Mold and Mildew: The Silent Killers of Bounce Houses
There aren’t many things as awful for a bounce house or other inflatable as moisture. When left unattended, moisture can cause the dangerous buildup of mildew and mold. And mold and mildew can cause very serious damage that's best to avoid entirely. So it’s important for every inflatable owner to know how to clean mold off a bounce house, inflatable water slide, slip and slide, or inflatable obstacle course.
Mold and mildew are types of fungi that thrive in moisture and darkness, especially where airflow is limited. In just 24 to 48 hours, “colonies” of mold and mildew can infest and grow on all sorts of surfaces—including your bounce house—and start chewing through the material.
If left untreated, mold and mildew can damage or even destroy the PVC vinyl used on a vinyl crossover or commercial inflatable. And given even more time, it will chew through the underlying fabric as well.
It’s essential that you do what you can to prevent mold and mildew from showing up. And if colonies do appear, you'll need to know how to treat these fungal invaders right off the bat. The last thing you want is to have to patch your bounce house, or even replace it entirely, because of mold damage.
How to Prevent Mold and Mildew from Ruining a Bounce House
Before we discuss how to remove mildew and mold from a bounce house, we first need to learn how to prevent it to begin with. And that’s as simple as taking good care of your bounce house and storing it properly.
Preventing mold and mildew boils down to three simple elements. Keep it clean, keep it dry, and store it safely. That’s really all there is to it!
Be sure to always clean your bounce house, especially with our cleaning products before you put it into storage. Take a look at our guide explaining how to clean a bounce house correctly. And after it’s been cleaned, dry your bounce house thoroughly, using the tips we outline in that article.
If your bounce house is still damp when you store it, it’s a potential breeding ground for mold and mildew. So fully cleaning it with our Dynamite Vinyl Shine Mildew Formula and drying your bounce house before putting it in storage is arguably the number one thing you can do to keep it in good condition.
Inflatable water slides and inflatable slip and slides are even higher risk than a bounce house, simply because they handle more water more frequently. So take extra care when cleaning these units and make sure they’re bone dry before putting them away.
It’s a good idea to check in on your inflatables once in a while, too. If you’re storing your bounce house longer term, unroll and inspect it after three or four days. If you find moisture, dry it immediately. And if you find mold or mildew, this is your chance to remove it before it festers into a serious problem.
How to Clean Mold Off a Bounce House Safely
If you encounter mold and mildew on your bounce house, don’t panic! It’s usually not as difficult to remove as it might seem. And usually, all you’ll need is some water and bleach.
IMPORTANT NOTE: The removal of mold and mildew is the ONLY instance where you should EVER use bleach on your bounce house. Bleach can fade colors and even damage the vinyl, so instead apply our Dynamite Vinyl Shine Whitening Formula M.A.C for a thorough cleaning and shine
All you’ll need for cleaning mold off your bounce house is a soft thistle brush, sponge, or rag, and a bucket with a simple 50:50 mix of bleach and water. You’ll also need everything listed in our How to Clean a Bounce House article, because a thorough cleaning is important here too.
Apply your bleachy water to the affected areas and scrub vigorously. You should see the mold and mildew come off pretty easily. But still take your time and make sure you get all of it.
When you’re done scrubbing, rinse the area thoroughly and then dry it. Are there still any signs of mold and mildew? You may need to do another round of bleachy water scrubbing if that’s the case.
Otherwise, you can move on to the next step: cleaning your bounce house from top to bottom. And after your bounce house has been fully cleaned, take some time to dry the heck out of it. Use clean, dry towels. If you own a leaf blower, you can also use that as well.
If the weather permits, it’s always a good idea to leave your bounce house outdoors for a while to dry in the sun. There’s no such thing as “too dry” when it comes to cleaning your inflatables!
Is the Vinyl Damage Too Extreme for Simple Mold and Mildew Removal?
Left unattended, mold and mildew can and will fester to the point of no return and cause irreversible damage to your bounce house. And when that happens, there’s really only one course of action left: physical repairs.
Thankfully, patching a bounce house is pretty easy. We have a guide explaining how to patch bounce houses and other inflatables, and it’s definitely one you should read. It will walk you through the process and explain how to patch a bounce house the right way.
This process will involve cutting away the moldy, mildewy fabric and then applying a patch to your bounce house. So long as the affected area is relatively small, this process should work fine.
If the damage is too severe, however, you may need to ship out your bounce house for professional repairs, which is very costly. You might even end up browsing for a new replacement bounce house altogether. But as much as we’d love to sell you one, we’d very much prefer you to keep the one you’ve already got. So we’re really hoping you can just clean the mold off your bounce house and that you catch it before there’s any real danger.
If you do need inflatable repair kits, replacement parts, or new vinyl crossover or commercial inflatables, don’t hesitate to give Pogo a call at 716-566-5806. We’ll gladly help you find everything you need!
More Article You Might Enjoy
How to Clean a Bounce House, the Right Way
How to Patch a Bounce House Correctly
12 Tips for Safely Storing Inflatables Over the Winter
Can You Get a Bounce House Wet? Is Dampness Dangerous?
How Long do Bounce Houses Last? Bounce House Quality 101
