Outdoor Play Structure Cleaning
Specialist cleaning of playground equipment, climbing frames and outdoor play structures across the North East. Schools, parks, nurseries.
Outdoor play structures — climbing frames, slides, swings, MUGAs, fort and tower units, and the safety surfacing under them — collect dirt fast and need careful cleaning. Children touching contaminated surfaces is the obvious concern, but the structures themselves also degrade quickly when algae and lichen are allowed to colonise wood and metal. We provide specialist cleaning for outdoor play equipment across the North East, working with schools, councils, nurseries, holiday parks, and pubs and hotels with family-friendly outdoor areas.
Cleaning play equipment isn't the same as pressure washing a patio. The materials are varied (timber, plastic, metal, rubber surfacing), the joints and fixings need careful handling, and the chemistry has to be safe for kids who'll be playing on the structure days later.
Equipment we clean
- Climbing frames and forts — timber and metal
- Slides — plastic and stainless steel
- Swings — frames and seats
- Trim trails — multi-piece outdoor fitness equipment
- Roundabouts and rockers
- Sandpit and mud kitchen surrounds
- Safety surfacing — wet-pour rubber, bark mulch, EPDM tiles
- MUGAs (multi-use games areas) — including fencing, goals, surfacing
- Climbing walls and bouldering structures
- Outdoor classroom seating and activity tables
Why play equipment needs careful handling
Modern play equipment is designed to safety standards (BS EN 1176 for play, BS EN 1177 for surfacing) that include specific surface friction, gap dimensions, and material requirements. Aggressive pressure washing can damage protective coatings, raise grain on timber (creating splinter risk), or wear away the textured surface of slides. We use moderate pressure with appropriate brushes, plus child-safe biocidal cleaners that meet BS EN 16615 hygiene standards.
Wet-pour safety surfacing in particular needs care. The bonded rubber granules can be lifted by overly aggressive cleaning, creating bald patches that fail safety standards. We pre-test on hidden areas and adjust pressure accordingly.
Hygiene-first approach
Equipment children touch needs hygienic cleaning, not just visual cleaning. Our process kills bacteria, viruses and biological contamination at the same time as removing visible dirt. We use cleaners that are food-safe rated (the same standards as nursery food prep surfaces), with proper rinse-off and no harmful residue. After we leave, equipment is safe to use within an hour or two depending on weather and surface type.
When schools and nurseries book us
Most school and nursery customers book us for one of three scenarios: the summer break (deep clean while the school is closed), end of half-term (refresh during shorter breaks), or after a specific incident (vandalism, biohazard, fouling). We can supply DBS-checked operatives where required, and work to school site safeguarding rules.
For local authority play park contracts we work with parks departments on scheduled multi-site programmes — typically annual deep cleans plus reactive callouts.
Frequently asked questions
Are your operatives DBS checked?
Yes — for school and nursery work we can supply DBS-cleared operatives. Tell us at the quote stage and we'll allocate accordingly.
Are your cleaners safe for children?
Yes — we use products that meet hygiene standards for child-contact surfaces, with proper rinse-off and no harmful residue.
Will pressure washing damage the equipment?
Not when matched to the material. We use moderate pressure on timber and metal, gentler approaches on plastic slides and wet-pour surfacing.
How often should play equipment be cleaned?
Schools and nurseries: typically termly (3 times a year), plus deep clean over summer. Public parks: usually quarterly. Private installations: annually is typical.