For many families, the trampoline is the star of backyard playtime! It can provide hours of jumping, bouncing, lounging, and fun. But with all that use, you’re likely to end up with a trampoline that needs a little TLC.
When the fun starts to layer on dust, smudges, and streaks, it’s time to clean! But, the best way to clean a trampoline may not be very intuitive. That’s why we’re here! This article will lead you through a clear and effective cleaning practice for your backyard trampoline. Follow this guide, and you’ll be able to keep your trampoline looking and feeling fresh and new.
Why You Should Clean Your Trampoline
Keeping that trampoline slick and shiny is a good idea, not just for the sparkle, but also for the longevity! Imagine what your kitchen would look like if you never took the time to wipe down the counters or scrub away grime.
Trampolines are much the same. The more regularly you practice cleaning and maintenance of your trampoline, the longer it will last and the safer it will be. A well-cleaned trampoline means that the parts are more likely to function correctly, and there is less risk of damage and wear-down.
Step-by-step Guide For Cleaning Every Part of a Trampoline
Here is all you need to know about how to clean your trampoline! Below, you will find directions for performing regular maintenance and a deep clean. Refer to the Maintenance Tips section for a few more details on supplies to choose from and how often to clean your trampoline.
Supplies You Need
You will need the following materials to perform regular and deep cleaning of your trampoline.
- Long-handled patio broom
- Bucket filled with warm soapy water. A bucket full of water plus 2Tb of gentle soap should do the trick.
- Gentle scrubbing brush – any dish sponge will do here, as long as it isn’t too harsh.
- Washcloth
- Hose
- Dustpan
- Large towels
A note on soap: when cleaning your trampoline, it’s best to avoid any harsh chemical soaps. Not only are they bad for your lawn and the environment, but they can also cause damage to your trampoline. The jumping mat is made with UV-resistant material. Chemicals can easily interfere with that resistance and cause premature aging to your trampoline.
Regular Maintenance
Follow these steps to perform regular cleaning on your trampoline.
1. Remove debris
Grab that long-handled broom and get to sweeping! Remove all debris (like leaves, dirt, pine cones, etc.) from your trampoline mat.
Do you have a safety net around your trampoline? If it’s too tricky to brush debris out of the net’s entrance door (like if it’s a folding envelope door, this will be nearly impossible!), use this simple trick:
Brush debris into a pile on the mat, then use a dustpan to scoop up all the loose bits and toss them out.
2. Wipe down
Use a cloth saturated with warm water to wipe down the jumping mat. If you notice any stubborn spots, spend a little extra effort addressing them.
3. Let it dry
Either sun dry or towel dry the mat.
Deep Cleaning
Are you looking at a mucked-up jumper? Never cleaned your well-used trampoline? Use the guide below for a deep cleaning of your trampoline!
1. Remove debris
As detailed above, use a long-handled broom to remove all debris from your trampoline!
Do you have a spring pad on your trampoline? Remove the pad before beginning your cleaning process. You should separately clean this pad by wiping it down with soap and water, rinsing, then drying thoroughly.
2. Water it down
Give your trampoline mat a thorough soaking with your garden hose. Don’t forget to hose down the springs! Like water-flossing, a good spray can help break loose any debris stuck in those springs and connection points.
If you don’t have a garden hose, you can also use a few buckets of water to saturate the mat or rinse off soap after cleaning. A watering can also works well and helps provide a bit more accuracy than a bucket.
3. Scrub’a’dub
Take your bucket filled with warm water and an eco-friendly soap on top of your jumping mat. Don’t forget your gentle scrubber. Start at one end of the mat and gently scrub away in sections until you’ve covered the entire surface.
If there are any spots of sticky tree sap or stubborn stains, focus a bit more time on these areas. For a really sticky spot, try saturating a cloth in hot soapy water, then set the cloth directly on top of the spot. Leave the cloth in place for 5 or 10 minutes, then check to see how easily the spot will remove.
Next, move on to the springs and use your sponge to attend to each piece.
Finally, attend to the frame with your washcloth. There likely isn’t a need for focused scrubbing here; wipe down the frame and legs with the wet washcloth.
4. Rinse!
Hop off (well, carefully climb off – a wet trampoline is slippery!) and pick up your hose again. Spray down all sections of your trampoline, removing the soapy suds.
Don’t skip this step! Leaving the soap on the trampoline may cause a slippery surface or hardening over time. Always rinse your trampoline after soaping it down.
5. Dry
Optional, depending on how sunny of a day it is for you. You can dry off your trampoline with a few large beach towels. However, if it’s hot and dry outside, let the sun do the drying work for you.
Don’t let your kids return to jumping until the trampoline is completely dry!
Maintenance Tips to Keep Your Trampoline Clean
After cleaning, you have the opportunity to complete some maintenance tasks for your fresh trampoline. It’s also a good idea to establish a few rules and habits to help keep the trampoline clean during use.
- After cleaning: Apply rust protection to your trampoline springs.
- After cleaning: Apply lubrication to zippers if you have them on your safety net’s entrance.
- Keep a small broom and dustpan near your trampoline for quick debris removal.
- Consider making this a rule with the kiddos – after you jump, you sweep!
- Keep a protective mat in place when the trampoline is not in use.
- Do not allow children to take food or drink on the trampoline.
What NOT To Do When Cleaning Your Trampoline
Read below for some commonly asked questions and simple mistakes to avoid when cleaning your trampoline.
When is the best time to clean a trampoline?
It’s best to clean your trampoline on a sunny day! If it’s rainy, your soapy water will become diluted, and you won’t be able to apply any lubricating oil afterward.
Is pressure washing ok?
NO. You should not use a power washer on a trampoline. The water blast from these machines is far too powerful and can cause quick damage. Always use a garden hose with a gentle setting.
What chemicals are safe to use?
You should NEVER use bleach or harsh chemicals on your trampoline. As discussed earlier, these can damage your mat’s protective qualities and lead to early aging and damage.
How often should you clean a trampoline?
It’s recommended that you lightly clean your trampoline (as detailed under Regular Maintenance) once a month. A deep clean is best to complete twice a year, especially before packing into storage.
What kind of scrubber can I use?
Pick a gentle scrubber brush. This can be a common kitchen sponge (though once used to wash your trampoline, it should stay for that purpose only!) or a soft-bristled scrub brush. Do not use any rough material, like a pumice stone or copper wire.
Black residue continues to come off on my hand, even after cleaning.
This may be a sign that your jumping mat needs replacing. If you’ve had your mat for several years, consider replacing the mat with a new item.
How do I remove really stubborn sticky spots on my trampoline?
Use a wet and soapy cloth and place it directly on the spot, to soften the grime, for about 5 minutes. When the spot is soft enough to clean up, use your scrubber to remove any remaining grit from the weave of the mat.
How do I remove bird droppings from my trampoline?
It’s an unavoidable issue, especially if your trampoline is under trees! If they’re dry, use your broom to brush off the mat. If the droppings are wet, it’s best to spray off with the hose. For particularly-avian-influenced mats, you may wish to wear gloves while you clean!
Final Comments
And there you have it! Your step-by-step process on how to regularly clean and perform a deep clean on your trampoline. Be it regular maintenance or a thorough deep clean; your trampoline will be good as new in no time.
With a few helping hands, this easy task goes by even quicker. Remember, the more regularly you perform cleaning and maintenance of your trampoline, the longer it will last you!
