Hidden health risks in ball pits – why is regular cleaning important?

Ball pits filled with colourful plastic balls are one of the most popular and entertaining features in indoor playgrounds and family entertainment centers. However, many people do not consider the invisible dangers that lurk among the balls while children are playing, and how important regular cleaning is!  What modern solutions can help play centers maintain hygiene? Find out in our article!

Contamination and Bacteria in Ball Pits

In ball pools, it is common to find visible contamination at the bottom of the pool, such as food scraps, tissues, hair clips, hair ties, jewelry, and other small objects. Most of this contamination create an ideal breeding ground for bacteria and fungi. Not to mention the micro-contaminants that stick to the balls (e.g., saliva, etc.).

A 2019 study found significant microbial contamination on ball pit balls examined: eight types of bacteria and one yeast species were identified, all of which can cause disease. In fact, some balls had as many as several thousand microbial cells on their surface, which significantly increases the chance of infection. Among the bacteria found were species such as Enterococcus faecalis and Staphylococcus hominis, which can cause serious infections.

All this highlights that ball pits can easily become a breeding ground for pathogens if we do not take proper care to clean them regularly.

The Importance of Child-Friendly Hygiene

Children's immune systems are still developing, and they tend to put everything in their mouths, including toys and balls. Therefore, maintaining proper hygiene, including in playrooms, is essential for preventing illness.

In communal play areas – whether playrooms, family entertainment centers, or therapeutic ball pits – extra care must be taken to ensure that the environment is not full of invisible pathogens.
If a child is sick (e.g., with a cold or diarrhea) and uses the ball pit, they can easily spread pathogens through contact with the balls. This means that healthy children can also catch various diseases if they touch a contaminated ball and then put their hands or face in their mouth without washing them.

A clean and hygienic play environment is not a luxury anymore but a basic expectation on the part of parents - and a serious competitive advantage for operators who pay special attention to this.

The Consequences of Poor Cleaning

What happens if a ball pit isn’t cleaned frequently enough?
Pathogens can multiply, leading to various infections. Ball pits provide a perfect environment for the spread of bacteria and viruses.

In addition to health risks, they also pose a real business risk.Parents today are conscious of the cleanliness of play centers – a single negative review or Facebook post about a dirty ball pit can cause serious PR damage. 

A visibly dirty ball pit sends a clear message that the operators are not paying enough attention to cleaning, which can lead to a decline in reputation and a drop in visitor numbers.

As the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC) emphasizes: facilities must establish a regular cleaning program to protect both children and staff from the risk of infection.
Cleanliness is therefore not only a health requirement but also a key business factor.

How Often Should Ball Pit Balls Be Cleaned?

Unfortunately, in many countries there’s no regulation for how often ball pit balls should be disinfected.Cleaning is voluntary, and the operator decides how often to clean, as this depends on the intensity of use and the age of the children.
In practice, staff should constantly monitor the condition of the ball pit.
If any contamination (food, drink, or urine)gets into the pool, the affected area must be emptied immediately and both the balls and the pool must be disinfected.

With regular use, complete cleaning is recommended at least once a month, and in high-traffic areas, even on a weekly basis. Don't forget the bottom, walls, and surroundings of the pool—these areas are also an integral part of disinfecting the playhouse!

Regular cleaning not only prevents infections but also has operational benefits: it prevents downtime and operational interruptions due to major cleaning.

Manual Cleaning vs. Ball Cleaning Machine

How can thousands of balls be cleaned effectively?

Traditional manual methods are extremely time-consuming — the balls are usually collected in nets, rinced, disinfected, and dried – this requires a lot of man-hours, and it is difficult to ensure that every ball comes into contact with the disinfectant. Often, the balls are wiped down one by one by the workers!

Moreover, putting wet balls back in storage can lead to mold growth and the spread of bacteria.

But there is a faster and more efficient solution! Ball cleaning machine opens up new possibilities: modern machines automatically wash and disinfect balls, processing tens of thousands of balls per hour.

Machine cleaning is a fast, thorough, and economical solution that reduces the workload on staff and increases visitors' sense of safety. In addition, the cleaning agent developed for this purpose coats the balls with a protective layer during the drying process, ensuring long-term cleanliness. 

Where many children use the ball pit, machine cleaning is not a luxury, but a worthwhile investment.

Modern Solutions: Machine Cleaning and Antibacterial Balls

Nowadays, modern playrooms can be disinfected using automated devices.

The Pure-Matic ball cleaning machine is a professional and reliable device that quickly and effectively removes pathogens from the surface of balls.

At the same time, Euro-Matic antibacterial balls feature a special antimicrobial coating that prevents bacteria from multiplying on their surfaces.

At the same time, the special coating on Euro-Matic antibacterial balls prevents the growth of bacteria, so the two technologies together offer the most effective and safest solution for playrooms.

Conclusion

Regular cleaning and disinfection of ball pools is essential for a safe and hygienic play experience. As an operator, take advantage of this opportunity – the combination of the Pure-Matic ball cleaning machine and Euro-Matic antibacterial balls offers an effective, modern solution for preventing hidden health risks so that your ball pit can always remain clean, child-friendly, and parent-friendly.

Source: Examining ball pits as a playground for pathogenic germs - APIC