Cleaning Pool Toys the Right Way
A pool is not complete without swimming pool toys. From pool floats and diving toys to beach balls and inflatable volleyball nets, there are plenty of ways to enjoy the water. But after a long day of fun in the sun, aside from pool cleaning, it’s important to clean your pool toys properly. Otherwise, they can become breeding grounds for bacteria and other microorganisms.
You don’t want to have to worry about your family’s health every time they want to take a dip during pool parties or just to relax on a hot day. Fortunately, cleaning pool toys is easy as long as you follow the right steps and for some major tasks, a pool service company should serve as your go-to solution.
Different Pool Toys
There are tons of pool toys for kids and for adults. While we enjoy using them on the water’s surface or on the pool deck, getting them dirty is inevitable. While it may seem a daunting task to clean your swimming pool’s toys, we will show you that it’s pretty easy to do. But first, let’s talk a bit about the best pool toys your whole family can enjoy.
- Beach Balls: They come in different sizes and colors, but they all serve the same purpose: to have fun. They can be used in the water or on the beach.
- Diving Toys: Kids will surely love fun and exciting way to enjoy their time in the pool. Diving toys such as play sticks, underwater balls, and Frisbees can be easily found in toy stores. You and your kids can have fun while developing their hand-eye coordination.
- Floats: They come in different shapes and sizes. There are also some that come with a canopy to provide shade while you’re floating on the water.
- Inflatable Net: They are perfect if you want to enjoy pool games or volleyball with your friends or family.
- Inflatable Hoop: This is basically a basketball game where you shoot around, practice your skills, and compete with your friends while in the water.
How To Clean Your Pool Toy Collection
You might be thinking that different pool toys require different types of cleaning. Well, you’re partially right. There are some materials that are more delicate than others and might require a different cleaning process. Pool noodles for example are made of a closed-cell foam that doesn’t absorb water, which means they are less likely to grow mold or mildew.
On the other hand, vinyl and plastic toys are more prone to growing mold and mildew if not cleaned properly. But for the most part, you can simply follow these simple steps below to clean all your pool toys:
- Get the Right Mix of Baking Soda and Warm Water
Baking soda is a popular DIY cleaning solution because it is gentle and effective. It can be used to clean different surfaces without damaging them. To clean your pool toys with baking soda, mix 1/4 cup of baking soda with 1 quart of warm water. Not cold, not hot. Just warm water will do. This will help the baking soda clean the surface more effectively without causing any damage.
- Gently Scrub Toys with a Soft Brush
The next thing to do is to take a soft brush and gently scrub your pool toys. Start with the areas that are most likely to get dirty such as under the arms of inflatable rafts or between the creases of pool noodles. Make sure to scrub gently so you don’t damage the surface of the toy.
- Rinse Thoroughly with Clean Water
If you have a water hose, you can use it to rinse your pool toys. If not, you can just bring them inside and rinse them with clean water from the tap. Make sure to rinse them thoroughly to remove all the baking soda solution.
- Let Toys Dry in the Sun Before Storing or Putting Back in the Pool
Before putting them back in the pool, it’s important to let them dry in the sun first as this will help prevent the growth of mold and mildew. If you’re storing them, make sure to put them in a dry and well-ventilated area.
Final Thoughts
Every floating game toy, diving toy, and beach ball needs to be cleaned on a regular basis. Whether it is a simple ring toss game, water basketball, or a kiddie pool with beach balls, you should clean them as often as possible not only to prevent them from being an obvious eyesore but also to protect your family from the harmful effects of mold and mildew.
