strips away the largest portion of grime.
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As the strip on the bottom of the wall shows, a second pass is necessary after the dirt has absorbed water. The entire shed had to be cleaned with three passes. No soap or chemicals were used in this operation, simply water.
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After several hours, the shed is significantly less grimey. It will also be a healthier environment to store tools and other necessary items for arboretum maintenance.
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