Hasty Briefsbeta

  • #ball pits
  • #hygiene
  • #play areas
  • Ball pits were invented by Charlotte Rude and Hjördis Olsson-Une for Ikea in 1970.
  • Ball pits are popular in fast food restaurants, amusement parks, and play centers.
  • Many parents are concerned about ball pits being hotbeds of germs.
  • Anecdotal stories from workers reveal poor or infrequent cleaning practices.
  • Common issues include children pooping, vomiting, or sneezing in ball pits.
  • Some facilities clean ball pits only when visibly dirty or every few months.
  • Ball pit cleaning machines exist and are used by responsible facilities.
  • TQ Playtopia in Oklahoma City deep cleans their ball pits weekly, taking 5 hours.