How to Make a Slip and Slide Slippery the Safe Way

A slip and slide is an easy way to keep children amused for hours. The entertainment can be made at home with tarps or heavy plastic. The biggest problem will be ensuring that the surface is slippery enough – water alone seldom works efficiently. The key to any entertainment is ensuring safety. Be sure to set it up away from utility lines, fences, structures, sprinkler heads and other items that can cause an injury if children slide into them. Plastic A successful slip and slide begins with choosing the best plastic for the task. Visqueen is a good choice as it’s highly durable. Select plastic that’s at least 6 mil. Water Flow Water is a critical element in a slip and slide and must flow from the top to the bottom. The device must have a steady stream of liquid available at all times to avoid dry areas that can result in friction burns. It can be helpful to place holes in an old hose and place it at points along the way to ensure saturation of the plastic. There should be good drainage to avoid turning a pristine lawn into a mud pit. Extra Lubrication A bottle of tearless baby shampoo will work wonders for ensuring a lubricated surface. Many people use dishwashing liquid, but it’s never a good idea. The soap will get in youngsters’ eyes, resulting in irritation and pain. Some have found that rubbing household wax paper over the plastic makes for a slippery surface. Other alternatives include olive oil, baby oil or vegetable oil. Just remember that oils are difficult to remove from the skin without a shower. Try to locate an environmentally- friendly lubricant. Other Considerations A responsible adult should always be available to ensure the safety of users. Don’t let another slider take their turn until the person before them has cleared the plastic. Unsupervised slip and slides can result in serious injuries if basic, common sense safety precautions aren’t observed.