Plastic slide is very common in children’s playgrounds, backyard play areas, and toddler activity zones.
But along with the passage of time, the surface of slides becomes rough or not smooth enough lead to child’s gliding speed has slowed down, and the experience is worse, because of dust, dirt, ultraviolet rays, and friction. The good news is not need to change the slides in most cases, only need a simple cleaning and appropriate surface treatment, and can make the slides recover smoothness.
The following are some safe and effective ways.
1. Cleaning the slide surface thoroughly
Before try any ways of making the slides become more smoother, cleaning is the most important step. The dirt, grease, resin, or dust can increase friction, let the slide surface becomes not smooth anymore.
Working ways：
Prepare a bucket of warm water, and add a small amount of mild dish soap or neutral detergent.
Use the soft brush or towel, wash carefully from top of the slides to the end.
Special attention of the edges, seams, and areas where the dust is easy to accumulate.
Use the garden water pipe to wash the residual soap water thoroughly.
Professional tips:
Regularly cleaning can not only recovers sliding smoothness of a slide, but also extends service life of the plastic material, and it can reduce bacterial growth.
2. Let the slide dry completely
After cleaning, you need to make the slides dry naturally, or wipe dry with a dry cloth.
The reason is so easy:
The damp surface will affect the adhesion of wax or polishing agent
Moisture may diluting the protective layer
The dry surface is easier to form a uniform sliding layer
Under the sunshine-filled weather, it usually takes 30–60 minutes to dry completely.
3. Use the food-grade wax to make the slides smoother
Adding a layer of wax on the surface of the slides, it is one of the most common and safe ways of recovering smoothness.
Recommended way:
Use the wax paper to wipe the slide surface
Evenly wipe the entire slide from top to bottom
Food-grade wax in the wax paper will naturally move to the plastic surface
Why it works?
The wax can reduce the surface friction
Form a protective layer
Improve the gliding speed
This way is very suitable for the family backyard slides, or children’s play equipment.
4. Use the safety spray wax or plastic polishing agent
Besides the wax paper, some parents or maintenance staff for playground facilities can also use the spray wax products.
When choosing the product, you need to pay attention to:
Must be non-toxic and safe for children
Not irritate the skin
Does not stain or dirty clothes
Suitable for plastic surfaces
Usage steps:
Spray a light layer on the surface of the dry slide
Use a clear cloth to wipe evenly
Wait a few minutes, let the surface form a protective layer
This way usually can make the slides recover a smooth ride near the new slide.
5. Polish the rough or worn the slides surface
If using the slide for many years, it may have some fine grooves or rough texture. These micro scratches will increase friction clearly.
The solution is light sanding. The working steps:
Use fine sandpaper(like 400–600)
Gently polish the surface along the sliding direction
After polishing, cleaning the slide again
Finally, waxing or polishing treatment
This will recover the smoothness of the slides, and it lets the glide smoother.
6. Prevent the slide from slowing down
Besides repairing the slide, the routine maintenance is also important:
Clean dust and dirt regularly
Avoid kids clothing with metal or rough parts to glide
Reduce the hard objects to scratch the slides
Simply waxing once every few months
These simple steps can make the slides to keep a good gliding performance in long term.
When the plastic slide becomes no longer smooth, it usually not needs to change the equipment.
By cleaning the slide, drying it completely, using wax paper or a safety polishing agent, and mildly grinding when necessary, these can reduce friction clearly, and let the slide recover smooth and fun gliding experience.
Only maintain simply and regularly, the slides can keep a good condition for a long time, and continually bring a safe and happy play experience for children.
Tongle has a rich experience in play equipment production, and also offers a integrated service from design to production. Then customers not only get the standard sliding product, but also customize designs according to project needs to make a play equipment that better suit the venue's features.
