Author: Lucyan Ye Publish Time: 2022-06-17 Origin: Site
Why?
Outdoor playground is exposed to wind, rain, sunlight and birds droppings, there is inevitably dust and garbage on the surface of the equipment. Children's hands directly touch the surface of outdoor playground equipment. If the equipment is not cleaned frequently, bacteria may enter children’s mouths by their small hands, thereby causing harm to children’s health. In the post-epidemic era, we must pay more attention to hygiene. A clean outdoor playground not only reassures parents of letting their children play in it, but also maximizes the value of these equipment.
Choose Appropriate Equipment material and Ground Material
Equipment Material
Plastic is easy to clean, and what you need is just a soap. Types of plastics used for outdoor playground equipment include polyamides, duroplastic, polytetrafluorethylene, acryl glass and UV-stabilized high-density polyethylene (HDPE). They can resist mold and mildew damage.
Wood does not conduct heat, but it can rot or harbor insects. So if you want to choose wood as the equipment material, you’d better choose a naturally insect-resistant wood, such as redwood or cedar. Treated wood is also recommended, which holds up well against water damage and rot.
Ground Material
It is one of the most expensive playground material options, however, it doesn’t need much maintenance. You just need water to sweep it. Besides, it can’t contain animal waste and microbial organisms like sand or bare ground.
Both material are easy to maintain, and can facilitate drainage. But some rubber material can release harmful chemicals when heated.
EWF has great shock absorption at 12"+ depth and is non-slip. It is natural and is made of sustainable forest wood. The disadvantage of it is that it can hide foreign objects and insects. It can mold when wet and needs regular maintenance.
It is cheap and easy to install. Animals and insects also tend to stay away from this kind of material. However, it poses a choking hazard for children under 5. Besides, it requires regular maintenance to keep it at 12 inches deep.
1.Make a Schedule
This schedule should include following contents:
Firstly, read the product manual and get to know how often each piece of equipment should be cleaned. If the playground equipment surface is plastic, you should wash it down once a month. If it is wood, it is recommended to wash it down bimonthly.
Secondly, too clean these equipment, what cleaners we should prepare. Commonly used cleaners are: a soap, a brush, a pressure washer, baking soda, vinegar and bleach.
Thirdly, make a list of people responsible for daily cleaning and disinfection.
Fourthly, set the first cleaning date and keep record. The cleaning schedule can be changed in the event of special weather.
2.Consulting Professionals
If you don't know which cleaner is better for a facility, you'd be better off consulting a professional. For example, if the equipment is plastic, you should know that bleach solutions may discolor any plastics that aren’t white. If the equipment is wooden, you should figure out which kind of wood they belong to because water that soaks into all these wood species like redwood, cedar, teak and other hardwoods will cause them to crack. If it is foam, please keep in mind that polyurethane foam should be spot-cleaned only.
3.Volunteers
You can cooperate with local communities and form a volunteer team who is responsible for daily garbage cleaning. This can not only save cost but also create social value.
Fencing
Set up a fence for your outdoor playground. Outdoor playground fence has two functions: the first is to keep children from leaving the safe area to protect their safety; the second is to keep animals out of the way to reduce the need to clean up animal waste during cleaning.
Hand Sanitizer Dispensers
Hand sanitizer dispenser can help playground visitors clean their hands before, during, and after play. It can clean the oil stains on children's hands after eating or the dust on their hands after playing, saving parents the trouble of going to public toilets to wash their children's hands, which not only improves the cleanliness of entertainment venues, but also saves everyone time.
Garbage Bins
Children usually like to bring some snacks when they play outdoors. When there are no trash cans, adults will help children put garbage in their pockets, but food residues that fall on the ground cannot be put into pockets, especially liquids. Placing trash cans next to the playground can not only help children develop the habit of caring for the environment, but also save cleaning time.
Playground Inspection Software
Playground Guardian’s Park Protector is a cloud-based, mobile-friendly playground inspection software. It allows you to inspect the playground system from your computer or any mobile device, and makes it easy to review and analyze reporting data from your playground inspections.
