Cleaning Horse Trailer

N

nato

Well-Known Member
Joined
16 February 2015
Messages
959
Visit site
I just bought a new horse trailer and want to give it a clean before I take my horse out in it this weekend. The only day I'll be able to do this is Saturday, so I'm mindful of what I use to clean it so it's safe for my horse to travel in on Sunday.

I have Jeyes Fluid - would this be ok to use early Saturday if washed out and left to dry? Or should I use something less harsh? I would be happy to dilute it.

I just want to be cautious as you never know what travelled in the trailer last, so best to disinfect!

It's an Ifor Williams 505 and has an aluminum floor, rubber mats.
 
Jeyes is very smelly I think my horse would refuse to go in the box afterwards. I just jet wash mine and it comes up pretty clean, perhaps you could jet wash the mats and ramps and use something like kitchen surface antibac spray on the panels and things that might go near your horse.
 
I would use something like Virkon, it's an animal friendly virucidal disinfectant will kill things like ringworm etc. no strong odour and non corrosive
 
Main thing is cleanliness, after it is clean you can use anything, virkon is best but you may not have any. If you leave it open it should dry off pretty quick.
 
Thanks all! If I can't get my hands on Virkon I'll wash out with Antibac Fairy Liquid, and it can double up as a nice tail wash for GG later ;)
 
Beware of using a jet wash as the walls on a trailer I owned rotted and I believe it was because the girl I bought it from used to jet wash it inside.
 
I use green glop which is safe for the mats .
Jeyes fluid will shorten the life of the rubber mats if you have them .
I am another who does not like power washing much better a garden hose and brush .
 
nato said:
I just bought a new horse trailer and want to give it a clean before I take my horse out in it this weekend. The only day I'll be able to do this is Saturday, so I'm mindful of what I use to clean it so it's safe for my horse to travel in on Sunday.

I have Jeyes Fluid - would this be ok to use early Saturday if washed out and left to dry? Or should I use something less harsh? I would be happy to dilute it.

I just want to be cautious as you never know what travelled in the trailer last, so best to disinfect!

It's an Ifor Williams 505 and has an aluminum floor, rubber mats.
Click to expand...
Also jet wash the brakes with water for urine and ***** which could corrode them
 
Goldenstar said:
I use green glop which is safe for the mats .
Jeyes fluid will shorten the life of the rubber mats if you have them .
I am another who does not like power washing much better a garden hose and brush .
Click to expand...

Agree, power washing gives great looking instant results, but it can drive water at very high pressure into places you don't want it. Hose, Bucket, sponge, brush and bit of elbow grease along with some cleaner is great.

Leave it all open to dry out, ideally on a warm breezy day then grease any bits that move/need it.

Always clean after every use... Ideally sprinkle layer of shavings then top with straw for comfort, and it usually sweeps out easy as shaving soak the wet up. Looks inviting for horse too and can dampen down clunky noises a bit when they load. ...am rambling again.
 
We do use Jeyes in the stables at the end of the spring, we give them a spring clean and disinfectant and then leave all the windows open for days and days before horses go back in them. I think a trailer is too much of a confined space for the smell of Jeyes, it lingers for a long time.
 
A bucket of hot water, a large car sponge, a pan brush, a good glug of flash and a garden hose. The flash does a great job on removing the sweat and grease and is easy to rinse off.
 
Thanks everyone. I'm going to leave the Jeyes fluid in that case. I just wanted to be cautious in terms of disinfecting everything as it's my first horse, first trailer and first time towing - so trying to remove as little stress as possible ;)

Could I use Hibiscrub or would that have any affect? I'm thinking I'll just spray Dettol all over and wash off with Fairy Liquid.

Annie B. - when you say Flash, what type of Flash are you using? Spray?

Thanks for all your help :)
 
Hi, I buy flash in the 1.3 litre bottles frm Sainsburys to use at home on floors and bathrooms but it works a treat on removing sweat. I have used hi bi scrub as final rinse when I have moved horses that are not mine or new to the yard just as a precaution but I found as a initial wash it doesn't remove grease and sweat .
 
You don't want to use a cleaning product that could damage the trailer in any way. Flash is great for household use, but may be fairly alkaline, so could attack the aluminium flooring etc. (Just had a discussion with OH about this, he's a research chemist).

Caravan cleaner does a good job, and is not going to damage the trailer. A little goes a long way, too :). And definitely no power washers, which force moisture into places you don't want it to go.
 
What about cleaning the outside? Interested in what everyone uses as I have a white trailer that has become rather off-white and greenish!
 
southerncomfort said:
What about cleaning the outside? Interested in what everyone uses as I have a white trailer that has become rather off-white and greenish!
Click to expand...

m1stify said:
^^me too!!
Click to expand...
Sorry if I sound like a stuck record, but caravan cleaner.. It cleans all the grime and black smears off without wrecking the finish.
 
nato said:
But we use it on horses all the time? This is news to me.
Click to expand...

There are (or at least used to be) two types of Virkon, S and E. I think Virkon E was safe to use on the animal itself, but not S. Don't think you can get E anymore, I haven't seen it for a long time.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top