You want to bounce, and you want to keep on bouncing. The life of a trampoline depends on how well you take care of it. Extending the lifespan means learning how to clean a trampoline, as silly as that might sound. If you’re a new owner, you might not be aware of all the pitfalls or which cleaning products to use. Take into consideration these tips to protect your purchase. Learning how to clean a trampoline takes no longer than a few minutes of reading.
How Long Do Trampolines Last?
If you follow the tips on how to clean a trampoline, your purchase can last for many years. You should, however, expect your trampoline to need some part replacement sooner than others. As a rule of thumb, the safety pads last anywhere from 2 – 5 years while the mat should last around 5 or 6 years.
Take extra care of your trampoline and you can lengthen these periods even further. Springs and frames should last for decades with proper cleaning. Nets last about the same as the safety pads, and will require replacement in time.
How To Clean A Trampoline Section By Section
Gather Your Trampoline Cleaning Supplies
Before you head out to tackle the task, round up the necessary supplies. Pull from the list below:
- Long Handle Push Broom
- Bucket With Soapy Warm Water
- Soft Brush For Scrubbing
- Water Hose For Rinsing
- A Few Large Towels To Dry
- Car Wash Hose Attachment
- Rust Inhibitor
How To Clean A Trampoline Frame & Netting
You could always take the whole net down and clean it by hand, but you’d still have the frame to deal with. It is an option. Another one is to invest in a hose attachment for auto washing. Not every owner feels they need to clean the net and frame each time. They concentrate more on the mat instead.
That’s fine! Just be aware that rain and wind will transfer dirt onto your mat without a cover. When you do wash the frame and netting, make it the first task. Don’t clean the mat first then run dirty water back down on it. Rinse all the soap off before the net and frame dry, then move on to washing the mat.
If you decide to take the net down and wash it, it gives you the chance to spray rust inhibitor on the frame. Just clean and dry the frame first. It’s important to avoid getting chemicals on the mat, pads, or netting. Finally, check each frame leg to make sure it’s not holding water. You may have to remove them one at a time and wash them out.
Cleaning The Trampoline Mat
Learning how to clean a trampoline mat is as easy as memorizing a few steps:
- Sweep off all dirt, leaves, and remove anything else on the trampoline mat.
- Give the entire mat a thorough soaking with your hose.
- Begin gently scrubbing the trampoline mat with a soft brush and warm soapy water. Make sure not to damage the material. Working in sections, then stopping to rinse may make the job easier. For best results start on one end, working and rinsing on a downhill angle.
- Rinse all soap out of the jumping mat and use the towels to dry it as much as possible. Leave it uncovered so that any remaining moisture can air dry.
How To Clean Trampoline Pads, Springs, & Ladder
Clean the trampoline’s springs and pads with warm soapy water as you do the mat. If you want to spray rust protection on the springs, remove them. You can do this in sections without having to take down the mat. The ladder you have should come off so you can spray it off to the side.
One way to keep your trampoline a whole lot cleaner is to use a trampoline cover. This will keep leaves, dirt, and dust off your trampoline and prolong the use of the trampoline.
How to Clean Rusty Springs on Your Trampoline
Rust is never a good sign, to keep it from spreading to other parts of metal on your trampoline, you should look often and clean rusty ones. One easy way to do this is by making a simple mixture at home to clean the rust off. Start with a half a cup of salt and lime juice from a few limes. Mix this together until a scrubby paste is formed. Apply the paste mixture to the rusty spring and let it sit for three hours to work its magic.
After you have waited for the allotted time, the next step is to grab an old cleaning toothbrush. Start by scrubbing your mixture off the springs you have cleaned. After you scrub the salt and juice mixture, rinse the springs and dry them thoroughly. You can also spray some rust inhibitor on the springs if you want to. Attach them back to the trampoline mat, and all is well!
If you are looking for a good rust inhibitor check out the BOESHIELD T-9 Rust & Corrosion Protection spray. You can easily apply this to the frame of the trampoline, as well as the springs. It is a waterproof rust protection spray so, once you apply it, you don’t have to worry about the springs getting rusty again so fast.
If the springs seem hopeless and they are just way to rusty, then I suggest you purchase replacement springs. This is very easy to do and if you get stuck you can always call the manufacturer and see if they have available springs for purchase.
How to Clean a Water Trampoline
Water trampolines are a ton of fun, but they are always wet and a lot of bacteria, algae, and mold can grow on surfaces that are left wet and not clean. The Special PVC fabrics in water trampolines should be cleaned often and maintained properly. Some cleaners are too harsh on these fabrics so we recommend using warm soapy water and a bristle brush to help scrub out dirt and algae.
Also, keep in mind when you are cleaning if you see any holes, rips, etc. to fix them before you use the water trampoline again. Water trampolines are huge investments just like trampolines, so if you keep up with regular maintenance, it should last much longer.
How to Clean Mold Off a Trampoline
Mold can grow and develop easily when moisture is trapped onto surfaces. It is very important not to use a trampoline cover in the winter because moisture gets trapped on the mat and grows mold. If this does happen, do not panic! It is very easy to fix and get rid of before your kids are ready to play.
You can either scrub the mold out with hot soapy water, or you can really simplify the cleaning experience by using a pressure washer. Remember to keep the pressure on a lower setting as you do not want to damage any part of your trampoline mat. Power washing the mat should kill and blow out any mold stuck on. This is an easy, fast way to solve this problem without it taking hours.
How to Clean Tree Sap Off a Trampoline
Tree sap can be very annoying, falling from the trees in your backyard right onto your trampoline. One of the worst things is jumping on your trampoline and then having your foot land in a pile of tree sap. Don’t worry; we have some tips for cleaning tree sap off your trampoline easily.
My first tip for you is to use hot soapy water. Not many things cant be solved with some elbow grease and hot soapy water. The brush shouldn’t damage the mat as you won’t have to scrub very long to get the tree sap off. If that doesn’t work for you, you can try and use some hand sanitizer. Hand sanitizer contains rubbing alcohol, which breaks down sticky stuff and will remove the resin of the tree sap.
Trampoline Cleaning Conclusion
Learning how to clean a trampoline is one thing, but you have to put it into practice for its work. You’ll find the effort well worth the result. Set a semi-annual cleaning schedule, and it’s a good idea to check your trampoline after storms.
As you clean, keep an eye out for any damage in the form of tears or bent springs. You might even make a list of items that need replacement. Keep your trampoline out of the sun and with a cover on when it’s not in use. Make sure you store it for winter, another good time for a cleaning, or anchor it to resist the winds. With proper care and maintenance, your trampoline will keep you jumping year after year.