A sea of soft, brightly colored balls can make for an action-packed afternoon when you're a child. Ball pits are everywhere--at the fast-food restaurant, the mall, the family gym and perhaps even in your home. Unfortunately, ball pits are a breeding ground for germs. At least one hospital--the Children's Hospital at Westmead in Australia--recommends cleaning ball pits once a week to help prevent the spread of germs.
Cleaning the Balls
Step 1
Fill your tub with several gallons of water. Add 1/4 cup of household bleach for each gallon.
Step 2
Place the ball pit balls in the tub. Wipe down each ball with the bleach solution using a clean cloth.
Step 3
Allow the balls to sit in the tub for at least 10 minutes. Drain the tub and rinse the balls with a shower hose. Remove the balls from the bathtub and lay them on towels to air-dry.
Cleaning the Pit
Step 1
Pour 1 gallon of water into a bucket. Add 1/4 cup of household bleach to the water.
Step 2
Moisten a soft cloth with the bleach solution. Wipe down the interior and exterior walls of the ball pit.
Step 3
Allow the bleach solution to remain on the ball pit walls for 10 minutes then dampen a second cloth with clear water. Rinse the walls with the second cloth. Allow the ball pit to air-dry.
Tips and Warnings
- If you have only a few balls inside the pit, fill a spray bottle with a solution made from 1/4 cup of bleach and 1 gallon of water. Spray the balls individually, and wipe them down with a clean paper towel.
- Do not refill the ball pit until the balls and the walls dry completely. Adding the balls to the pit before everything is dry can encourage mold growth.
Things You'll Need
- Household bleach
- Clean cloths
- Shower hose
- Towels
