Maintain all the fun, without any of the fuss! Dive into our hygiene guide and get expert advice on keeping your Implay products clean, safe, and ready for play… no matter what the day brings! 

Whether you’re a parent, a teacher, a sports coach, or a soft play provider, you’re likely to be all too familiar with the typical hygiene level of kids! Fingers can go anywhere – in mouths, up noses, between the toes, in the belly button, you name it… and then ‘bam!’ – those fingers are all over your soft play shapes and foam mats. It happens. So it’s important to know how to keep things clean. 

Of course, any surface where there are a lot of kids around will end up covered in microorganisms, including bacteria. But with soft play shapes and foam mats especially, we need to be particularly careful. As you may know, children's immune systems often aren’t as well-developed as the immune systems of adults, so we do need to take care to stay on top of cleaning & maintenance. 

Luckily, with Implay, it’s much easier than you may think. 

What’s REALLY lurking on soft play shapes?

Before you begin panicking, rest assured that many common microorganisms are completely harmless… and even those that aren’t probably won’t cause any serious illness. A lot of microorganisms spread by mucky fingers are actually beneficial, and have been shown to help digest food, produce essential vitamins, fight off toxins, and even help the immune system to develop. 

“Ball pits will become contaminated in the same way as any environment where there are a large number of children. What worries me is what people mean by the word ‘germs’. I’m so fed up of reading reports saying there are millions of germs, when they’re talking about harmless bacteria.”

 – Sally Bloomfield, Honorary Professor at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine

However, there are of course some microorganisms which can cause illness. The calicivirus family, which causes norovirus – the ‘winter vomiting bug’ – is a notable one. These pathogens are problematic because they can live on surfaces for days, and be picked up by anyone touching them. 

That’s why, regardless of the fact that many microorganisms are harmless, we really do have to keep on top of play shape cleanliness, doing our part to keep the nasty bacteria at bay as much as we can. 

How to clean Implay shapes

Many Implay products are made from robust PVC. The obvious reason, of course, is that the material boasts incredible durability. It’s not going to get ripped or torn easily, so it’ll remain safe and stable for kids in the long term. But there’s another very important reason for the choice: PVC is easy to clean. 

Much of our range comes with what's known as ‘wipe clean’ covers, and the clue’s really in the name here: the shapes and mats simply need wiping regularly to remove any nasty bacteria and germs. As the PVC we use is water resistant, you can simply use a mild detergent and warm water. That’s it! 

Tips and tricks

Here are a few insider tips and tricks, direct from the Implay team:

• Don’t pay out for expensive cleaners or dedicated solutions made specifically for soft play shapes and foam mats. An affordable, standard mild detergent from the supermarket will work just as well!
• Use a microfibre cloth to wipe the PVC, rather than anything tougher and more abrasive. These super-soft cloths are really gentle on the material, so they help avoid damage and maximise lifespan. 
• If you’re particularly worried about viruses, you can use a non-toxic all-purpose spray cleaner after wiping. Allow the solution to sit on the surface for as long as specified in the manufacturer’s guide. 
• PVC ball pools can be wiped clean in exactly the same way. We recommend removing the balls, vacuuming the inside of the pool, and then washing the balls in a net as advised by the manufacturer. 
• Never use spirits or acetone to clean PVC products. These can strip away the outer layer of the cover, leaving your shapes matte rather than shiny. Climb & Slide play sets may not be as slippery! 

Keeping kids healthy & happy

It’s impossible to completely eradicate the risk of infection and illness. We all know that where there are kids, there are bacteria! And this means that there are some environments – like schools and play centres – where risk is inherently greater. However, with a good cleaning schedule, regular maintenance, and a commitment to health and hygiene, we can make a difference. 

At Implay, we design and develop our products to be as easy to clean and low-maintenance as possible, helping you to keep your play equipment hygienic for anyone who wants to enjoy it.