A popular low-maintenance surface choice for play areas, chicken runs, equestrian areas, and more, a common question we’re often asked, is how to clean rubber chippings. As with any outdoor surface, it’s impossible to keep them completely clean 24/7, especially if they’re regularly being used. Whether you’re using rubber chippings at a school, a business or your home, regular cleaning will help reduce the time until they’ll need replacing.
Do rubber chipping surfaces need cleaning?
Yes, whilst they’re designed to be low maintenance, they do need cleaning every now and then to keep them looking fresh. We recommend following our simple to follow cleaning steps below every 6 months to help prolong the lifespan of your rubber surface.
Step 1: Clear debris from your chippings
Check for stray stones, pebbles, sticks, leaves, or anything else that has embedded itself in your rubber chippings over time. Remove by hand, with a brush, or even a leaf blower if you have one. This is easiest to do when the weather is dry, to prevent twigs or leaves falling apart, which make them harder to collect.
Step 2: Wash your chippings
There’s no fancy cleaning equipment or solutions needed to clean rubber chippings. A soft bristled outdoor brush, some soapy water and a good scrub to clean off any lingering muck. You don’t need to worry about colour discoloration with this method either, win-win.
Step 3: Give your rubber chippings a good rinse
Wash away the soapy liquid with a hose or a pressure washer, making sure no suds or residue are left at the end. If you’re using a pressure washer, make sure to keep it on it’s lowest setting to prevent damage.
What not to clean your rubber chippings with
As we’ve mentioned above, the best solution for cleaning rubber chippings is warm soapy water. If you do choose to use a special solution, make sure to avoid oil, solvent, turpentine or acetone based cleaners.
Summary
We hope you found these cleaning and maintenance tips helpful, as always, if you have any questions about rubber surfaces or how to tell if your rubber chippings need replacing, get in touch with our friendly team at Rubber Professional Surfaces.