One of my biggest hesitations before purchasing our first bounce house was how much room it would take up. We do not have a ton of storage place in our house and the last thing I wanted was a ginormous bounce house taking over my linen closet. Now that we have owned a bounce house for the last few years we can say from experience and research that we have found some practical tips that help compact the bounce house and keep it in top condition so it doesn’t deteriorate in storage.
Bounce houses and blowers need to be stored in a thick and durable bag that will protect it from dirt, dust, and bugs and keep it secure while being transported from one place to another. Additionally, it is important to store the bounce house and blower in either your garage, shed, basement or any other place that will protect the bounce house and blower from the elements and keep it from water and heat.
Before you go throwing your bounce house in your shed or basement, there are a few things to consider. What type of storage bag is best for your bounce house and which of these places is best for storing your bounce house in your given climate and situation.
Bounce House Storage Bag:
When we bought our first bounce house a few years ago, it came in an extremely light and thin bag that ripped after the first day. Knowing that this bag wouldn’t protect the bounce house from the dirt, dust or bugs, we opted to invest in a slightly larger and more durable bag that would better protect the bounce house.
Some things to consider when buying a new storage bag.
- Durability
- Size (ability to store bounce house and blower together
- Handles or straps to transport the bouse house
- Price
- Compactness
- Color – the darker bags will protect the bouse house fabric from the suns UV rays.
Depending on the size of your bounce house, you will need to do some shopping around. We drove 45 minutes south to an army surplus store that had several bags that were inexpensive and durable. I would highly recommend getting your storage bag from an army surplus store if this is an option for you. We have been very happy with this choice.
NOTE: Be sure to have the dimensions of the bounce house when it is completely rolled up and with the blower so that you get the right size bag.
Best Location for Storage: Garage vs in the Home
Garage: The garage may be the perfect location as long as it is always cool and dry. Bounce houses that are used primarily outside are typically made of a thicker and more durable material that can withstand the temperature that is often found in the garage. Commercial bounce houses should be completely fine in a garage.
If you do decide to store your bounce house in your garage, be sure that the bag is not on the cement floor. Consider placing the bounce house on a shelf so that mice and bugs are not able to get to it as easily. It is also important to avoid sun damage so keep it away from the window and in a dark-colored bag.
In some humid locations where the temperature can get really hot without air conditioning, you may need to bring it inside to avoid the build-up of condensation and eventually mold.
In the Home: Storing your bounce house in your home may be a great option. For example, storing it in a closet may be easier because many of the concerns above do not cause a problem inside. If you plan to mainly use the bounce house indoors it will also be helpful to have it easily accessible.
8 things to Consider When Finding the Best Bounce House Storage in YOUR House or Garage:
- Safety and Maintenance: The first thing to consider is the safety and maintenance of the bounce house so find a cool, dry place that will not get too hot or wet.
- Where do you plan on using your bounce house? If it is mainly an indoor bounce house then try to find a storage location close to where it will be used. If it is easily accessible then it will be used much more often and you will get the full enjoyment out of it. If it is hard to reach or difficult to pull out than you will find yourself dragging to get it up or resort to other toys instead.
- Do you want your kids to be able to reach it? This may change as the kids get older and more responsible, but consider whether you want the kids to have access to it. If they are old enough, it is fairly simple to set up and could be done with proper instruction. If this is the case, make sure you put is somewhere that they can reach and get out on their own. On the flip side, if you do not trust your kids to handle the blower, big plug-in or weight of the bag, make sure it is out of their reach so they are not tempted to get it out on their own.
- Do you have space?
This may seem obvious, but deciding where to store your bounce house is often based on the amount of storage you have in your home or garage. A closet or storage room in the basement is a great place to store the bouse house. If you’re limited on storage in your home, consider finding a place in the garage that the bounce house will still be easily accessible.
- What’s your climate like?
The climate where you live is an extremely important factor to consider when storing your bounce house. Hot and humid weather may be hard on a bounce house that is stored in a garage that is not well vented.
If you do live in a hot humid climate, it would be best to find a storage spot in the home. - How heavy is the bounce house?
If you’re planning on using the bounce house in the basement of your home, you probably don’t want to store it in the garage where you will need to haul it inside and down the stairs. Store your bounce house where it will be used most. - What is my bounce house made of?
If your bounce house is a commercial grade or water-based bounce house then it will be made of a stronger material that will withstand the conditions in the garage such as humidity or extreme cold temperatures during the winter months. - How often will the bounce house be used?
If the bounce house is used once or twice a year, then it would be perfectly reasonable to store the bounce house in a “hard” to reach the spot. However, it must be in a cool dry area that is not humid or prone to condensation.If you use the bounce house often as we do, then storing your bounce house in an easy to reach spot is ideal.
Why Can’t I Store my Bounce House Outside?
There are several reasons why I would avoid storing a bounce house outside. Even an amazing storage bag cannot completely defend your bounce house against all types of weather elements that may arise. If your bounce house got wet from frost, dew, rain, snow or sprinklers while it is in storage it could ruin your bounce house. If nothing else it would cause a lot of mold growth and be a nightmare to clean and sanitize. Direct heat from the sun could also ruin your bounce house, even if it is stored in a bag. Additionally, a bounce house stored outside could make a perfect home for several kinds of critters. Mice and rats could eat away some of the material or a variety of animals could make a nest or webs that could be a mess to clean out. I would question the quality of the material after possible deterioration from weather or from animals after being left outside in storage.
How do I Fold a Bounce House to Fit in That Small Bag?!
First, consider the bag! This was the first thing to be tossed out after the purchase of our small indoor bounce house. Luckily, the quality of the actual bounce house far surpassed the quality and engineering of the storage bag! We invested in a quality army duffle bag soon after we bought our bounce house and we are so glad we did! It was the perfect size for us and keeps the inflatable tightly folded and secure. However, it does have to be folded right in order to fit back into the bag. This does not have to be one of those frustrating purchases that never folds back down into its original form, however it does take some consideration to make sure all the air is out and that it stays folded tightly and compact. Below are some steps to help you visualize how to best fold and roll a basic bounce house for storage.
Deflate the bounce house so that most of the air is out. (This may be our kids’ favorite part of playing with the bounce house! They love to smash it down- so don’t be afraid to recruit some help!) Once it is generally flattened, fold in all the tubes and slides that stick out so that it takes the general shape of a square or rectangle.
Depending upon the size of your storage bag, fold the large rectangle in either thirds or halves to reach the desired height. As you fold, tuck in any sides or netting that may come out of the sides. At this point, you should have one long strip or rectangular shape.
3. Recruit someone to help with this next part. Our kids love this part as well so we normally let them help!) With you on one end of the rectangle, slowly squeezing and rolling the end as tightly as possible, have your helper roll right in front of you to get all the air out of inflatable parts ahead.
Keep rolling until it is a tightly rolled burrito-shape and lift into the bag. (An extra pair of hands is also helpful for this part.)
Related Questions:
How much space is needed to store a bounce house?
The amount of space needed for storage is based on the size of the bounce house plus the blower when it is rolled and secured in the bag.
Smaller bounce houses that can be used in your home can fit into a 2 ft by ft by 4 ft high bag- on average.
Larger outdoor and commercial bounce houses can fit into a 2.5 ft by ft by 5 ft high to 3 ft by ft by 5 ft high – on average.
How much weight can go on a bounce house? Every bounce house has different weight limits. Be sure to read the specific guidelines on yours! A common weight limit allows three children at 100 pounds each to occupy a bounce house at a time.