Yakima, Build Your Own Slip & Slide!

Just read an article about Slip & Slides selling out all across the country.

It is hot out there. If you have never experienced the fun and coolness of a Slip & Slide, fret not - you can make your own! Since pools are closed all across Yakima, this could be what you are looking for.

It's a pretty simple concept. Plastic (ade partially from petroleum which reduces friction) is naturally more slippery when water is applied - especially when you add some sort of lubricant to it. I know this can be intimidating, but it is really easy, simple and a fun project to with your kids.

What You Will Need

50' -100' of 6mil rolled plastic (any thinner you could risk tears which will ruin the experience) which you can find at most home improvement stores.

10-20 Tent stakes (depending on how long your space is)

2x4 wood board or studs

Water

Utility knife

A hammer

Industrial Stapler (or u shaped nail fasteners)

Water hose

Shampoo or conditioner

Find your space for the Slip &n Slide run. You might want a linear 50' minimum on grass or smooth-ish surface. Slightly downhill is perfect, but level runs are good too.

Open the plastic and unroll. Most come pre-folded. If it's more than 5 feet wide, it may be too much width. If you have to cut it in half, do it for the entirety of your run.

Once laid out, to anchor / staple the plastic around a 2x4 board a few times (about 3-5 times). Then, use ten stakes to anchor it into the ground. If you wanna get fancy, cut a notch in the wood to place your water hose on to keep it secure.

Then take the rest of the tent stakes and pound the plastic into the ground for the first 10'-20' of the run to keep the plastic stable. The rest should be fine as the weight of the 6mil plastic should keep it down flat on the ground.

Take your water hose and spray liberally on the entirety of the plastic. Then place the hose it in the notch you made or just lay it on the plastic to keep it moist.

Add some baby shampoo or conditioner on the slide and prepare to slide and cool off!

When done, roll around the wood 2x4 and store until tomorrow or the next hot day.

Enjoy! Let me know how it turns out!

All My Best,

The JimShow!