After using a trampoline for a while, it easily gets dusty, sweaty, or covered with fallen leaves. If you don’t clean it in time, it won’t just ruin the fun of using it—over time, it might even grow bacteria. Worse, it could make the trampoline wear out faster and create safety risks.
Cleaning and maintaining your trampoline regularly doesn’t just make it last longer. It also creates a fun and safe place for your family to play.
Why Clean a Trampoline?
Health & Hygiene
From a health and hygiene perspective, the surface of a trampoline easily collects dust, dead skin, and sweat. These can turn it into a perfect spot for bacteria and mold to grow—and these tiny organisms might cause skin itching or allergies. Also, outdoor trampolines often get dirt, insect droppings, and other gross stuff on them, which can make it more likely for you to have breathing problems.
Cleaning it regularly is a good way to get rid of all these things that can make people sick or uncomfortable. It gives users, especially kids, a safe and clean place to play.
Equipment Protection
From the perspective of protecting your equipment, cleaning and maintaining your trampoline regularly is key to making it last longer and keeping it safe.
If you don’t clean it for a long time, dirt, sand, leaves, and other stuff on the surface will rub against it when you jump. This makes the trampoline mat wear out and get old faster, which can make it less bouncy or even cause it to tear. The metal frame and springs can also rust easily if they get covered in sweat, rain, or mud and aren’t cleaned quickly—and rust makes them more likely to break. Cleaning and maintaining it regularly not only prevents these problems but also keeps the trampoline working as well as new, which saves you money on repairs or having to buy a new one.
User Experience & Safety
From the angle of how it feels to use and how safe it is, cleaning your trampoline is key to keeping it comfortable to play on and avoiding accidents.
Dirt, sand, and other small bits can mess up the smooth surface of the trampoline mat. This makes jumping feel bumpy and takes the fun out of it. At the same time, this stuff can also make you slip or fall. Even worse, bigger things left on the trampoline might make you trip or get scratched while jumping.
How to Clean a Trampoline?
Initial Cleaning
Use a soft-bristled brush or a broom to gently sweep off dust, sand, leaves, twigs, and other debris from the trampoline mat. Avoid using hard brushes—they might damage the mat material. At the same time, check and clear any stuff stuck in the springs or where the frame connects. This keeps the mat from getting scratched and prevents parts from getting jammed during cleaning.
2. Deep Cleaning
Spray some diluted neutral cleaner on the trampoline surface, then wipe it gently with a soft cloth or sponge. Focus on areas with lots of sweat stains or dirt.
Next, wipe the metal frame with a damp rag. If you see a little rust, first rub it lightly with sandpaper, then put on some anti-rust spray. Also, be careful—don’t use cleaners that can corrode things, or they might damage the trampoline materials.
3. Rinsing and Drying
Rinse the trampoline mat and frame thoroughly with clean water. Make sure all the cleaner is washed off—leftover cleaner can make the materials age faster.
After rinsing, let the trampoline air dry naturally. Or, you can wipe the metal parts with a dry cloth. This keeps the frame from rusting and the mat from getting moldy because of dampness.
Some Tips
1. Use a soft-bristled broom or vacuum to clean up dust and sand. Avoid rubbing directly with hard brushes—they might scratch the trampoline mat, which is usually made of PVC or nylon.
2. For leaves and twigs on outdoor trampolines, first pick them out with a tool, then sweep up the leftovers. This lowers the risk of stuff getting stuck in the spring gaps.
3. For organic stains like sweat or juice, wipe them with a mix of white vinegar and warm water in a 1:10 ratio. White vinegar is gentle but good at removing stains. Don’t use things like laundry detergent—they’re too alkaline.
4. If there are tough stains like mud on the surface, let them dry first. Then gently scrape off the top layer with a plastic scraper. Wipe the rest with a damp cloth dipped in neutral dish soap.
5. After rinsing an outdoor trampoline, prop up one corner of the waterproof cover. This keeps air flowing to dry it faster, and also keeps the sun from shining directly on the mat (which can make it age quicker).
How to Maintain It?
1. Regular Checks
Check the trampoline mat every week for tears, wear, or looseness. If you find small damages, use a special trampoline repair patch to fix them. If the damage is bad, you should replace the mat right away.
Check the metal frame every month for rust, bending, or broken springs. For rusty parts, first remove the rust, then put on some anti-rust paint. Broken springs need to be replaced immediately.
Pay extra attention to the hooks and screws that hold the mat to the frame—see if they’re loose. Use a wrench to tighten each one. This stops parts from falling off while someone’s using the trampoline.
2. Care Based on Material
Don’t leave the trampoline mat in the sun for too long. When not using it, cover it with a sunshade cloth—this keeps the material from getting old and brittle. After cleaning, make sure it’s completely dry. This stops mold from growing because of dampness.
For the frame and springs of outdoor trampolines, it’s a good idea to put on anti-rust spray once every three months. After rain, wipe the metal surface dry right away to keep rainwater from leaving marks and causing rust.
If the safety net gets damaged, fix it in time. If the elastic cords around the edge of the jumping mat get loose, adjust or replace them. This helps keep the mat bouncy and safe to use.
3.Daily Protection
Before and after each use, clean off any debris from the trampoline mat. This stops hard things like sand or twigs from scratching or damaging the jumping mat. When using it, keep an eye on the number of people and the total weight—don’t go over the trampoline’s weight limit. If you do, it might break the springs or bend the frame.
If there’s bad weat
To sum it up, cleaning and maintaining your trampoline regularly isn’t just about keeping it looking neat. It’s more about keeping everyone who uses it safe and making sure it’s fun to play on.
By regularly cleaning off debris and dirt from the surface, and checking and caring for the trampoline, you can stop accidents from happening. A clean, safe, and fun trampoline doesn’t just let kids play happily—it also lets parents feel more at ease.
