How to Make a Slipping Slide

Take your summertime fun to a new level with a homemade slipping slide.

Slipping slides became a popular outdoor toy in the 1960s. A slipping slide is a long piece of thin plastic with sprinklers on the side. To use a slipping slide, kids get a running start, then dive onto their stomachs and slide effortlessly to the end. This summertime staple can be easily created at home --- longer and larger than the original design. By using a few household items, you can make your own slipping slide.

Things You'll Need

• Plastic tarp
• Baby shampoo
• Sandbags
• Sprinkler

Instructions

1. Locate a flat spot in a grassy area. Remove any sharp rocks or sticks. Make sure the area is free of holes or mounds.

2. Spread a plastic tarp onto the ground. Use multiple tarps to increase the length or width of the slide. Secure the edges with sandbags.

3. Wet the tarp using a sprinkler. Completely saturate the surface of the tarp. Position the sprinkler so that it sprays lightly on the tarp during use.

4. Apply baby shampoo to the surface of the tarp. The baby shampoo creates a slippery surface that makes sliding easier. Spread the shampoo onto the entire surface of the tarp using your hand.

5. Test the slide by running and diving onto it. Add more water and baby shampoo as needed to keep the surface slippery.

Tips & Warnings

• To keep eyes from being irritated, use tear-free baby shampoo.

• Keep the surface slippery to avoid burns or irritations from sliding.

References

• Hoosier Homemade: Frugal Slip N Slide