Homemade Water Slides

Turn your backyard slide into a super fast water slide.

Water slides provide great fun for kids, but many people think they have to go to the water park to enjoy them. Make this a summer your kids won't forget by setting up a homemade water slide right in your backyard. Include your children in a family project by having them help you set it up, or do it yourself and make it a surprise. Not only is having your own water slide convenient, the water is also much cleaner than the water you would find in a water park.

Things You'll Need

• Wading pool
• Slide
• Saran wrap
• Hose
• Duct tape
• Dish soap

Instructions

1. Wrap the slide skin-tight with saran wrap. The saran wrap will be strong enough to withstand the activity of a water slide if it is wrapped firmly around the surface of the slide without gaps. Make sure the slide is fitted tightly with saran wrap, and end the wrap behind the slide where the kids will not come into contact with it and tape the end firmly in place with duct tape. It is important that you use duct tape because it is very strong and withstands water better than other tape.

2. Position your slide and wading pool so that the end of the slide is inside the pool. If you have a slide that's connected to the swing set, bring the wading pool to the slide. If you are making the slide for a toddler, place the toddler slide completely inside the pool.

3. Fill the pool with water using your garden hose.

4. Position the hose on either side of the top of the slide with the nozzle pointing down so the water can run down the slide. Make sure to position the nozzle as high up on the slide as possible so the water wets as much of the slide as possible. This will increase the speed of the slide and make the experience more comfortable by decreasing friction and cooling the surface of the slide on a hot day.

5. Tape the hose in place with duct tape so that it doesn't flop around when the water is turned on. Maintaining a constant current will keep the slide friction free and cool. On a hot day, the slide can become uncomfortable in as little as five minutes without water.

6. Apply liquid dish soap to the surface of the plastic wrap. Like the water, this will increase the speed of the slide and reduce friction. The slide will become very slippery, so make sure the children do not stand on the slide or use it in an inappropriate manner.

Tips & Warnings

• Empty water out of a pool before moving it.

• Monitor the kids and make sure they use the slide appropriately.

• Keep the saran wrap properly lubricated with water and dish soap to reduce friction allowing the saran wrap to withstand water slide activities.

References

• Popular Mechanics: What's the Best Tape? Abusive Lab Test