Can I store a bounce house in the garage?

The party’s over, and now you have a giant, deflated bounce house. You’re tempted to just shove it somewhere, but worry that improper storage will ruin your investment.

Yes, you can absolutely store a bounce house in your garage. A garage is an ideal spot as long as it is dry, clean, and free of sharp objects that could cause damage.

As the Produce Manager at Inflatplay, this is a question I get all the time. My clients, especially business owners like Mark from Canada, need to protect their inventory to maximize its lifespan. Your garage can be the perfect home for your inflatable, protecting it from the sun and rain that wear it out. But you can’t just throw it in a corner. Following a few simple rules for storage is the key to making your investment last for years. Let’s go through the steps.

What’s the best way to store inflatables?

You know you need to put it away correctly, but you’re not sure what that means. You’re worried about mold, pests, and damage from folding it the wrong way.

The best way is to first ensure it’s completely dry. Then, roll it up gently along its natural seams and place it in its storage bag, storing it off the ground.

Proper storage is 70% of the battle in extending the life of your inflatable. A few extra minutes of care after each use will pay off with years of extra service. In the factory, we follow a very specific process that you can easily replicate at home or for your business.

1. Dry It Completely¹: This is the non-negotiable first step. I’ll cover how to dry it later, but never, ever store a damp inflatable. Pay special attention to the seams and inside the blower tubes where moisture loves to hide.

2. Roll, Don’t Fold²: When you deflate the unit, try to smooth it out. Instead of folding it into sharp creases which can weaken the PVC over time, gently roll it up. Follow the original factory folds if you can. As you roll, you’ll push the remaining air out.

3. Bag and Elevate: Place the rolled-up unit into its waterproof storage bag. Do not store it directly on a concrete garage floor, which can hold moisture. Place it on a wooden pallet or a sturdy shelf to keep air circulating underneath it and to protect it from any potential water leaks on the floor. This also helps keep it safe from pests.

How cold is too cold for a bouncy house?

Winter is coming, and your garage gets very cold. You’re concerned the freezing temperatures could damage the bounce house material, even while it’s in storage.

Be very careful with your bounce house when temperatures drop below freezing (0°C / 32°F). The PVC material becomes hard and brittle, making it easy to crack if folded or moved.

This is a critical piece of information that can save you from costly damage. PVC, the material used in commercial inflatables, changes with temperature. In the cold, it loses its flexibility. Think of it like a plastic toy left outside in the winter – it can become fragile and snap.

Here are the temperature rules¹ you need to know:

• Approaching Freezing (0°C / 32°F): Use extreme caution. The material is getting stiff. If you must move or unroll it, do so very slowly and gently.
• Below -5°C (23°F): Do not use, fold, or unroll the inflatable. The material is now so brittle that sharp folds or impacts can cause it to physically crack or tear. If it’s stored rolled up in these temperatures, just leave it alone until it can warm up in a heated space.

For business owners like Mark in Canada, this is a major operational concern. They have to plan their final events of the season so they can clean, dry, and store their units before the deep freeze sets in.

How to keep a bounce house from molding?

You’ve seen it before: a bounce house pulled from storage, covered in ugly and smelly black mold spots. You want to make sure this never happens to yours.

The single most important step to prevent mold is to ensure the bounce house is 100% bone-dry before you roll it up for storage. Mold cannot grow without moisture.

Mold is the silent killer of inflatables. Once it sets in, it’s very difficult to remove the stains and smell, and it can begin to rot the stitching. Preventing it is easy¹, but it requires discipline.

1. Always Store It Dry: I cannot say this enough. Even if it looks dry on the surface, moisture can be trapped inside the seams and baffles. If it got wet, you must go through a full drying process before storing it. Never roll it up on wet grass.

2. Ventilate Your Storage Space: A damp, stagnant corner of a basement is a terrible place for an inflatable. An ideal garage a storage space has some air circulation. This prevents any residual moisture from turning into a problem.

3. Use a Dehumidifier or Desiccant²: If your garage or storage area is naturally humid, it’s a great idea to place a moisture absorber, like a desiccant bag, inside the storage bag with the inflatable. For a permanent storage area, a small dehumidifier can make a huge difference in protecting your investment.

By following these simple moisture-control steps, you can be confident that your inflatable will come out of storage looking and smelling as good as when it went in.

How to dry out a bounce house?

A surprise rain shower soaked your bounce house. Now it weighs a ton, and you know storing it wet is a disaster. You need an effective way to get it completely dry.

The best method is to use a blower that can also introduce gentle heat, like the HUAWEI Heater. This circulates warm, dry air throughout the inside, drying it quickly and thoroughly.

Getting a wet inflatable dry is a common challenge, especially for rental businesses that can’t wait for a sunny day. While traditional methods work, a more professional approach is faster and more reliable.

• Traditional Methods: You can inflate it on a sunny, breezy day and let nature do the work. You can also run the blower without heat to circulate air. Then, use dry towels to wipe every surface you can reach. The downside is that this can take a long time, and it’s hard to be sure the inside is truly dry.

• The Efficient Method (Recommended): I recommend a specialized blower with a heating element¹, like the HUAWEI Heater². You connect it to the inflatable and open a deflation zipper partway. The unit then blows warm (not hot) air through the entire structure, creating a convection effect that forces all the moisture out. The temperature is controlled below 50°C (122°F), so it’s perfectly safe and won’t damage the PVC. This is the fastest, most thorough way to dry a unit, especially on a cloudy day or when you need a quick turnaround.

No matter which method you use, the goal is the same: it must be completely dry before you roll it up.

Conclusion

Storing your bounce house in a garage is a great idea. Just make sure it’s completely dry, roll it carefully, and keep it off the cold, damp concrete floor.