With limited color, design, and capacity options, rigid pools are basic basins that’ll work in a pinch, but they likely won’t offer the type of fun many inflatable pools can deliver. Hard plastic pools (or repurposed sandboxes) are typically cheaper than inflatable options, and they require less setup-no hand pumps, blowers, or excessive lung power required. “It’s not inflatable, but that’s why it’s good-it’s super-sturdy, no popping, and fits a child under 6 years old or so.” “The best pool we’ve ever used is the Little Tikes Turtle Sandbox that I fill with water from the hose,” says senior editor Jen Hunter. “The advice I’d give? Go to your local hardware store and pay $20 for the hard plastic one with fish on it.”ĭon’t be afraid to think outside the, er, pool, either. “Inflatable pools quickly end up in the landfill, at least the kiddie kind,” says senior editor Kalee Thompson. With the right maintenance, they can last a few summers before they need to be replaced. Because they’re not inflatable, durable plastic pools will last longer than their flimsier counterparts. If you’d like to steer clear of vinyl kiddie pools altogether, a pool made of hard plastic is a good alternative. And because most portable pools don’t last beyond the summer (whether that’s because of rips and tears or just general grunginess), they often get chucked into the garbage. Most inflatable plastic kiddie pools are made of polyvinyl chloride, commonly referred to as PVC or vinyl, which can be really difficult to recycle. For this piece, we’re focusing specifically on smaller portable pools that hold up to 170 gallons or less because they’re typically cheaper, smaller, and easier to maintain than their behemoth counterparts. Plastic inflatable pools come in all shapes and sizes, from super-tiny setups with barely enough room for two toddlers to enormous, semi-permanent pools that require a filter, chemicals, a large patch of flat land for setup, and ample storage space for the off-season. If you plan on investing in a nonpermanent swimming solution, we’ve gathered the information you need to keep it clean and safe for your kids-and how to get rid of the pool in an environmentally friendly way, once it’s done the job it set out to do. As long as it’s properly and carefully maintained, a temporary backyard blow-up pool can be the refreshing escape you and your children are seeking this summer. This doesn’t mean you have to scrap your kiddie pool plans, though. And after a summer of frequent use, cheap inflatable pools become slimy, grimy heaps of plastic headed straight for the landfill-because vinyl, the type of material most kiddie pools are made from, is hard to recycle. Because disinfectants aren’t added to the water, bacterial infections (like the kind that cause vomiting and diarrhea) spread easily and quickly. If improperly maintained, they can become breeding grounds for mosquitoes and bacteria. Inflatable kiddie pools can pose health risks. Until, of course, you realize that they can be kind of gross. They’re the pinnacle of summer fun in the sun, a no-brainer for anyone looking for a way to keep cool at home. Inexpensive, easy to set up, and even easier to pull down, kiddie pools offer a respite from the heat and provide hours of outdoor entertainment. ![]() A plastic inflatable pool brimming with ice-cold hose water is as synonymous with summer as the jingle of the ice cream truck and the smoky smell of burgers on the grill.
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