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In my one of my previous posts, I wrote about “How to choose a wooden swing set?“. I hope that was helpful to you in making a purchasing decision.
Regardless of which wooden swing set you picked, I’m sure you would want your investments to be worthwhile. Therefore, it is important to properly maintain it, so that the swing set could last for a long time while remaining safe for the youngsters.
There are different steps on how to properly maintain a wooden swing set. It includes following the manufacturer’s manual while children are playing on it, keep it clean, regular inspection on the screws and bolts, seal and stain the woods, and inspect the safety of the playground floor.
Below are some of my findings. Once again, I hope this would be useful resource to you. Enjoy it 🙂
Interesting Things in this Post
Follow the Swing Set Manufacturer’s Instruction
Although it might sound obvious, I often see children playing very recklessly on the wooden swing set. I have seen children:
- standing on the swing seat
- jump from one swing to the next while the seats are in motion
- pushing an empty swing seat, which twists the chains and loop over the bar
- running upward from the bottom of a slide
- multiple kids going down the slide at the same time
All these activities could damage the playset and are unsafe for the children. Therefore, it is important to provide the kids with clear instructions of what not to do and supervise them accordingly while playing.
In addition to the recommended age for the wooden swing set, most manufacturers have a specific guideline on the weight limit of users. For example, I recently checked a customer service representative at Backyard Discovery about their Oakmont Wooden Swing Set, and she stated that for any single use activity, the maximum weight is 150 pounds per child. For any multi-use activity, it is 120 pounds per child. She recommended a maximum of 9 children for this playset.
But of course, you should check with the manual of your specific playset, as each one could be different.
Regular Inspection and Repair the Playset
To ensure the safety of your child, you should inspect the wooden swing set at the beginning of each season, then once every few weeks.
When the weather is dry, there could be splinters sticking out from the woods. You should remove it, and smooth the surface with sandpaper.
Also, different weather condition can cause the lumber to shrink or expand. It is crucial to examine the screws and bolts and tighten them as needed.
The squeaky sound at the top anchor of the swing could be quite disturbing especially during the nighttime. To resolve it, you just need to oil it, the same applies to any metal moving parts. I would avoid spraying on surfaces where the child would have direct contact. After spraying, I would let it dry for a few days before a child play on it again. Here’s the one I would use.
Examine the ropes, chains, swing seat, slide, and the woods for any signs of deterioration. If there is excessive wear or broken parts, do not take the risk. Instead, you should contact the manufacturer for a replacement one. Depending on the terms of the warranty, this might be covered by the policy. But either way, do not let a child play on it until it is properly fixed.
How to Clean a Wooden Swing Set?
Over time, there would be debris building up on the playset. For loose debris such as dust, sand, leaves, I would remove them with a leaf blower. Here’s a cordless one I’m using for your reference.
For debris such as bird dropping, I would clean it with a mild soap, then rinse it off with a garden hose. You may want to pay extra attention to the corner’s area and holes in the woods. These are the parts that would get neglected easily, while insects such as spiders would build their web in it.
When I did the research online, some suggest applying a powerwash. I do not suggest doing so because the intense water pressure would damage the wooden playset. In fact, I do not recommend soaking the playset unless it’s necessary. Afterall, we are dealing with woods. Excessive water could rot the lumbers.
If the above cleaning steps are not enough, you could consider applying a deck wood cleaner. Here’s a powdered concentration one, (affiliate link) where you mix it with water when using. Just scrub the wooden playset with a soft bristle brush, and rinse it thoroughly afterward. It should be able to remove stains such as molds and algae.
Stain and Seal the Wooden Swing Set
Most wooden swing set I have seen are prestained, but since they are always exposed to outdoor, the rain, snow and even the sunlight exposure could wear the playset. Besides cleaning it as we just discussed, you should seal and stain the lumbers once every 1 to 2 years.
One interesting thing I found is many people are using the terms, “seal” and “stain” interchangeably. Although both of their purposes is to protect the woods, they are actually different.
From what I read online [1]https://www.deckstainhelp.com/whats-the-difference-between-a-deck-sealer-and-a-deck-stain/, a sealer is a transparent finish that penetrates into the woods. Its primary job is to reduce the water intrusion effect by locking out moisture. Afterall, when woods are exposed to moisture for too long, they would become rotten. In some cases, it could even lead to the growth of fungal. Just a side topic, the weather in my neighborhood is extremely humid this year. I found mushrooms are growing next to a rotten tree stump in my yard, and I’m sure you wouldn’t want that to happen to your child’s playset.
However, sealer does not protect the woods from UV exposure. As much as I love the sun, its UV rays could damage the wood exterior, causing it to graying and fading. It could also dry up the lumber, leading to cracking or splitting. This is when a stain comes into play.
A stain could be semi-transparent or comes with a solid color. Typically speaking, the darker the color, the greater the UV protection. I checked with several brands of stains, most of them come in different tones such as walnut, oak, redwood, pecan, pine, and cedar.
I asked a playset manufacturer if they could recommend me a stain and seal for their wooden products. To my surprise, they cannot give me any suggestion, as they explained the weather condition could be varied across different areas. Here’s a 2-in-1 solution which could worth considering.
5 Must Do Things When Applying Stain and Seal
1) Thoroughly Clean the Playset.
Make sure there is no debris on it. Remove any splinters and sand off all the rough surfaces. If you hose the playset, make sure it is completely dry before you stain or seal it.
2) Seal or Stain? Or Both?
Then you need to decide on whether to stain or seal it. Remember a seal would give the protection from moisture damage, while a stain would protect against UV rays. With the 2-in-1 solution I suggested earlier, I would do both all at once.
You could choose a color that matches the existing lumber. Unless the paint fades out significantly, and you want to have another new fresh look, then you could consider another color.
3) Check the Weather Forecast
Even though I also like to do house chord whenever I feel like it, without planning ahead, my hard work would go to waste. The stain and seal could take days to dry. Therefore, make sure it would not rain in the next 3 to 5 days when you’re working on the swing set.
Many wood finishes would work well between the air temperature of 60 to 90 degrees Fahrenheit. The ideal condition is 70 degrees F and 50-70% humidity. [2]https://generalfinishes.com/faq/what-best-temperature-to-apply-wood-finishes
If the temperature is too low, it will hinder the curing process of the stain. On the other hand, if the weather is too hot, the heat from the direct sunlight could cause the stain to dry off in the surface only, which prevents the solution from adequately penetrating into the woods.
However, since every wood finish product could vary from one another, you should read their label for their optimal temperature when using.
4) Cover the Surface
Before you start working with the stain or seal, you should cover up any areas that you do not want the solution to come in contact with.
For example, you could cover up the slide with a tarp. An old fashion way I would still use is to cover up the surfaces with layers of newspaper. For the joints and corner spots, you could cover it with tapes. But don’t choose one that is too strong, else, the paint could come off when you’re peeling out the tape.
Furthermore, wear old clothing and shoes which you do not mind throwing them out after the job.
5) Always Start from the Top
When I was young, I often apply paint to surfaces that were the most convenient for me to reach first. It is incorrect because the color from the upper part would drip to the surface down below, so I ended up spending lots of time fixing it afterward.
When you are applying seal or stain, make sure always to start from the top.
Wait for a few days for the wooden swing set to be completely dry, and then your kids could start having fun on it again.
Inspect the Playground Floor
In addition to maintaining the wooden playset, it is also important that the protective surfacing is still adequate to keep your child safe.
In one of my earlier posts, I discussed how to prepare the playground floor before you install the playset.
However, as time goes by, the loose fill materials would inevitably move around. This could be due to children kicking, wind, animals, etc. Also, they could get compacted as a result of children stepping over them.
Therefore, you should add in more loose fill materials in making sure the depth of it would meet the safety guideline. If the surface is uneven, you could smooth it out with a rake.
My final Thought about Maintaining a Wooden Swing Set
If you are living in an area where they could be heavy snow during the winter, you could consider covering the playset with a waterproof tarp. This way, it could protect the wooden swing set from the snow and UV. Some families stated that they would store away the parts that are easily removable. For example, the chain and seat of the swing. I think this is a good idea, but just don’t remove anything that could affect the stability of the playset structure. Winterizing the entire playset would not be practical, as the assembling process could take too much work.
In conclusion, choosing the right wooden swing set is only the first step, while properly maintaining it is an ongoing process. Doing so can increase the longevity of a playset and reassure the safety of the children playing on it.
However, this work does not have to be dreadful and unpleasant. Whenever I’m doing maintenance work in the backyard, I would try to educate my daughters on what I’m doing. Of course, I always make sure the jobs are age appropriate and safe for them. Not only they could learn some concepts about caring for things, but this is also a great family bonding experience.
Disclaimer: This content of this website is for general information, and do not intend to provide any specific advice. Although I’m trying my best in providing accurate information, I cannot guarantee they are error-free. Information displayed on this website could be subjected to change. For any medical-related question, you should always consult with your family doctor. For product related question, you should consult with the actual manufacturer.
Affiliate Disclosure: Please note that some of the links above are affiliate links, and at no additional cost to you, I will earn a commission if you decide to make a purchase after clicking through the link. Please understand that I include them based on my experience or the research on these companies or products, and I recommend them because they are helpful and useful, not because of the small commissions I make if you decide to buy something through my links. Please do not spend any money on these products unless you feel you need them or that they will help you achieve your goals.
Jacob is a father of two daughters. He loves spending quality time with them in the backyard. Playing sports, blowing bubbles, and planting are some the favorite activities Jacob and his daughters like to do together. He believes it is essential to spend quality time with them while they are still young.