Putting used shipping containers to work as temporary storage, storm shelters, garages, etc. is an excellent way to save money and help the environment. Before repurposing your used container, chances are you’ll need to clean it out. Using green methods to clean the container will help you boost the environmental benefits of repurposing these containers.
Shipping containers are becoming increasingly popular as sheds and temporary offices, and in shipping container architecture that uses old containers to build homes and other structures. Most shipping containers are either 20 or 40 feet long, and have height and width dimensions of more than eight feet.
Shipping containers carry a wide variety of products – some carry food, consumer products, electronics, industrial parts, vehicles, etc. Once you buy a used container, you may need to give it a thorough cleaning to get rid of any smell, and also remove dirt and debris that could cause problems for your new purpose.
One of the most environmentally friendly ways to clean a used shipping container is by having it blasted with dry ice. This will reduce the amount of water and chemicals needed to clean the container, thus cutting into water usage and the amount of chemicals being released into the environment.
Blasting with dry ice may not be practical for an individual owner, but having the company selling you the container to clean it by blasting may be feasible. If you can’t clean the container this way, you can reduce your environmental impact by making sure to use natural, environmentally friendly cleaners when scrubbing down the container.