By Mike McCube
Children have always been fascinated by swings and swing sets. Today, there is a wide range of swing sets to choose from ranging from plastic coated swings, metal swing sets and wooden swingsets.
It is better to buy your swingset based on the age of your child. This is because the child should not only be comfortable in the swing; the swing should also be comfortable to the child's body. While metal swings are long lasting, there is the chance of the swing rusting over time.
However in the case of wooden swingsets, you face minimal maintenance requirements. There is also a great variety of wooden swingsets for you to choose from, based on quality and timber species. To ensure longevity of your wooden swing, it is important that you clean it regularly.
Washing tips for your wooden swing
Keep a lookout for bugs and other outdoor structures as some bugs like termites, can severely damage the swing to beyond repair. Moreover, wasps and hornets may make hives in dark places, and cause danger to kids playing on the swing.
To clean your swing set, you have to first spray it with a garden hose to get rid of accumulated dirt, leaves and even dirty water. You may need pressure washing to get rid of stubborn bird droppings; however, do so while making sure you don't damage the wood.
This done, most people use a wire brush to get rid of the swing's grime. This is not suggested as it only digs the wood, causes splinters and creates crevices in the wooden swingset for the sun and rain to rot. On the contrary, you have to use a brush with soft bristles with soap and water to remove mold, mildew and dirt while brushing in circular motion.
Start cleaning from eye level
Though there are special cleaners and solvents to use to clean wooden swingsets, the most effective cleaning solution is simple soap and warm water. It is better to use a strong cloth or soft brush than a sponge to clean in circular motion.
When you clean your swing, it is better to clean it by starting at eye level and working down the structure. You will be sure you don't miss any areas by cleaning the entire area in a systematic manner. Moreover, by working from the top, you will be sure that dirt does not flow to the areas that have already been washed.
Let the swing dry thoroughly
After cleaning with soap solution, you have to once again hose down the wooden swingset. The next thing to do is to let the swing set dry in the sun. This ensures that it stays clean for a longer time.
Make sure that no kids play on the wooden swingset till it dries completely. This is not only to ensure that the swingset thoroughly dries, but also because there is the possibility of kids kicking up mud which will end up sticking on the freshly cleaned, wet wooden swingset.
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Source:www.isnare.com |
