Drying/Cleaning Sand in Sandbox

20 years ago

I was just out back cleaning up our yard for the fall -- we've had a stretch of colder/rainy weather before this, and I saw the kids left the lid off their sandbox, and it was a virtual swamp. Is there something I can add to it to quicken the drying time and/or something I could put in it to help "clean" the sand? I know this is a longshot -- the top is off, but I don't think the sun is strong enough this time of year to do its job. TIA

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Jurassic Sands

8 years ago

last modified: 8 years ago

This Geologist Jerry and I ran an analytical lab for years. My specialty is sand and I've seen this issue numerous time before. Assuming you had a good quality sand (think nice beach or sand dune sand - not the crushed dirt 'play sand' sold at home improvement stores) then the thing to remember is the grains themselves can't absorb water so all you have to do is dry it out.

As the first comment said, spread it out though I prefer a cotton sheet to a tarp (because the cotton will wick the moisture away fater than a plastic tarp). That means all you have to do is dry it out using a combination of the Sun and maybe a small fan to help speed the drying.

And here is the key: the UV rays of the Sun are a proven sanitizer regardless of how 'strong' the Sun is. It might take 1-3 days to dry out the sand but the UV rays will kill 99.9% of everything you might have in your 'swamp'.

Hope this helps!

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Comments (10)

socks
20 years ago
It would be good to spread the sand out if possible maybe on a tarp of some kind. Or maybe you could put some in the lid and leave the rest in the sandbox. I'd cover it at night to avoid nighttime moisture collecting on it. (Also keep cats out.) Of course I don't know your weather and how sunny or dry it is during the day. Also, I'd keep turning it with a shovel some tool. Otherwise, toss it in the garden and replace it when it's time.
lindac
20 years ago
Because of that I never had a sandbox with a "floor"...just sides and the rain just drained away.
I would think that sand will be moldy and musty, unless is is very new and would sprinkle it on the gardens and get new for the kids to play in.....and punch holes in the bottom of that sand box!
Linda c
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smom40
20 years ago
I don't think that it's really possible to clean the sand itself, once it's 'swampy'. I wouldn't trust it as a place for the kids to play in anyway. Too much potential fungal growth.

I'd dump the sand in some obscure garden area, clean the thing out with lots of soapy water, dry it and put it away for spring if this were me.
lindac92
8 years ago
Wow....talk about dredging up old posts...in 12 years those kids using that sand box have likely graduated from college...maybe even with a degree in geology.
M H
6 years ago
haha yes 14 years now but im here in 2020 with the same issue!! so im glad i found this lol
Lora Reece
6 years ago
An oldie but a goodie. Same problem today — July 4, 2020!
lindac92
6 years ago
How much does sand cost? Dump it on the garden, unless you have sandy soil, the garden will thank you, and buy new.
morz8 - Washington Coast
6 years ago
If that was a serious question, a 50# bag of play sand is about $5 at Home Depot. Probably cheaper yet at Walmart garden end.... ;0)
Jessica A
4 years ago
read the warning labels of cancer on those home depot ”play sand“ you need to buy higher quslity toxic free sand.