How to Keep Your Outdoor Play Equipment in Tiptop Shape

How to Keep Your Outdoor Play Equipment in Tiptop Shape

You did it. You bought one of the those monster outdoor play equipment contraptions. Did you know that you have to maintain that unit? Yeah, it scares me when we visit homes of friends that were not aware that they needed to inspect the play equipment!

One way to ensure your children remain safe while playing outdoors is to maintain the play equipment you own. Learning how to keep your outdoor play equipment in tiptop shape can keep your children safe and extend the life of the equipment.

Below are a couple of ideas we found to be helpful:

Industry standard is to inspect your outdoor play equipment at once a year. We have found that it makes more sense to do a complete inspection twice a year. We schedule ours for the late fall before the snows come that limit the daily use and in the early spring before the weather encourages the children to be on it daily. Our fall inspection includes tightening any bolts, replacing worn parts and removing any of the sections that do not tolerate extreme temperatures such as the tarp cover and the ladder if plastic. Our spring inspection is again making sure that all the moving parts are in good condition and returning the tarp cover and slide.

If you wooden structures, begin the inspection by checking the wood to see if there are any places where the wood has splintered or is rough. Sand those areas until the surface is smooth again. Then clean any dirt, mold or mildew which may have accumulated on the equipment. Finally, check with the manufacturer to determine the best way to seal the wood as each type of wood may have its own treatment requirements.

If your equipment is made of metal, check for peeling or chipping paint which would allow rust to begin to form and weaken your equipment. Give your equipment a good inspection, if it is still solid and in good condition, sand down any rusted areas and then clean the area (or entire structure) well before priming and painting with an outside, weather resistant paint. Allow paint to completely dry before allowing the structure to be used.

In general, while inspecting your equipment for problems, run your hands along all the surfaces checking for areas that your child might rub against. Make sure to address these areas for your child won’t be scratched or gouged by them.

If you have any type of cushioning surface under the play area, this would be the time to check the depth as settling does occur (actually I am not sure where it goes..but every year we are replacing several inches!). According to the research I have read, it is suggested that you have somewhere between 8 and 12 inches of cushioning material under the equipment. This protected area, called the “fall zone” should extend at least 4 feet around on all sides.

Maintaining your outdoor play equipment doesn’t require a lot of work, but it does need to be done in order to ensure the safety of your children as well as the length of enjoyment gained from the equipment. It may take some time to inspect and repair or paint/stain it, but the results will be worth it. Once you’ve verified the equipment is safe to use and has been cleaned, it should be ready for another year’s fun.

Consider holding a party for the family when you are ready to open the play equipment for the season. Not only is this a great way to spend time together as a family, but it gives you an opportunity to go over safety guidelines such as not walking in front of the swings or climbing up the slide with your children. Also when several children are on the play equipment, it is a good time to walk all the way around the unit looking for areas that sway, bend or otherwise look unstable.

Happy with the condition of the play equipment? Declare the family playground open for the season!