If you’re a horse owner, you probably have a good idea of just how messy things can get. Horse trailers are no exception. When you put a giant animal in a small space, the stench and gunk can become noticeable pretty quickly. To keep things in order, you’re going to need to clean it on a regular basis. Not sure where to start? We’re here to help! Double B Trailer Sales has gathered some tips for cleaning your horse trailer.

Visit our dealership if you’re still in the market for a unit. We’re conveniently located near Salt Lake City and St. George, UT. We also proudly serve Ogden, Washington, Cedar City, and all of Utah. Our staff is happy to assist with any and all of your needs, including parts and service.

Essential Supplies

Before you get your hands dirty, you need to make sure you have all the essential supplies on hand. Many of the products you’ll need aren’t typical household cleaners that you often find lying around. Oddly enough, the best place to find the necessary tools and supplies you need is at an auto parts store. You’ll find chrome wheel polishing kits, Armor-All, brushes, and more.

Alternatively, you can visit a specialty livestock store to look for the essentials. You may get lucky and find everything you need at your local grocery store. Once you’ve rounded everything up, you can start cleaning your horse trailer.

Floor

You might as well start with the smelliest and dirtiest aspect, which is the floor of the trailer. It’s a good idea to engage in frequent cleanings of this area to keep the muck at a manageable level. You can get started by removing everything you can from the unit. This will help you get at the floor that’s hiding underneath all the feed, mats, and tools. Sweep the floor first to get rid of all the debris you can.

Create a mix of one part bleach and ten parts water to spread over the surface. Allow it to soak for at least ten minutes. While it sits, you can address your mats. For easy rinsing, be sure to tilt your trailer at an angle. You can simply park it on a hill or raise the front end. When you use your power washer or steady pressure nozzle, you’ll see all the gunk run out.

Unfortunately, it’s not enough that the floor is clean. You also need to make sure it’s dry. Take some time to dry it out before you begin putting items back inside. One option is to spread a lighter layer of baking soda on the floor, which will act as an anti-acidic and neutralize horse urine and other odors.

Hinges & Corners

We all know how challenging it can be to clean out tiny crevices but these areas are a magnet for debris, so you don’t skip this step. There are some key spots that gather dirt more quickly than others, such as the cracks where the floor meets the wall or door joints, for example. You’ll want to give these areas a deep, thorough clean.

Mat

Another problem area is your horse mats, which soak up a lot of grime. You’ll want to apply a good amount of elbow grease in order to get these bad boys clean. Start at the top left corner and work your way down. You can use the steady pressure nozzle or power washer to rinse.

In-Between Maintenance 

One of the keys to keeping your trailer as clean as possible is to keep up with in-between maintenance. When you return from a long trip, remove any wet bedding, dropped feed, and manure. Clear it out of any junk to prevent rotting and contributing to a bigger mess. If you neglect this, it’s going to soak into the floor and lead to damage.

An easy way to do this is to place a garbage container near your parked trailer. When you have some time to spare, hose down the floor to remove the urine. Lastly, you’ll want to take out any food that’s going to eventually spoil. You’re now left with a squeaky clean horse trailer!

We hope this guide has been useful. For more information or to check out our inventory, stop by Double B Trailer Sales near Salt Lake City and St. George, UT. We also proudly serve Ogden, Washington, Cedar City, and all of Utah. Remember to check out our sister store, Roger’s Performance Marine.