Across Washington County, plenty of properties have a barn, pole building, old chicken coop or equipment shed that has slowly turned into storage for everything that did not fit anywhere else. Before snow and mud make the ground hard to work, late fall is a practical time to clear it out, whether you want the space back, are getting a property ready to sell, or are planning to take down a structure that is past saving.
Iron Bear & Co. is a family-owned, local junk removal company, established in 2015 (formerly Richie’s Hauling). We handle cleanouts in Cecil, Canonsburg, Chartiers, South Strabane, Washington and the surrounding townships, and outbuildings are some of the most varied jobs we see.
Why clear a barn or outbuilding before winter
Once the weather turns, a cluttered outbuilding gets harder to deal with. Driveways and field lanes soften, roofs take on snow load, and mice move indoors to nest in stored furniture, cardboard and feed bags. Clearing the building in the fall gives you room to park equipment under cover, lets you see the condition of the floor, walls and roof before winter, and keeps a pile of old material from becoming a spring problem.
What we typically haul out of barns and sheds
Every property is different, but most outbuilding cleanouts include some mix of:
- Old furniture, mattresses and boxes moved out of the house years ago
- Broken mowers, tillers, bikes and small equipment
- Scrap metal, old fencing, gates and wire
- Rotted lumber, pallets, plywood and leftover building materials
- Old refrigerators, freezers and other appliances
- Feed bins, tack, buckets and general clutter
We recycle or donate usable items when possible instead of sending everything to the landfill. Our post on where your junk goes after pickup explains how that works. For appliances, see our appliance removal service.
Set aside chemicals, fuel and pesticides first
Barns and sheds often hold old paint, motor oil, gasoline, weed killer and rodent bait that have been sitting for years. These are household hazardous materials and need their own disposal route, so set them aside before a cleanout starts.
- Household chemicals: the Pennsylvania Resources Council runs household chemical collection events across southwestern Pennsylvania. The 2026 Washington County event was held June 27 at EQT Park, with registration required and fees per load. Watch PRC’s schedule for the next one.
- Farm pesticides: the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture’s CHEMSWEEP program collects unwanted pesticides from eligible farmers, licensed pesticide applicators and pesticide businesses. Washington County was eligible in 2026, with inventories due by March 31. Most counties rotate through on a four-year cycle, so check PDA’s page for the next eligible year.
- Everything else: our guide to disposing of household hazardous waste in Pennsylvania covers the basics.
Note that PRC’s events do not accept tires, appliances or large compressed gas cylinders, so plan for those separately.
Be careful with mouse droppings and nests
Stored feed and quiet corners attract rodents, and old nests are common in outbuildings. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention advises against sweeping or vacuuming rodent urine, droppings or nesting material, because it can put tiny droplets containing viruses into the air. For outbuildings, CDC recommends opening doors and windows to air the space for 30 minutes before cleaning, wearing rubber or plastic gloves, and spraying droppings and nests with a disinfectant or a fresh bleach solution until very wet, letting it soak for 5 minutes before wiping up. For dirt floors, CDC suggests spraying with disinfectant. Buildings with heavy infestations call for extra protective equipment.
If you would rather not handle that part yourself, tell us about it when you book so our crew comes prepared.
When the building itself needs to come down
Sometimes the cleanout shows that a shed or small barn is beyond repair. Our demolition and removal service covers tearing down and hauling away outbuildings, and our guide to shed removal before winter walks through what to expect. Check with your township before any demolition, since many municipalities require a permit to remove a structure.
For bigger projects where you want to work at your own pace, a dumpster rental in Washington, PA can sit on site while you sort. Many owners combine the two: we haul the heavy and awkward items, and the dumpster catches the rest.
What a white-glove outbuilding cleanout looks like
We do the lifting, carrying and loading, from the hayloft to the back corner of the pole barn. On each job, our team:
- Walks the building with you so nothing you want to keep leaves the property
- Loads and hauls everything away, including heavy metal and equipment
- Separates recyclable metal and donatable items where possible
- Sweeps out the space once everything is gone
We won’t leave your doorstep until you’re satisfied. If you also run a trade out of a detached building, our post on contractor shop cleanouts in Cecil Township covers that kind of job, and our property cleanout page covers whole-property jobs.
Frequently asked questions
Can you take old paint, gasoline or pesticides from my barn?
Those materials need hazardous waste disposal. Set them aside and use a household chemical collection event, or CHEMSWEEP if you are an eligible farmer or applicator.
Do I need to sort everything before you arrive?
No. Just mark what you want to keep. We handle the rest, from the loft to the floor.
Can you remove an old shed or small barn completely?
Yes. Our demolition and removal service handles outbuildings. Check with your township about permits before work starts.
Which parts of Washington County do you serve?
We serve Cecil, Canonsburg, Chartiers, South Strabane, Washington, Peters Township and nearby communities. Call to confirm your address.
Schedule your barn or outbuilding cleanout
Ready to get the space back before winter? Call Iron Bear & Co. at (724) 809-3998 or reach us through our contact page for a no-obligation estimate.
Sources: Pennsylvania Resources Council, Household Chemicals collection events (2026); Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture, CHEMSWEEP; Penn State Extension, CHEMSWEEP Program Opens for 2026 Collections; CDC, How to Clean Up After Rodents. Program details as of November 2026.