Do Trampoline Stains Come Out? (Explained)

Cartoon of Steve in shirt and shorts

If your kids have spent hour after hour playing on your trampoline in the summer you might notice them coming in covered in stains from it.

These black stains are a common problem among long-time trampoline owners.

Or maybe the trampoline stains you are having a problem with are on the trampoline itself.

Whichever of these two scenarios is your problem, then we have you covered.

Do trampoline stains come out?

Let’s take a closer look.

Do Trampoline Stains Come Out?

Trampoline stains can usually be removed from clothes by soaking in soapy water over night and then washing as normal. If that does work, just applying a stain remover should do the trick. Stains on the trampoline mat itself can be removed with a blast from a hose and/or some soap water and a soft-bristled brush.

How to Get Trampoline Stains Out of Clothes

Towel in washing machine

If your problem is your kids coming in with black stains on their clothes from the trampoline, then the good news is it is usually a pretty simple problem to solve.

More often than not these stains are one of two things:

  1. Regular dirt
  2. Carbon fiber

You might wonder how carbon fiber managed to find its way onto your kid’s clothes.

Well carbon is added to trampoline mats to prolong their life.

Eventually though, usually after a number of years, the mat will be degraded by the elements and the black carbon fiber will come through the mat.

And often onto your child’s clothes!

Usually, it is pretty simple to remove, and can be done by following just a few steps:

  • Add a cup of detergent to a bowl/bucket of water.
  • Leave the stained clothes in the bowl/bucket overnight.
  • Wash in your washing machine as normal.

It really is that simple.

If there are some stubborn stains that haven’t come out then you want to treat them specifically with a solvent-based cleaning agent or stain remover.

Follow the instructions on the stain remover and then wash as normal.

Some of the best stain removers include:

How to Remove Stains From Your Trampoline

Man holding hose

Now the other problem could be stains on your trampoline itself.

To refer back to the point we made at the start of the section above, black marks and stains on your trampoline might not always be dirt or debris.

If you run your finger across it and it feels powdery and soft, it is the carbon fiber coming through your trampoline mat.

Unfortunately this cannot be fixed with a good clean. It means the mat has reached the end of its useful life and needs to be replaced.

Our article on why a trampoline can make your feet black goes into more detail on this.

But hopefully it won’t be that and your trampoline just needs a good clean, in which case follow these steps.

STEP 1: Brush All Dirt Off Of Your Trampoline

Use a soft-bristled brush to sweep any leaves, dust or dirt off of the surface of your trampoline.

STEP 2: Use A Hose or Bucket Of Water to Clean the Surface

A hose can be used to dislodge any stubborn bits of dirt and dust that the brush was unable to.

Another alternative is a pressure washer, but you will find contrasting advice as to whether you can use a pressure washer on a trampoline mat.

Some will say you can use them without a problem, whilst others will say the high-pressure water output will weaken the structure of a mat over a prolonged period.

Personally, I err on the side of caution and have never used a pressure washer on a trampoline mat, as I find the slightly lower pressure of a garden hose does a good job.

Once any tough bits of dirt have been removed, fill a bucket with warm water and mix with around two tablespoons of dish detergent.

Use a soft cloth or sponge to gently rub down the surface. 

Avoid using any chemical cleaners, or abrasive scrubbing brushes as they could damage the surface of the trampoline.

STEP 3: Rinse Thoroughly

Rinse the trampoline surface with the hose, or a bucket of water, until all of the soap is removed.

You will know it’s clean when no more soap bubbles appear as you rinse the surface.

If any soap is inadvertently left on the mat it can damage it by causing it to stiffen or stain, and it means the surface could be slicker for the next person to use it making it dangerous.

STEP 4: Dry Your Trampoline

Use towels to dry the surface of your trampoline as best you can.

The ideal time to clean your trampoline is on a sunny day so it can also be left to air dry in the sun.

You will want it to be fully dried before anyone uses it, a wet or damp trampoline is a dangerous trampoline!

If you have cleaned the spring pads, make sure they are completely dry as well.

You might want to open them up and squeeze and leave them out to dry as if extra moisture is left around the springs they will rust.

Key Points to Remember

So to summarise if you are cleaning your trampoline mat here are a few key points to remember:

  • If the black stains on the mat are actually powdery and soft, it is most likely carbon residue which is a sign the trampoline mat is reaching the end of its life.
  • Don’t use harsh chemicals on the mat as they could damage it.
  • Make sure all soap is washed off of the mat, otherwise it could be dangerous for anyone using it.
  • When scrubbing or brushing the surface of the trampoline do not use anything with bristles that are too harsh. They will damage the mat.
  • Using a pressure washer may damage the integrity of the mat. I prefer to use a garden hose.
  • If possible clean it on a sunny warm day so the mat can air dry in the sun.
  • Make sure it is fully dry before anyone uses it!

Final Thoughts

INFOGRAPHIC Answering Question Do Trampoline Stains Come Out
Click infographic to enlarge.

The good news is, yes trampoline stains do come out!

Whether they are on your clothes or the trampoline mat itself, the likelihood is that the stain will be able to be removed.

Trampoline stains on clothes can often be removed by soaking in soapy water overnight and then washing or, at worst, applying a stain remover.

On the trampoline itself a blast from a hose, combined with soapy water, often does the job.

Just make sure that the stains aren’t from carbon fiber residue.

If they are that means you need to replace your trampoline mat.


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