We all have fond childhood memories of the beach – building sandcastles, feeling the sand between our toes, and burying our dozing parents underneath a sandy blanket. All we wanted was to go there every day. You can make that dream come true for your kids by adding a sandpit to your garden!
Sandpits are buckets of fun and fantastic for encouraging sensory play. However, as with any toy exposed to the great outdoors and grubby fingers, a sandpit needs your help to stay clean and safe.
In this post, we’ll discuss why, how, and when to clean a sandpit and answer some common questions so you can feel confident that your back garden beach is the best in town!
Here’s what we’ll cover:
- Why it’s important to keep your sandpit clean
- How to keep your sandpit clean
- What you’ll need to clean a sandpit
- How to clean sand
- When to replace sandpit sand
- Refresh your sandpit with Outdoor Toys
- FAQs about cleaning a sandpit
If your sandpit isn’t the only toy in need of some TLC, check out our other cleaning guides next:
Why it’s important to keep your sandpit clean
Unfortunately, your kid won’t be the only creature obsessed with your sandpit - they’re also magnets for bugs, wild animals, and pets. Debris, stray twigs, food, and other nasty bits can also make their way into your sand.
Keeping your sandpit clean isn’t just about making it look tidy; it's also important for keeping your kids safe from harmful germs. Cleaning your sandpit regularly helps to:
- Prevent a build-up of harmful bacteria
- Make sure your child doesn’t touch or eat anything they shouldn’t
- Keep bugs and pests out
- Make sure the sand stays clean and soft
- Extend your sand’s lifespan
How to keep your sandpit clean
Sand can be tricky to work with, so the best way to keep your sandpit clean is to keep on top of maintenance. Let's dig into our top tips for keeping a clean sandpit:
Use a sandpit cover
When it comes to keeping sandpits clean, sandpits with lids are your best friend. A cover will prevent debris and leaves from entering the sand, stop wild animals from using it as a litter tray, and keep it safe from the elements.
Our sandpits with folding lids are perfect for keeping stray objects (and creatures!) at bay; check out a few of our favourites below:
Rebo Wooden Sandpit Ball Pool with Folding Lid and Benches
Rebo Wooden Sandpit Ball Pool with Removable Lid
If your sandpit doesn’t have a lid, we can help! Our sandpit lids with benches are available in 1m x 1m and 1.2m x 1.2m sizes. Alternatively, a cheap and cheerful solution is to fashion a DIY cover with a tarp or netting.
Supervise your kids during playtime
You can maintain a clean sandpit by keeping a close eye on your kids while they play. This will ensure that whatever toys they bring into the sandpit make their way out. Food or crumbs can go mouldy and attract pests, so it’s best to make your sandpit a food-free zone.
If you have young children or a potty-training toddler, watch out for leaky nappies or accidents to prevent contamination.
Teach your kids the following rules to keep your mini beach clean:
- No food in the sandpit
- Tell an adult if you need the toilet
- Wash hands before and after playing
- Tidy up toys when you get out
Choose the right kind of sand
Using the right sand is essential for keeping your sandpit clean and your kids safe.
Only specially designed play sand is suitable for a sandpit. Sand from the beach can be dirty and contain tiny bugs or dangerous materials, whilst builders’ sand can be rough and may contain unwanted chemicals. Our BS EN 1177 standard-tested premium play sand is non-toxic and treated to remove dangerous chemicals and sharp materials.
Keep pets out
If you have pets, it’s best to discourage them from joining your kids in the sandpit. Dogs and cats may confuse your sandpit for a toilet and contaminate the sand. If they’re fond of bringing unwanted ‘gifts’ like mice and birds into the house, they might be tempted to do the same with your sandpit.
Repel bugs
If your sandpit has become a hub for local wildlife, non-toxic repellants can keep pests at bay without harming your child. Spraying a non-toxic bug-repellent spray around the sides of the sandpit can stop creepy crawlers from invading the space.
Better yet, for a natural solution, sprinkle cinnamon or coarse sea salt into the sand. These are natural bug repellants which won’t harm your kids. Regularly rake and turn the sand to disturb bugs that might be burrowing down below.
Check for contamination regularly
Giving your sandpit a quick rake and tidying up after use will work wonders for maintaining cleanliness. Spotting and removing food, bugs, and animal droppings immediately will prevent a build-up of bacteria or mould and prevent wildlife going digging for a nosy.
Our step-by-step guide to cleaning your sandpit
If, despite your best efforts, your sand has become contaminated, you’ve landed on the right page. There are some simple steps you can take to rescue your sandpit.
What you’ll need to clean a sandpit
What you’ll need to clean a sandpit depends on the severity of the contamination, but here are a few things you might need:
- A rake
- A sieve
- A shovel
- Washing up/gardening gloves
- A large bucket or bin
- Mild detergent or vinegar
- Some extra play sand
- A sunny day!
How to clean sand
Once you’ve gathered your supplies, follow these steps to get your sand back in tip-top shape.
1 - Remove debris from the sand
Remove any obvious stray objects, like toys, and rake through the sand to find debris, twigs, and leaves that don’t belong in your sandpit. You could recruit a little helper and turn this task into a fun treasure hunt!
2 - Sieve the sand
Using a kitchen sieve or sand sieve, scoop sections of sand to filter out smaller bits of debris like stones or dirt. This will also help to ruffle up your sand and get it back to that fluffy texture.
If you’ve found and removed the contamination culprit by this step, you can discard that section of sand and admire your mess-free beach.
3 - Wash the sand
If your sandpit has several contaminated areas or looks a bit worse for wear – think clumps, funny smells, or mould – it might be necessary to wash your sand.
Use a shovel to scoop the contaminated sections or all of the sand into an appropriately sized bucket or bin. Use a watering can or garden hose to gently wash the sand. Be careful to avoid oversaturation; just wash away the nasty bits without flooding it.
You could rinse the sand with a natural disinfectant like white vinegar or a mild, diluted soap solution for a deeper clean. Make sure to rinse any product you use before drying off your sand.
4 - Clean the sandbox
While your sand is in a bucket or bin, clean the sandbox container. Use a mild cleaning solution to scrub down the sides, getting into those nooks and crannies where grime can build up. Allow the container to dry completely before reintroducing the sand.
5 - Dry the sand thoroughly
Wet sand breeds mould and bacteria, so it’s essential that it dries completely. Pour the sand back into the sandpit and let the sun work its magic. Use your rake to turn the sand regularly and ensure it dries evenly.
When to replace sandpit sand
If faeces, mould, or mildew have contaminated a large portion of your sandpit, it’s probably best to replace your sand. Cleaning sand is a time-consuming and tricky process, and there’s no way to guarantee that harmful bacteria have been removed entirely.
Sand should be replaced annually, regardless of contamination. As a result, it’s a good idea to introduce new sand routinely at the start of each summer.
To change your sand, scoop the old sand into bags and dispose of it responsibly. Then, clean the empty sandpit and replace it with fresh play sand.
Refresh your sandpit with Outdoor Toys
Whether you’re looking to buy a sandpit, protect your sandpit with a lid, replace your sandpit sand, or find wooden toys to play in the sand with, Outdoor Toys has you covered! With 48-hour delivery and 0% finance on orders over £99, your little digger will be burrowing down in no time.
And the fun doesn’t stop there; our climbing frames, swings, trampolines, and other outdoor toys are all you need to transform your garden into a playtime paradise!
FAQs about cleaning a sandpit
How often should I clean my sandpit?
There’s no one-size-fits-all answer here, but generally, a little tidying up once a week will do the trick. If the sandpit is heavily used or uncovered, it will need a deep clean more regularly. Aim to do this every 1-2 months.
If you spot any signs of contamination, like animal droppings or a funky smell, it’s time to roll up your sleeves and give it a deeper clean.
Why do you put salt in a sandpit?
Coarse sea salt or sandpit powder may be used in sandpits to keep bugs or slugs out and kill bacteria. It functions similarly to cinnamon or bug repellent to prevent pests from contaminating the sand.