Cleaning & Maintenance
A Guide to our Cleaning Service and maintaining your Playground Markings
Are you looking to ensure a safe and vibrant environment for your children on the playground? Do you want to learn about the best practices for maintaining clean and visually appealing playground markings? At Fun & Active Playgrounds, we understand the importance of a well-maintained playground that encourages active play, creativity, and most importantly safety.
In this guide, we’ll address your concerns and provide insights into various aspects of our playground cleaning service and maintaining your playground markings. We’ll cover:
- How much playground cleaning costs
- Secrets to keeping your playground markings clean and vibrant
- Cleaning your playground before installation
- Best UK playground cleaning companies
By the end, you’ll be equipped with valuable information to make the process of playground cleaning seamless and hassle-free. Whether you’re interested in understanding the cost aspects, seeking expert advice on maintenance, or looking for reliable cleaning services, we’ve got you covered.
So, let’s dive in…
Pricing and Cost Considerations
How much is it to have my playground markings cleaned?
The minimum value for a cleaning service is £1,500 for a full day, in which we can clean up to 800m2. This includes the jet-washing and cleaning of markings, plus the application of the sealer to prolong the lifespan of the markings.
How is the cost of your cleaning service determined? Is it based on the size of the playground, the types of surfaces, or the extent of cleaning required?
We offer our cleaning services for tarmacked areas, concrete, block paving, and playground markings. The cost of our cleaning service is mainly determined by the size of the playground and/or markings, however, there is a minimum charge of £1,500 for a full day’s work.
Are there any additional charges for specialised cleaning treatments or extra-difficult stains/marks?
If your playground requires extra cleaning on any areas there would be an additional charge. We recommend sending a photo across so our team can advise beforehand.
Can you provide a detailed breakdown of what’s included in the overall cost, including labour, materials, and any other fees?
Of course. Our playground cleaning service cost includes:
· Travel
· Labour
· Equipment (including van-mounted petrol-powered jet wash)
· Moss removal
· Dirt and sand removal
· Deep surface cleaning
· Quality matt sealer (when cleaning old markings)
· Any necessary overnight stays (depending on project size and distance)
Is there a consultation or assessment fee to determine the specific cleaning needs of our playground before providing a quote?
Our playground consultation team are ready and available to speak to regarding your playground cleaning needs. It always helps us to send a few photos over of your playground surfaces or markings beforehand so we can determine the best solution for you. There is no fee for this.
Keeping your Playground Markings clean
How frequently should we schedule playground surface and marking cleaning to maintain safety and aesthetics?
We recommend cleaning your markings every 6 months to keep them looking their best, plus regular sweeping – particularly if your playground is quite stony as this can wear the markings down more quickly.
The thermoplastic material we use for our playground markings is UV resistant, meaning the colours won’t fade and will stay bright. As such, when the playground markings are cleaned (even after years of use), they will come up just like new!
What can I do to keep my playground markings clean and well maintained?
Whether you use our playground cleaning service or whether you are happy to keep your marking clean yourself, they should be cleaned frequently to keep them looking bright.
Regularly sweep your markings to keep any loose stones away as these can wear markings down more quickly. Do not use any chemicals when cleaning your markings. Use a jet wash to go over the markings and remove any surface dirt.
Make sure the jet wash is at a 90-degree angle to the marking so you are aiming directly downwards. If you jet wash at an angle, this could put pressure in between the surface of the marking and the tarmac.
Use a brush to help loosen any inground dirt and jet wash the marking to rinse.
What cleaning methods do you use to ensure the removal of dirt, grime, and tough stains from different types of playground markings?
Our team will visit your school or site equipped with a van-mounted, petrol-powered jet-washing machine. The dirty playground markings are soaked and brushed with a cleaning agent before being sprayed at high pressure to wash away the grime. When the clean playground markings are dry, we apply a sealer to help maintain the bright colours and to keep them from getting dirty in the future.
Do you offer any additional protective coatings or treatments to extend the longevity of our playground markings after cleaning?
Yes! We use a sealer which works by providing a layer of protection over the thermoplastic. It reduces dirt pick up and prevents any grime from getting directly onto the marking, achieving an “easy clean” effect. The dirt is simply washed away instead of having to be scrubbed. The protective layer also acts as a UV screen and prevents the sun’s rays from fading the markings. This helps to preserve the original vivid colour tones for a long time.
Are your cleaning services suitable for both outdoor and indoor playgrounds with various types of surfaces?
Our playground cleaning service is only suitable for outdoor playgrounds, on surfaces such as tarmac, concrete, and block paving.
Cleaning your playground before installation
Why is it important to make sure our playground is clean before any playground marking installations?
Before we install any thermoplastic playground markings, surface coatings or playground paints, the playground should be clean. This is to ensure that the markings and paint adhere to the surface properly. If the playground is dirty, the markings and paint won’t last as long and will result in you needing to recoat or renew your playground markings much sooner than you would if they were installed onto a clean surface.
What do you need from our school in preparation for playground cleaning?
If you’re having new markings, or playground paint as part of your project, you will need to make sure the surface is clean and free of any dirt, moss, and debris. Our team can visit your school prior to your installation date and take care of this for you. We will need:
· Good water access and supply
· Vehicle access
What’s the estimated downtime for our playground during the cleaning process?
Since the minimum order charge for our playground cleaning service is for a full day, the downtime is likely to reflect this. One thing to bear in mind is that our jet wash machine is noisy, however, if your playground has different areas, the team can work around your school schedule to suit your needs.
Are the cleaning products and techniques you use safe for children and the environment?
Yes, all the products and techniques we use for playground cleaning are safe for both children and the environment.
Best UK playground companies For Playground Cleaning
Here are some of the best playground companies for playground cleaning in the UK:
Purple Rhino
When you want your playground cleaning, choose a soft washing company who will sanitise it during the cleaning process. Soft washing for playground cleaning will bring back the original bright colours, which will ensure smiles from all of the children. Their highly cost effective softwash systems are quiet too, no more noisy engine powered cleaning equipment disturbing everyone whilst the playground cleaning is being undertaken.
Crystal Clean Solutions
Using the highest quality professional-grade products and utilising the most technologically advanced equipment the market has to offer, Crystal Clean Solutions’ experienced team provides commercial playground cleaning services, including parks and sportsgrounds all over Basingstoke, Reading, Guildford, Farnborough, and surrounding areas throughout the south.
Timotay Playscapes
Timotay works in partnership with a leading specialist cleaning provider to offer a professional cleaning service to sanitise outdoor play equipment, along with decontaminating school buildings. This will provide a clean and safe environment for the children within your setting and care.
Softwashing UK
Softwashing UK offer playground cleaning to private and public sector clients and specialise in playground sanitation. They inspect for damage which can in itself pose risks, and then cleanse the play apparatus, as well as the floor areas where appropriate. It goes without saying that they remove litter too. Softwashing UK take pride in cleaning playgrounds, for all children to enjoy at diminished risk.
The Benefits of Choosing Our Playground Cleaning Service
When you choose to work with us, you can expect:
- Guidance supported by 10+ year industry experience
- State-of-the-art petrol-powered jet wash machine
- High quality sealer to support long lasting markings
- Fully DBS checked staff
- Competitive prices
- An all-round first-class service
If your playground markings are looking grubby and are in need of bringing back to life, contact our friendly team for a free quote.