Soft Play Cleaning Checklist: Opening and Closing Tasks for Staff
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Quick answer: A soft play cleaning checklist should cover three moments: before opening (walk the structure, remove debris, check for damage, wipe high-touch surfaces), during opening (sweep the ball pit, deal with spills, wipe slides and entrances) and after closing (vacuum and mop, wipe all foam, disinfect high-touch points, wash a batch of balls, sign the log). Copy the lists below and adapt them to your own venue.
This is the checklist we suggest to soft play centres, nurseries and venues that buy from Soft Play Market and ask for something their staff can tick off each day. It's deliberately short, so it actually gets used. For how the weekly and monthly tasks fit around it, see our soft play cleaning schedule.
What should staff check before opening?
- ☐ Walk the whole play structure, all levels
- ☐ Remove anything left behind: toys, socks, food, litter
- ☐ Sweep through the ball pit for debris and cracked or flattened balls
- ☐ Check foam covers for splits, exposed foam and open zips
- ☐ Check netting, padding and safety gates for damage
- ☐ Check floor mats for gaps and lifted edges
- ☐ Wipe handrails, entrances, slide tops and gates
- ☐ Check toilets and baby change are clean and stocked
- ☐ Take any damaged piece out of use and report it
- ☐ Sign the log
What should staff do during opening hours?
- ☐ Sweep the ball pit for debris and damaged balls (set a time, for example every two hours)
- ☐ Wipe slides, entrances and high-touch points on the same rounds
- ☐ Deal with spills straight away and close the area until it's dry
- ☐ Pick up balls outside the pit
- ☐ Check toilets and baby change
- ☐ Empty bins near the play area
- ☐ Remind parents of the rules: socks on, no food in the play area
What should staff do after closing?
- ☐ Final walk-through of every level; remove all litter and lost property
- ☐ Vacuum and mop floors and mats
- ☐ Wipe all foam pieces in the toddler and baby area with warm water and mild detergent
- ☐ Clean and disinfect high-touch points with a product labelled for children's surfaces, following its dilution and contact time
- ☐ Wash today's batch of ball pit balls (warm soapy water, tub or mesh bags, rinse, air-dry fully)
- ☐ Put yesterday's dried batch back in the pit
- ☐ Clean toilets, baby change and café tables
- ☐ Empty all bins
- ☐ Record any damage or issues for the manager
- ☐ Sign the log
What should happen after a sickness or body fluid incident?
- ☐ Close the affected area straight away
- ☐ Put on disposable gloves
- ☐ Remove affected balls and pieces
- ☐ Clean, then disinfect, following your body fluid procedure
- ☐ Wash affected balls separately
- ☐ Let everything dry fully before reopening
- ☐ Record the incident in the log
If you're unsure whether to close the whole area, see when to close a soft play area for illness.
What does a simple cleaning log look like?
| Date | Check | Done by | Time | Issues found | Action taken |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Opening | |||||
| Ball pit sweep | |||||
| Closing | |||||
| Ball batch washed |
Keep completed logs. They help with staff training and show your insurer or an environmental health officer that you follow a routine.
What should staff never do?
- Put ball pit balls in a washing machine, or use bleach or very hot water on them
- Spray disinfectant and wipe it off straight away; it needs its contact time
- Mix cleaning products
- Put balls or foam back while still damp
- Leave a damaged piece in use
Chemicals staff use should be in your COSHH assessment, with the safety data sheets kept on site. This is general guidance, not legal advice.
What makes the checklist quicker?
- Wipe-clean covers. PVC covers clean fastest; the soft play sets we supply to venues, such as the Party Soft Play Set (£1,549.95), use them.
- Spare balls. A spare box lets you swap a clean batch in each night. Balls come in boxes of 750 at £142.50, cheaper per ball from 3 boxes. See bulk ball pit balls.
- Mesh bags and a dedicated tub for ball washing.
For inspection and repairs, see our soft play maintenance guide.
Frequently asked questions
How long does a closing clean take?
It depends on the size of your structure and how many staff you have. Time it for a couple of weeks and build that into your rota.
Who should sign the checklist?
The person who did the task, with a manager checking the log each week.
Can I use this checklist for a nursery?
Yes. Drop the café and multi-level items and keep the rest.