How to Clean Soft Play Equipment

Soft play is a popular activity for children of various ages as it’s an activity suited perfectly to their development. Alongside ensuring spaces are safe for children to interact with and suitable for their age, another important consideration is maintaining excellent levels of cleanliness. 

In this article, we will share the best ways to keep soft play equipment clean and free from germs to ensure little ones are always kept safe.

Why Is It Essential to Clean Soft Play Equipment Consistently?

One of the costs that should be considered when setting up a soft play centre is the initial and ongoing commitment to high-quality cleaning. This is essential for a number of reasons, which we have shared below:

• Children have weaker immune systems than adults as they are still developing. This means even the smallest area of dirt could lead to a serious health condition. Also included within this point is ensuring spaces are also not contributing to allergies which again little ones are more likely to develop.
• Keeping soft play equipment clean is also a proven way of helping it to last for longer. This means less needing to be spent overall on refurbishing spaces and also ensures safety is maintained for longer as equipment is not likely to become damaged as a result of deterioration. 
• Clean soft play spaces are also more inviting for families, which improves the brand awareness and trust that a business has. 
• There are also a number of hygiene standards that soft play spaces must adhere with which can result in costly fines and a loss of business if they are not met.
• Finally, soft play spaces are high footfall areas. This highlights the importance of ongoing cleaning as without this, there could be an impact to profits.

How Often Should Soft Play Equipment Be Cleaned?

Soft play areas should have defined cleaning routines set to ensure high standards are well maintained. This means that cleaning should take place everyday. In addition to a thorough daily cleaning routine, deep cleaning should also be planned for regular intervals, such as at the end of a week. The frequency of deep cleaning can vary based on how much the equipment is used. For example, nursery furniture is likely to be used less than a multi level or dual level structure in a play centre. However, the need to keep both sets of soft play equipment clean is essential. 

An example of a daily cleaning routine may include cleaning the floor, sanitising surfaces, replacing consumables and removing any new stains or obvious marks. Deep cleans then include more intense cleaning tasks such as steaming surfaces, using disinfectant on individual equipment items and clearing our ventilation systems. It should also be mentioned that cleaning soft play equipment regularly also allows any damage to be noticed before it leads to potential issues for little ones. Additionally, cleaning also means the installation of equipment can be spot-checked to ensure nothing has come loose over time.

Finally, there are also different recommendations based on the type of soft play equipment. For example, ball pits are commonly considered the worst culprits for harbouring germs meaning they need to be tended to on a daily basis. This involves removing all balls, cleaning the pit itself and steaming each ball to remove any germs. Alternatively, equipment such as frames are easier to maintain as they can be simply wiped down at regular intervals. When planning your own soft play spaces cleaning schedule, be sure to consider what equipment you have installed.

How Can Soft Play Equipment Be Cleaned?

Whether you need to clean a soft play space located in a mobile setting or one in a busy fixed area such as in a shopping centre, the methods for restoring equipment to sparkling conditions are the same.

Always Check The Care Instructions

Although most soft play items are made from the same materials, the first step of effectively cleaning them is to check out the provided care information. This will not only ensure that equipment remains damage-free but also help business owners restore items back to their intended condition. These instructions will also advise on factors such as removing covers, suitability for machine washing and how to best care for items in between cleans.

Use a Mixture of Soapy Rinses and Disinfectant Sprays

Once the cleaning instructions have been consulted, it’s important to select only cleaning products that are child-friendly. The best solution is using a mix of a mild detergent and warm water but there is also a wide selection of specialist products available to choose from. 

Equipment can be cleaned using cloths and soft brushes with a circular motion being the best method of gently removing any dirt. It’s also important to remember that not all germs and dirt can be seen so even if an item is looking clean, it should still be cleaned with products regularly. 

For spot cleans, disinfectant sprays that are again child-friendly are ideal to use. These can also be used to sanitise items in between deep cleans to stop germs from having the chance to multiply. 

Clean the Surrounding Areas To Eliminate any Cross Contamination

Another important step isn’t just cleaning the soft play equipment items but also the areas surrounding structure components. This means sweeping, vacuuming and mopping spaces once there are no children running around. It is important not just to keep spaces visually clear from clutter, but this step also ensures any invisible spills are not left to become mouldy, which can result in an unwanted odour. 

Always Ensure Items Are Dry and Returned Safety Before Use

Another vital aspect of cleaning soft play spaces effectively is ensuring areas are left in a condition that is safe for kids to interact with. This means properly drying surfaces, ensuring correct installations have been achieved and removing any cleaning items from the area. 

How Can Cleanliness Levels Be Maintained Within Soft Play Spaces?

Now that you know how to clean soft space spaces, we think it’s also vital to consider some ways that cleanliness levels can be maintained at all times. This will ensure that cleaning is kept on top off which eliminates any risks to children. Some ways of achieving this are as follows:

• Ensure that all staff are trained on cleanliness standards and that tasks are clearly assigned during shifts. 
• Investing in professional cleaning equipment such as carpet cleaners and steam machines is also a great idea as this can reduce the time spent on cleaning whilst improving the end results.
• When sourcing play equipment, be sure to choose professionally recommended solutions that have antimicrobial finishes. This means the surfaces are resistant to a wide selection of germs plus they also provide a better solution for little ones that are less likely to cause irritations.
• It’s also important to create some ‘house rules’ which everyone abides by. This could include hand washing, not eating in certain spots or having certain areas age-restricted.
• To prevent cross-contamination, it’s a good idea to have different cleaning supplies and products for the various areas of the play centre. These could be stored in different spots or even colour coordinated to keep things clear for everyone.

Why Is Equipment From Softplay Solutions Ideal for Clean Spaces?

Keeping soft place spaces clean is much easier when the right equipment is sourced. Our entire soft play range is intended to keep germs to a minimum plus be easy to care for. Whether you need nursery equipment, special needs items or equipment for at home, we offer it all.

We also ensure that you never have to compromise when selecting cleaning-friendly equipment by offering our bespoke design service in addition to our ready-made products, ensuring any vision can be brought to life. All of our products are also safety tested and available in a wide selection of prices or with the option of a finance plan.

To learn more about our selection, contact us today.