Cleaning and Staining Your Wooden Play Set

Part of the landscape of many backyards, wooden play sets need the same maintenance and care as a wooden deck or fence. Homeowners should inspect their play sets every year, tightening loose bolts, repairing broken pieces and sanding down rough areas to prevent splinters. 

Yearly play set maintenance should include a thorough cleaning with an outdoor wood cleaner like Scotts Outdoor Cleaner Patio and Deck to remove mildew, mold, dirt and other stains. A wooden play set should also be sealed and waterproofed every year with a wood sealer like Thompon’s^® Waterseal^® Clear Multi-Surface Waterproofer. Pumps or garden sprayers are helpful for faster and more even application. 

Every three to five years, the play set needs a new coat of stain to keep it looking fresh, using an exterior wood stain like Cabot’s Semi-Solid Stain. Stain can also be applied using a pump sprayer, with a brush to wipe up any drips and get around smaller areas like ladder rungs. 

By merchandising and displaying these types of items together, you can sell the whole project and educate customers on play set maintenance in the process.