Advice required - Soft Play Frame Vinyl Equipment

[Sam Kilbey]

Good afternoon all,

Thanks for taking the time to read my post.

I run a small family soft play and dessert parlour business. We recently purchased an Altec Aqua 50 Plus to tackle our carpets, and found the previous threads (and the advice from the W O C team) really helpful in choosing the right chemicals.


However, as any business owner knows, time is money — and at the moment we spend every Sunday cleaning the soft play frame. Our current method is pretty labour-intensive: hands and knees, firm brush, cleaning solution, and cloths.

The challenges:

• Any product we use must be free from bleach, taint, and dyes.
• Ideally, it should kill bacteria, though we can continue with our current sanitiser afterward.
• The material is hard-wearing PVC but stitched in many places, so we need to be cautious with any automatic brush.
• The frame is foam-backed with a plywood base, and it has two levels.

My questions:

1. Has anyone here had to clean soft play PVC/leather, and if so, what products or methods worked best?
2. Are there any automatic tools or equipment that could save us time?
3. Would steam cleaning be an option? If so, what kind of unit could get into the frame’s tight spaces?
4. Is there a cleaning solution strong enough to be effective but gentle enough not to stain or damage the PVC?
5. Could the Altec be adapted with a different attachment for this job?

Thanks in advance for any advice!

Sam

 

[Nick Robertson-Vousden]

I have a new disinfectant product available that does not contain bleach taint or dyes

Out performs even Dettol, amazing dilution 100ml makes 10 litres ready to use.

Important Considerations for Effective Steam Disinfection

• Sufficient Time and Proximity: To kill bacteria and viruses effectively, the steam must be applied to the surface for a sustained period to ensure it penetrates and heats the microbes. Quick, distant passes may not be effective.
• Surface Penetration: For thorough disinfection, the heat needs time to penetrate the surface.
• Professional vs. Home Use: While the principle is the same, professional steam cleaning equipment and techniques can achieve higher temperatures and provide a more effective and thorough disinfection.
• Sanitisers reduce bacteria/viruses on a surface by at least 99.9%, cleaners simply remove dirt, soils and impurities from surfaces.
  

Leather/ PVC would always be hand cleaned and definitely not exposed to Steam under any circumstances

 

[Sam Kilbey]

Thank you for the reply.

What is the name of the product you have?

Will the Steam option potentially saturate the material too much?
I don't want to penetrate too much and make the foam inside soggy..

Thanks

 

[Nick Robertson-Vousden]

Steam isn't an option Sam

I have sent you a Private message

 

[Sam Kilbey]

Understood,

So a small machine rotary with brush is my only option? My worry with this was fraying of the stitching.

Manually by hand in the small space is incredibly labour intensive.

 

[Dave Atkins]

Hi Sam
I think you’ll find any form of thorough cleaning is labour intensive. Have you thought of fogging (quick and easy) for sanitising which may reduce the need for cleaning dependent on circumstances.

 

[Sam Kilbey]

It's not so much the sanitisation element it's more the cleaning of the pads.

I recently cleaned the carpets and the brown muck was insane!

That and combined with sticky fingers from food etc its more dirt.
My first plan is the remove the dirt then sanitise after.

Hence why the current process is a firm brush and about 2 hours worth of elbow grease

 

[Jamie Biles]

To be honest if only takes couple hours that's nothing. I originally thought meant loads staff all day. Occupational hazard.but fair play to you for actually caring. I bet there are many that don't.

 

[Sam Kilbey]

To be honest if only takes couple hours that's nothing. I originally thought meant loads staff all day. Occupational hazard.but fair play to you for actually caring. I bet there are many that don't.

I guess your right, I can factor it into some staffs contracted hours.

It's a "non negotiable" in our venue. Its sanitised 3 times a day after every session and deep cleaned every Sunday.

It's cheaper to keep it clean and maintained than it is to let it get dirty, lose business and then get it condemned and need replacing.

 

[Dave Atkins]

pressure wash the kids before they enter