How to Clean a Trampoline Properly

Trampolines are excellent items to have in your yard, as they allow both children and adults to get fun and healthy exercise. Using trampolines exercises all the muscles in the body, and can be a lot of fun. But if you live in an area where you have snow you will probably have to forego that exercise and keep your trampoline covered if you can.

Parts of a Trampoline that Need Cleaning

A trampoline basically has four parts. The first is the frame itself that holds up the entire structure and is fixed in the ground (learn how to protect your grass from a trampoline). The second is the springs that give you the bounce and are fixed all around the frame. Next is the mat that is attached to the springs and gives you the jumping surface. Lastly, come the safety pads. Springs will stretch and contract during the jumping, and if any part of your body or clothes gets caught in them they can lead to serious injuries. That is why you need safety pads covering the springs so that you do not come into contact with them. They also protect the springs from the weather. This is especially important for high-performing trampolines, like the Duofit TR-06 trampoline, as their performance is tied to being in top working order. In addition, you can install safety nets for the sides, an essential where children are users. Some trampolines come without springs, with the frame itself providing the spring action.

Cleaning a Trampoline

Cleaning is a chore that most homeowners are familiar with, and cleaning a trampoline is no different than cleaning another room in your home. All that you require is a broom, some water, brushes for scrubbing, and of course water and lots of clean towels to dry the trampoline after you have cleaned it.

Start with cleaning the mat, the part that you are always in contact with when you use a trampoline. It is also the part that will catch the most dirt that needs cleaning. Sweep the mat of all the collected dirt and debris. Then hose it down, and use brushes to clean up any stubborn dirt or stains. Use warm soapy water to help you. Rinse the soap off using water. Then wipe down each area of the mat with towels till it is completely dry.

The next part of the cleaning has to be of the safety pads that cover the springs. These pads are not elastic, as the mat is, and more like cushions. You can always combine the cleaning of mats and pads as they are adjacent to each other. Save yourself the trouble and also clean the netting, if you have one, at the same time. Nets can be easily taken down, as this will make it easier for cleaning them. But even just hosing them down will make them clean.

To clean the springs, it is necessary to remove the safety pads. Make sure that none of the springs have rusted, as this can lead to them getting damaged and noisy. If you want to put some prier on them to save them from rust, you will also have to remove the mat. So schedule this only once in three or four cleanings.

How do Trampolines Get Dirty

Trampolines will get dirty as they are used and constantly exposed to the environment outside. They tend to get dirtier when more people use it and most of them are children. They are also likely to gather dirt and dust from traffic, and even though a little rain can give your trampoline a wash, it will also make parts of it moist and can lead to the formation of rust, mud if used in the rain, and other problems. A dirty trampoline can also leave stains on your body when you use it.

Trampolines Are Rarely Used in Winter

Snow can accumulate on the mat of the trampoline and its weight can cause the netting to be damaged. It makes far more sense to dismantle the trampoline and store it indoors during extended periods when it will not be in use. In addition to protecting it from a harsh winter, this is also a good way to protect the trampoline from the sun and extend its life. This is quite easy if you have a small trampoline, but if it is a bigger one that the entire family uses together (see our review of the Kangaroo Hoppers trampoline), this can be cumbersome. It is best if you can cover the trampoline and arrange the cover in such a way that the snow falls off. We are, however, talking of cleaning the trampoline and not its winter care.

Final Words

Cleaning a trampoline after it has been left out in the open all winter, can require more hard work, but the process remains essentially the same. Nevertheless, it is imperative to ensure your trampoline stays in clean and working order before allowing jumpers to mount the device. Having a clean trampoline has many benefits such as extending the life of the trampoline and/or improving performance. Follow the advice above to ensure your trampoline stays clean so it can give you many years of enjoyable entertainment.

Learn more about trampolines at Trampolines Reviewed