The surface of the plastic playground slide is easy to accumulate dust, oxidized layer, and fine scratches after long-term use, and these will cause the sliding speed to become more slow and the friction become strong.
So , it is not complex if you want your plastic slides become smooth and soft. You usually only need to clean, polish and properly maintain it, and then will clearly improve sliding experience.
Why is the plastic slide becoming less slippery anymore
Before handling, you need to know several common reasons which let a plastic slide become "rough":
1. Accumulation of surface dirt
Dust, soil, sweat stains, and oils will adhere to the slide plastic surface and will add the friction force.
2. Ultraviolet radiation aging
Long-term exposure in the sun, the plastic surface is easy to oxidation and become white, then lose it’s original smoothness.
3. Fine scratches
After children repeatedly sliding in the long term, the slide surface will form a lot of fine lines and shallow grooves.
4. Humid environments
Dampness and rainwater may cause the slide surface become rough and even will have mold spots.
How can we make a plastic slide slippery safely
First step: Clean the plastic slide surface thoroughly
The first step to make a plastic slide become slippery is not waxing, but firstly clean the surface dirt up.
The following cleaning items are recommended:
Warm water
A small amount of neutral dish soap
A soft brush or a coarse-fiber towel
Evenly wipe the cleaning fluid on the slide surface, and wipe repeatedly from top to bottom, then focus on handling:
Black stain
Footprint
Silt and sand
Sticky area
After cleaning is finished, you need to use the branch water to wash out thoroughly.
Do not use:
Strong acid cleaner
Bleach
Steel wool
Industrial detergent
These products may harm the plastic protective layer and then let the plastic slide become more rough.
Second step: Let the plastic slide dry totally
This step will be ignored for many people.
If the slide surface has moisture, the subsequent wax layer or polishing agent is difficult to adhere evenly, and the effect also clearly reduces.
It is recommended:
Natural air drying for 30–60 minutes
Or use a dry towel to wipe dry
After ensuring the slide surface not have clear water stains, and then you can start to next step.
Third step: Wax the slide surface
This is one of the most effective ways which can improve smoothness.
Recommended way: Food-grade wax paper
Use the food-grade wax paper to wipe back and forth along the slide surface, and then it can form a layer of safe and slippery protective film.
Advantages:
High safety
Not easy to stimulate the skin
Not easy to soil the clothes
Easy operation
For children’s play equipment, this kind of way usually is safer than the industrial spray wax.
Fourth step: Use the safe plastic polishing agent(optional)
If the slide has clearly aged, and you can properly use child-safe plastic polishing agent.
Focus on when choosing:
Non-toxic formula
No irritating odor
No oily residue
Suitable for children’s playground equipment
After spraying, you can wipe evenly by a soft cloth.
It is not recommended to use:
Car tire brightener
Industrial lubricating spray
A product with highly silicone oil content
Although these products are slippery for a short time, it might:
Cause the children to slide too fast
Stimulate the stains
The oil stains on clothing
Add the fall risk
Fifth step: If necessary, softly polish the slide surface
If use hand to touch it, you can clearly feel a rough texture, and this explains that the slide surface wear has already occurred.
And then can:
Use an ultra-fine sandpaper(1500-2000 mesh)
Lightly wet polishing the slide surface
Goal of polishing is not to “grind off materials”, but:
Remove the shallow scratches
Smooth out the rough area
Reduce friction resistance
You need to do again after finishing:
Cleaning
Wiping dry
Waxing
This effect will be more clear.
Sixth step: Add a protective layer for the slide
If take the slide out outdoor for a long term, and only depend on once cleaning and waxing, the slide is difficult to keep slippery.
The common protection ways:
Children's safety plastic protective agent
UV protection agent against ultraviolet radiation
Outdoor plastic care spray
These products have the main functions:
Reduce the slowing of plastic aging
Reduce the surface oxidation
Reduce whitening and roughness
Extend the sliding smoothness time
Correct use ways:
Firstly, to ensure the slide has already cleaned and totally dried
Spray the protective agent evenly to the slide surface
Softly wipe open with the ultra-fine fiber cloth
Let the slide stay for a few minutes before using
It is recommended to not spray too much at once, otherwise may occur:
The slide surface is too slippery
Oily sensation
Easy to adsorb dust
Which ways are not recommended to use
In fact, many ways that are popular on the online are not safe.
You need to avoid the following ways as far as possible:
1. To smear edible oil: Easy to dust and become sticky
2. Use the machine oil: Toxic and difficult to clean
3. Spray the WD-40: It is not suitable for children to touch
4. To smear soap: Easy to stay and lead to slip
5. Excessively polish: Will break the plastic structure
How to keep the slide slippery for a long term
Different from “having an issue after handling”, and an effect of regular maintenance will be better.
1. Maintenance frequency
A slide in the family backyard:
You can clean it once every 1–2 months
You can wax it every quarter
Commercial playground park slide:
You need to check its surface weekly
Regularly polish its high-frequency usage areas
2. Reduce small tips for aging
Need to avoid long-term exposure in the sun
Ultraviolet rays are one of the main reasons of plastic aging.
So you can:
Add an awning
Take it in a semi-shaded area
Cover with a protective cloth when you are not using
Check the cracks regularly
If your slide has already occurred:
Cracking
Edge warping
Deep scratches
Structure is loosening
And it is recommended to directly replace, instead of keeping to have a polish treatment. Because the structure safety is more important than sliding speed.
When should the slide be replaced directly
If it has the following situations, not very meaningful to polishcontinuely:
Its surface is a severe chalking
The large area is cracking
It is clearly out of shape
Long-term fading and aging
Its sliding track structure becomes soft
It usually explains that the plastic has already entered the late stage of aging.
For a commercial playground park, replacing the equipment in time can not only improve player’s play experience, but also improve the operational safety.
Let the plastic slide become slippery again, the core steps only three in fact:
Deeply clean
Safely polish
Regularly maintain
Whether it is a family backyard slide or a commercial playground device, its safety is always more important than “more slippery”.
Choose a way that is non-toxic, safe, and suitable for children using, and then can really improve children’s play experience.
