Should I put a tarp under my bounce house?

You’ve invested in a great bounce house. You want it to last. But unseen sticks and moisture can destroy it from the bottom up, costing you money and fun.

Yes, you should always put a tarp under your bounce house. As a manufacturer, I can tell you it’s the single best way to protect your investment from abrasions, punctures, and moisture damage that can lead to mold and decay.

I see this question all the time from my clients. Many people think the thick vinyl that we use is indestructible. It is very tough, but it’s not magic. From my perspective in the factory, I know exactly what happens to inflatables that are used without a tarp day after day. It’s a simple, cheap step that avoids big, expensive problems later on. Let me explain exactly why this is so important for the long-term health of your inflatable products.

What to put under a bouncy castle?

Your yard has some small rocks, sticks, or just damp grass. Placing a bouncy castle directly on the ground seems risky and messy. There must be a better way to set it up.

Always place a heavy-duty, waterproof tarp under your bouncy castle. It’s the best option. It provides a clean, dry barrier that protects the inflatable’s base from punctures, dirt, and moisture that can cause mold.

The best thing to put under your bouncy castle is a simple, inexpensive tarp. But not all tarps are the same. I recommend a heavy-duty poly tarp, the kind you can find at any hardware store. It should be larger than the bounce house itself. My rule is that it should extend about one to two feet out on all sides. This extra space keeps the unit off the ground even if it shifts a little during play. It also gives kids a clean, designated area to take off their shoes before they get inside. From a manufacturer’s perspective, this is critical. We use tough, commercial-grade PVC vinyl, but a sharp rock or a broken sprinkler head can still cause a puncture. The tarp acts as the first line of defense. It also makes cleanup much easier. The bottom of the bounce house stays clean and dry, which is the most important step for preventing mold.

Should I put a tarp under my inflatable pool?

An inflatable pool holds thousands of pounds of water. Any tiny puncture from a rock can lead to a huge leak, a ruined lawn, and a very short pool party.

Yes, you absolutely must put a tarp or ground cloth under an inflatable pool. It protects the pool’s vinyl from punctures and abrasions. This is even more critical when it’s under the heavy pressure of water.

The physics of an inflatable pool are different from a bounce house. The pool’s weight is constant and very heavy, pressing down on the ground in one spot. Any small, sharp object underneath it, like a piece of gravel or a sharp root, is put under immense pressure. This makes a puncture very likely. A bounce house moves around a bit, but a pool sits still and concentrates this pressure. I’ve heard stories from customers who skipped this step and came out to a half-empty pool and a flooded yard. A ground tarp distributes the pressure a little and provides a tough barrier. It’s especially important if you set up the pool on a concrete patio or a deck, as these surfaces can be very abrasive. The principle is the same as with bounce houses: protect the vinyl. The vinyl on many consumer pools is thinner than what we use on commercial bounce houses, so this step is not optional. It’s essential.

What’s the best way to store a bounce house?

You’ve finished the party and deflated the unit. Now you have a huge, possibly damp bounce house. Storing it wrong can lead to mold and damage, ruining your investment.

The best way to store a bounce house is completely dry, loosely rolled, and inside its storage bag. Keep it in a cool, dry place off the ground, like on a shelf in a garage, to prevent moisture damage.

Storage is where most inflatables get ruined. As the person who oversees production, it hurts me to see a perfectly good unit destroyed by improper storage. The number one, most important rule is that it must be 100% dry before you roll it up. Even a little bit of dampness trapped inside will turn into a huge patch of black mold over the winter. After deflating, let it sit out to air dry, or wipe it down thoroughly with towels. If you have to pack it up wet because of rain, you must unroll it as soon as possible to dry it completely. When you roll it, don’t roll it too tightly. A looser roll prevents the vinyl from getting permanent creases. Use the straps it came with to secure it, then put it in its carrying bag. The final step is also crucial: store it off a concrete floor. Concrete can hold moisture. Put it on a wooden pallet or a shelf to allow air to circulate underneath.

Will water ruin a bounce house?

It started raining on your bounce house, or you bought a water slide unit. Now you’re worried. Can the water damage the material or will it get trapped inside forever?

Water itself will not ruin the PVC vinyl of a bounce house, as the material is waterproof. The real damage happens when water gets trapped inside the inflatable during storage. This causes destructive mold and mildew, which can rot the seams.

The high-quality PVC vinyl we use to make our bounce houses is totally waterproof. Rain or using it as a water slide won’t damage the material itself. The danger comes from the seams. During production, we use strong, double-stitched seams to hold all the panels together. But every stitch is a tiny hole made by a needle. While the thread is strong, water can be forced through these thousands of tiny holes when kids are jumping and splashing inside. A little bit of water getting inside is normal for a wet/dry unit. The problem is what happens after the party is over. If you roll the unit up and store it with that water trapped inside the baffles, you have created the perfect dark, damp environment for mold. The mold will grow on the threads first, rotting them from the inside out. This is how water can ruin a perfectly good bounce house.

How to keep a bounce house from molding?

You open your bounce house storage bag and smell that musty, mildew odor. You see ugly black spots. Mold has taken over, potentially ruining your unit and making it unsafe.

The only way to keep a bounce house from molding is to ensure it is completely, 100% bone-dry before you roll it up for storage. This includes both the outside surfaces and the air and moisture inside.

Preventing mold is all about eliminating moisture. It is the only thing mold needs to grow. Here is my factory-approved, step-by-step process to avoid it. First, wipe down all the exterior surfaces with clean, dry towels. If it’s a sunny day, leave the bounce house inflated for an extra hour or two after everyone is out. The sun and the constant airflow from the blower are your best tools for drying the hard-to-reach inside. Once you deflate it, open up any zippers. This lets trapped air out and helps the interior dry further. Before you even think about rolling it up, feel the seams and the base of the unit. If any part feels even slightly damp, stop and dry it some more. For a business owner like Mark, a little extra time spent drying a unit properly can save thousands of dollars in replacement costs. A moldy bounce house is not just ugly; it’s a health hazard and a total loss.

Conclusion

A simple tarp is your best friend. It protects your bounce house from damage and moisture. Always use one, and always store your bounce house completely dry to prevent mold.