Bounce houses are exciting additions to any home. You and your kids can spend hours and hours on them, or you can rent them out for others to use. However, bounce houses will get dirty. Sometimes, lack of care will lead to mold and mildew in a bounce house. How do you clean this item out?
You’ve come to the right place if you want to learn how to clean a bounce house, whether it’s a personal item or something you rent to others. Read on to understand the process of cleaning a bounce house. It’s not too complicated and should be simple for anyone to accomplish. Let’s get started!
Vacuum and Sweep the Bounce House
When you finish using a bounce house, you might notice dirt and residue inside from feet traveling in and out. When cleaning a bounce house, the first thing you should do is get the grime out to avoid abrasion.
You can clean out the dirt by:
These two ways will help you get both the surface of the jumping area and the cracks and crevices where the stitching lies.
Once complete, you should look for any remaining stains on the surface. These will require a little more work than the dust and dirt particles gathered on the surface. Let’s get into it more below.
Wipe Away Suspicious Stains
Next, examine the area for any stains that seem suspicious. These locations might be dirt that has gathered and discolored the surface. It can also include any marks children might have left, including oils or food stains. Bounce houses are usually used at children’s birthday parties, so these are commonly seen.
To get these off, you’ll need a cleaning solution. You can make one by combining:
- 3:1 ratio cups of warm water and white vinegar
- Three drops of dish soap
This solution will make it easier to get the stains out.
Take a bristled brush, apply your solution, and scrub. In no time at all, the stains should lift from the surface. You can wipe them away with a rag or paper towels.
Disinfect with Cleaner
Once everything is clean, you can move on to disinfecting. This step is one of the easiest. All you need is a rag and some disinfectant spray. With your tools, examine the surface of the bounce house and cover every area with a quick disinfectant swipe. This action will help you identify anything you missed and provide an extra dose of cleanliness to the item.
This step is also critical because it can help locate any mold or mildew on the bounce house. If you see none, you’re ready to let the bounce house air out before putting it away. If you do see mold, you’ll need to take on another step before you’re done. Let’s talk about it.
Get Rid of Dangerous Growths
Mold and mildew are gross, and they can also pose a health threat for anyone using the bounce house. If you notice these growths, you must get rid of them as soon as possible. Putting the house away with mold inside will only encourage it to flourish.
You can get rid of mold and mildew by doing the following:
- Making a mixture of half bleach half water
- Using a soft brush to scrub the growth with this mixture
- Let the bleach sit if a gentle scrub won’t do it
This mixture should take care of your troubles. Sometimes, bleach can cause the color of your bounce house to face. Although this result can disrupt the appearance of your item, it’s better than allowing mold and mildew to flourish in storage. Ensure you get rid of the growths before letting your bounce house dry.
Let the Bounce House Dry
Now, it’s time to let the bounce house dry. It’s best to leave the bounce house inflated to dry before you deflate it. If it’s folded up while it dries, there could be wet spots you don’t notice. Mold and mildew will flourish here once you put the bounce house in storage. In the sun, it should take no more than a few hours.
To help the interior dry out better, you should unzip some zippers to improve airflow. Check that everything is dry, from the surface to the cracks, once a few hours have passed. From here, you can pack up the bounce house and move it into storage. It’s that easy to take care of your bounce house!