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Have you ever wondered What are Paddling Pools Made of?
Most Paddling pools are made of PVC (Polyvinyl Chloride) which is a high-strength thermoplastic material that is used in a number of applications including paddling pools. More Expensive pools also have strengthening material on them.
What are Paddling Pools Made of?
Although the majority are made from PVC or Vinyl as it’s also known, some paddling pools can be made from other materials.
Generally, the more expensive the pool, the better quality of the materials will be. Cheaper paddling pools will often be made of a thin layer of PVC and whilst this is fine for smaller paddling pools that will be used for small children they may not be great for larger kids.
Larger kids who love to play, jump and splash in the water, along with adults may be better off in some of the more expensive paddling pools. This is because they are made with an inner layer of polyester mesh with outer layers of heavy-duty PVC. These added layers ensure that the pools last longer and are much stronger.
Are Paddling Pools Recyclable?
If you’ve got an old paddling pool that’s either too small or damaged beyond repair then you probably want to know if paddling pools are recyclable.
Paddling Pools are not recyclable because they are made of PVC (Polyvinyl Chloride) which is one of the most difficult types of plastic to recycle.
Although paddling pools cannot be recycled, there are a number of alternative ways you can use your old paddling pool to stop you from having to send it to the rubbish tip.
Repairing your Paddling Pool
If your paddling pool has a hole then the best thing to do is to try and repair it before you throw it away and buy a new one. Not only will you save yourself some money by repairing your paddling pool but it’s also much better for the environment to fix something rather than throw it away.
Repairing a paddling pool is very easy to do. There are two main parts to fixing a paddling pool with a hole. Firstly, you’ll need to find where the hole is and secondly you’ll need to use an appropriate method of fixing the hole.
You can find out more in our step by step guides in our how to find a hole in a paddling pool and how to fix a hole in a paddling pool articles.
Save it to Make Repairs in the Future
If your paddling pool is simply beyond repair then why not save it to repair other PVC inflatables in the future. What’s better to repair a PVC paddling pool than with another piece of PVC.
Using part of an old broken paddling pool to fix a hole in a second one couldn’t be easier. All you need to do is to cut an appropriate-sized piece of PVC from the old pool to use as a patch and then glue it to the new one with some suitable PVC glue.
Just remember when you are cutting the patch to ensure it is circular or oval in shape to avoid the corners peeling. You’ll also need to ensure the patch is big enough to cover the hole and leave some space around for it to bind to the existing material.
Keep your old paddling pool in your garage or garden shed to help fix your next purchase in the event of damage.
Give it Away
If your children have outgrown their paddling pool or you have a damaged one, try and give it away before putting it in the bin.
Whether it’s someone in your street, a family member, or post it for free on Facebook, giving away an old paddling pool will save it from going to a landfill.
Many people will be glad of a free paddling pool and you’d be surprised by the number of people that will even take a damaged one off your hands to use for other purposes. Tarpaulins, waterproof covers for items in the garden, to repair other PVC items, to use as ground cover to kill grass, your broken and damaged paddling pool could have a variety of other uses to someone else.
It’s not only kids that love paddling pools. If you know someone with a dog and you need to get rid of your old one then why not ask them if they would like it for their dog. Small children’s paddling pools are perfect for dogs in warm weather. Inflate it and leave it in the garden during the summer so your dog can cool down.
Please make sure though that if you’re going to use the pool for your dog that you clean it out regularly.