Maintenance
Keeping Your Playground In Top Shape
Have you ever watched a group of kids descend upon a playground like only kids can? Soft Play has. That's why our playgrounds are strong, sturdy, and built to take everything a rambunctious bunch of kids can dish out. But, in order to maintain the appearance and safety of your playground equipment, regular maintenance and upkeep is necessary. Thankfully, Soft Play components are made to make this as easy and convenient as possible.
Here are some key points you should look for when inspecting your playground.
NETS - Cargo nets, lacing and web crawls should be intact and free of any holes, tears or cuts.
PLASTICS - Slides, crawl tubes and other plastic components should be smooth and free of any obvious surface imperfections.
DOMES & WINDOWS - All domes and windows should be free of any cracks or gaps and be securely in place.
BALL POOLS - Make sure the pipes are free of corrosion and the liner is free of debris. Check the springs, rubber straps and netting for any broken parts, cuts or tears.
STEPS - Steps should be firmly fastened to the unit and free of any debris or loose treading.
PIPEWORK, SCREW, NUTS & BOLTS - All pipes, structural clamps, electrical ties and other hardware should be in place and tight.
SIGNAGE - All required signage should be placed in a prominent location to be viewed easily.
As far as maintenance and cleaning, Walsh said the equipment should be sprayed down on a weekly basis both internally and externally. A more thorough cleaning using soap and water or dishwashing liquid should also be done frequently, depending upon traffic. Walsh recommends using products like Plexus to clean the domes and windows so greasy hands won't leave smudges and prints.
In addition to what folks should do to maintain their Soft Play equipment, Walsh stressed a few things to avoid as well: "Never use bleach or chlorine products on any playground component. The same goes for the flooring. Any kind of heavy bleach or chlorine will eat the rubber material and destroy the glue. So just use mild cleaning materials like plain old soap and water."
If you just don't have time to personally maintain your Soft Play equipment, there are several companies like Playground Maintenance Services that, in addition to upgrades and installations, will also clean your equipment and ensure it's in good working order. Contact Soft Play for more information.
For a list of available OEM replacement parts click here