Bouncy castles and Soft play (and indeed any play inflatables) are a great way to keep children entertained indoors during the winter/spring and outdoors during the autumn/summer, and can be a great way for a garden to used to its full benefit. However, as much fun as they can be to use, it's important to remember that they aren't just “another children’s play item”
There is a lot of science and safety behind what you use to clean them, maintain them, and prevent them from becoming breeding grounds for bacteria. So when you're thinking about hiring a bouncy castle, you need to think about this in advance.
Here are a few safety tips on what cleaning chemicals to use on your Bouncy castle, soft play and other play inflatables and equipment to help make them as clean as possible:
What chemicals should I use on a Bouncy castle?
First of all, read any instructions or safety information provided with the cleaning solution. All cleaning chemicals and products have their own restrictions and limitations. For example, some of the most powerful chemicals used for cleaning will dry out the structure significantly and so you might need to add water to dilute the chemicals to provide the absolute optimum cleaning solution. Also, any cleaners that don't list their ingredients will probably be okay for use on a Bouncy castle. But you need to check what the chemicals in the cleaners themselves are before you use them, just to make sure that they won't dry out the Bouncy castle or cause any bleaching, discolouration or staining of the vinyl material.
When should I clean my Bouncy castle?
The best way to clean a Bouncy castle is usually by 'treating' it. This means giving it a thorough clean by brushing and cleaning with a garden hose and using a mild detergent. You may also choose to treat your Bouncy castle with a specialist Bouncy castle cleaner (E.g. those that are supplied by BCN (
BouncyCastleNetwork.com) or the cleaners available from your local garden centre or a good DIY shop that may be able to also give you advice regarding cleaning.
Some people are confused as to the best place to store their play inflatables in order to keep them as clean as possible. Bouncy castles tend to require a fair amount of storage space even when they are tightly and skillfully rolled up. And you'll want to keep them away from damp areas that can cause mould and mildew to grow on the Bouncy castle or soft play. If you are storing it at home, remember to put it in a dry place where there's little or no chance of dampness coming into the inflatable and spreading. One simple tip that some people do is to lightly sprinkle talculm powder over the surface of the inflatable prior to it being place in storage. This helps protects it from any condensation, and helps to stop any mildew etc. from spreading. But it’s very important to try and avoid storing the inflatable in damp areas which can greatly accelerate any build-up of mildew.
With regards to Bouncy castle cleaning products - you should ideally only use professional-grade products that are specifically designed for Bouncy castles and Bouncy castle hire. You should also ensure that the cleaning product is safe for use on equipment that children will be using. Some cheaper cleaning products may work but there is always the risk that they could damage your Bouncy castle's vinyl surface Also, you have to be careful about the risk of any chemicals running off into the soil and potentially harming the micro-organisms that live in the soil. So, it’s a good idea to place a tarpaulin sheet underneath the inflatable when it’s being deep cleaned.
Our recommended cleaners are those cleaning fluids from BCN (as mentioned above) specialist chemical-free solutions that are tested on the surface of the castle. These chemicals are effective, safe and gentle on any surfaces they come into contact with.
One final word about cleaning Bouncy castle, soft play or any other Childrens play equipment and that is that if you are using a cleaning chemical for the first time, test a few drops of it on a small non-exposed section of your inflatable – just to make sure that the cleaning chemical has no nasty side effects such as staining the fabric or discolouring it.
As always – please stay safe.
<< Return to news