Long-Term Storage Guide for Commercial Inflatables

An inflatable in use is exposed to sun, abrasion and handling, but it is also inflated, airing and being looked at. An inflatable in storage is folded tight, in the dark, often for months, and nobody checks it. Anything that went into the bag with it — moisture, dirt, a small leak, a sharp fold — has the whole off-season to do its work.

The damage found when units come out of storage follows a familiar pattern: mould spots and staining from moisture, print cracking along permanent fold lines, discoloration where dirt was left on the surface, and chewed fabric where rodents found the bag. Almost all of it is preventable before the unit is put away.

The single most important step is drying. A unit that looks dry on the outside can hold moisture in folds, around seams and inside the structure, especially after an event on wet grass or in a humid climate. Folded and bagged, that moisture has nowhere to go.

Dry the unit inflated wherever possible, in a sheltered, ventilated space, and give it time. Pay attention to the underside, the seams and the inside of the structure, where condensation can collect in a continuous-air unit. When in doubt, dry it longer; there is no such thing as too dry for storage.

Dirt on the surface holds moisture against the fabric and provides the material mould grows on. Grass, soil and food residue can also stain the print if left for months. Clean the unit before storage, not when it comes out, when stains will have set.

Use mild soap and water with a soft brush or cloth, rinse, and dry again completely. Avoid solvents, strong cleaning chemicals and abrasive pads, which can damage the coating and the print. Cleaning is covered in more detail in the guide to cleaning and mould prevention.

A sharp fold held for months becomes a permanent crease, and a permanent crease through printed artwork is where ink cracks first. Where the unit allows, roll it loosely rather than folding it tight, and avoid placing folds directly across logos and large printed areas.

If the unit has to be folded, vary the fold lines between seasons rather than using exactly the same folds every time. Push out trapped air as you go so the bundle is not under internal pressure, and do not compress it to force it into a bag that has become too small.

Store inflatables in a dry space with stable conditions, off the floor on shelves or pallets, away from direct sunlight, heaters and hot roofs, and away from anything sharp. A breathable storage bag lets residual moisture escape; a sealed plastic wrap traps it.

Rodents are a real risk in warehouses and garages, and a folded inflatable makes a good nest. Keep storage areas clean, check bags periodically, and deal with signs of rodents before they reach the stock. Label each bag clearly with the unit and its accessories, so nobody has to open and refold units to find the right one.

Take each unit out, inflate it and inspect it well before its first booking. This is the moment to find mould, leaks, cracked print or damage from storage — while there is still time to clean, repair or order a replacement.

Run the blower, check the accessories are all present, and put right anything that has changed. A unit discovered damaged on the morning of an event is a failed booking. The same unit discovered a month earlier is a routine repair.

A stored inflatable is only usable next season if its accessories are stored with the same care. Blowers should be cleaned of dust and grass, completely dry and kept somewhere they cannot be knocked or crushed. Coil their power cables loosely rather than wrapping them tightly around the housing, which stresses the cable where it enters the blower.

Ropes and straps should be dried before storage, because damp rope stored in a bag with the inflatable brings moisture straight back to the fabric that was carefully dried. Ballast bags that were filled on site should be emptied and dried. Stakes, repair kits and adapters are small enough to go missing over an off-season, so keep them in a labelled container stored with, or clearly linked to, the unit they belong to.

Keep a simple storage record: which unit is in which bag, where it is stored, when it was cleaned, and anything noted about its condition when it went away. A unit that was put into storage with a small repair outstanding is easy to forget until the morning it is needed. The record turns the pre-season check into a short list of known jobs rather than a search.

If units are stored off site, in a rented unit or a shared warehouse, visit during the off-season rather than only at the start of it. Roof leaks, condensation, pests and other tenants moving stock around are all problems that are cheap to fix in the middle of winter and expensive to discover on the first busy weekend. Check that bags are still dry, still off the floor and still where the record says they are.