Horse Trailer Cleaning Tips

It's no big secret that horse trailers get dirty fast - and you need some way to clean them. The process isn't hard, but there are a lot of little steps and it's easy to forget one of them. That's why we created the following beginner's guide to cleaning a stock trailer below. You won't have to worry about forgetting something when you follow our guide. For all your livestock trailer needs, visit Scott's Recreation. We proudly serve the state of Maine.

Getting the Supplies

To clean a stock trailer, you will need supplies that are more intense than the household cleaning supplies you have lying around your home. It may sound odd, but you can actually have good luck finding the right cleaning tools at an auto parts store. You'll be able to pick up chrome wheel polishing kits, Armor-All®, brushes, and more. 

You can also, of course, head on over to a specialty livestock store. You'll have a great chance at finding what you need there. You may even have luck finding what you want a local grocery store. After you have located all the products, you are ready to begin cleaning your livestock tráiler.

The Floor

This part of your horse trailer gets the smelliest and the dirtiest. To keep the muck under control, you will need to take part in frequent cleanings. Start by removing anything you can so that you can get to the floor underneath all the mats, feed, and tools. Then give the floor a good sweeping to remove all the debris posible.

Next, you will want to make a mixture of one parts bleach to ten parts water. Spread this over the floor's surface. Let it soak for up to ten minutes. While you let it soak, you can focus on cleaning your mats (which we discuss below). When you are ready to rinse your livestock trailer, tilt it up at an angle. All you need to do is park it on a hill or raise the front end. Use a steady pressure nozzle or power washer to rinse the gunk out.

The first step is getting the floor clean. Then you need to get it dry. You'll want to dry out your stock trailer before you put all those items back inside. Some horse trailer owners choose to spread a light layer of baking soda on the floor. It serves as an anti-acidic to neutralize horse urine, which helps decrease floor damage.

The Mat

Your horse trailer mat will soak up plenty of gunk. Use plenty of elbow grease to get them clean again. Begin at the top left corner and work downwards. Then rinse it with a steady pressure nozzle or power washer.

Corners and Hinges

Each tiny crevice can soak up debris and dust like nobody's business. Look for key spots that get dirty quickly, such as the crack where the floor connects to the wall or door joints. Make sure to give them a deep clean.

Maintenance Between Cleanings

When you get back from a trip, try to remove any wet bedding, manure, and dropped feed. If you leave it, it can rot and make your next cleaning much harder (or soak into the floor). All you need to do is park a wheelbarrow near your stock trailer. When you return home, it'll be easy to clean it right up.

For all your livestock trailer needs, visit Scott's Recreation. We proudly serve those in Turner, Manchester, Portland, Lewiston, and Augusta, Maine. If you are looking for a stock trailer, check out our wide supply. We also offer trailer repair if yours is experiencing issues. Stop by to visit today!